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The Most Capable Warships in the Navy's History Set to Join the Fleet

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ISSUE 130 DECEMBER 2008 The most capable warships in the Navy’s history set to join the Fleet Information Operations Management in the RAN The Vernon Parker Oration 2008 The Navy & the White Paper A Cautionary Tale – Failures of Japanese Air Power In WWII and Lessons for Australian Maritime Air Expansion Finding The Lost Submarine: JOURNAL OF THE The Mystery of AE1 Shipyards: Australia and USA Email: [email protected] Fax +61 8 9410 2564 Tel: +61 8 9410 1111 WWW.AUSTAL.COM Issue 130 3 President’s Message Contents 008 has been an extremely busy the Institute and his active involvement and, in my mind, successful year over the last 30 years at all levels was The most capable warships in the Navy’s for the ANI. We have conducted truly worthy of recognition with the history set to join the Fleet 4 2a number of very well attended events ANI’s highest honour. including the Vernon Parker Oration, For the second year we hosted the the ANI Warfare Seminar and the Sea ANI Warfare Seminar at HMAS Watson patrol Cast visit to ADFA. which was followed by a reception. It Information Operations Management in We have seen membership rise by its was good to see the support of the the RAN 15 highest annual rate this decade, much event from the Naval Warfare Officers of that due to our focus on engaging Association and the Naval Officers’ younger members through our efforts Club. The sixty guests were given a at ADFA and through the two new essay range of presentations from Senior The Vernon Parker Oration 2008 competitions named after Commodores serving officers on a range of issues that Harry Adams (essay competition for the RAN is grappling with. There is no The Navy & the White Paper 19 Midshipmen and Sub Lieutenants) doubt that the Warfare Seminar has and Alan ‘Rocker’ Robertson (for established itself as a key event in the Lieutenants). These competitions ANI calendar. A Cautionary Tale – Failures of Japanese have lifted the ANI’s profile and have I would like to thank the members re-affirmed that our younger officers of your Council for their efforts this Air Power In WWII and Lessons for have much to contribute to the year. Council has been active in Australian Maritime Air Expansion 25 maritime debate that we strive so hard implementing a work programme to to stimulate. Hopefully you will read a ensure that the key elements of the good cross section of essays from these ANI Strategic Plan are put in place. I competitions over the next 12 months am pleased to see an improved focus Finding The Lost Submarine: The Mystery in Headmark – I would encourage you on governance and the development of of AE1 34 to join the debate through either letters useful set of governance metrics which to the editor or through your own I will expose to you at the next AGM contribution. early next year. I would like to thank There was no doubt that this Ernie Power for his continuing work on Visions from the Vault 43 year’s Vernon Parker Oration was a the website and Tom Lewis for getting real treat for those who were lucky the Journal together each quarter and enough to be there. In this edition we keeping up to the quality we have come have reproduced the address given by to expect. As always I need to mention Book Reviews 45 Professor the Honourable Kim Beazley. our business manager Jean Davitt for Front page: He remains a most thoughtful strategic her unstinting support. HMAS Ballarat in commentator and his words were My aim for next year is to maintain Milford Sound. timely in this a White Paper year. Over the momentum we have built this year Style Notes for Headmark 48 100 people attended this year’s oration through our improved membership and over 65 stayed on for the annual numbers, our busy events calendar and dinner –a very successful evening. I hopefully a vigorous maritime debate. am pleased to report that Rear Admiral I hope that all our members have a ANI Online Guide 49 James Goldrick, AM, CSC, RAN was peaceful and restful Christmas break. Issue Number 130 awarded Honorary Life membership of Printed by Everbest the Institute at the annual dinner. James Yours Aye, Printing Company is of course no stranger to any of us in Davyd Thomas Australian Naval Institute Info 50 ISSN 1833-6531 ATI - AUSTAL - AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE CREDIT UNION - BOOZ ALLEN & HAMILTON FRIEND - EDS - KBR - LOPAC ANI Membership Application Form 51 Design & DTP: Diane Bricknell - RAYTHEON AUSTRALIA - SAAB [email protected] Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 4 The most capable warships in the Navy’s history set to join the Fleet BLEC Y E ORDNER The most capable warships in the build the number up to 16” with the history of the Royal Australian Navy suggestion that “Anzac derivatives (RAN) will soon be in service. But how could also replace the first four FFGs”.5 can that be with the first of theHobart Prophetically, FSR 91 went on Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) to state: “the ADF has for some more than five years away? Fortunately, time followed a program of mid-life the Navy and the Nation will not have modernisations of the destroyer force to wait that long before four very ... (which) without exception, have capable surface combatants are again been lengthy. Reduced operational operational in the Fleet. The upgraded availability, together with considerable Adelaide Class FFGs are planned to capital expenditure, have been the re-enter service as fully operational consequences of these programs. The front-line warships over the next 12–18 concept of mid-life modernisations HMAS Sydney in homeport months. They will bring what will in is not cost effective, and will not – note the Mk 41 VLS some respects be an advanced level continue.”6 When FSR 91 was of combat capability unprecedented presented the DDG Modernisation in the RAN. This article analyses Defence Policy and the FFG project was still underway, with the Upgraded FFG, the capabilities Upgrade prospects of a limited return on that it brings and the challenges and The FFG Upgrade Project reflects investment for those ships. opportunities it presents for the Navy the outcomes of evolving, indecisive Notably in this context, the Anzac and the Australian Defence Force Australian Defence policy making Class frigates were replacements for (ADF). and relatively low levels of national the River Class destroyer escorts; No analysis of the Upgraded FFG investment in Defence2 that have very much at the low end of the ADF would be complete without first briefly marked the Australian experience over major surface combatant range of reviewing the policy context that several decades.3 This has impacted capabilities. The chosen Meko 200 base resulted in a decision to proceed with negatively on the development of the design would be unlikely to provide an upgrade, and the FFG Upgrade surface combatant force along with the space and weight necessary for the Project experience. Like most major other areas of Defence capability. significant capability enhancements Defence projects the FFG Upgrade Procrastination followed by time required to replace the FFGs (and Project (Project SEA 1390)1 had a and cost overruns has largely been the DDGs). In particular, evolving long gestation period. Although the the characteristics of Defence air warfare (including Aegis phased project is a capability upgrade to an procurement; characteristics that are array radar derivatives and long-range existing platform rather than a new in many respects reflected in the FFG vertical launch air warfare missiles) build, the time taken from concept to Upgrade Project experience. plus helicopter support capabilities and the capability being fully operational In the 1987 Defence white paper potentially unmanned aerial vehicles will be more than 15 years. The FFG the Government announced that (UAVs) in the future (the Anzac has Upgrade Project has drawn attention the Navy would be expanded “…to a only one hanger) would be beyond to many Defence policy and project force operating 16 to 17 major surface that which a Meko 200 platform could management issues that will briefly combatants”.4 The 1991Force Structure reasonably support. be considered here. Whilst project, Review (FSR 91) recognised that the Not withstanding the FSR 91 contractual and audit difficulties surface combatant force was declining pronouncement, due to concerns about have been aired in parliamentary in numbers (it was then down to platform and system supportability, committees and the media, the 10 ships) and indicated a planning the FFG Upgrade Project was initiated capability gains and advantages for intention to replace the DDGs with in 1993. A Surface Combatant Force the total Naval force have not been as “an Anzac derivative” to “maintain the Study during 1993-96 concluded well understood. This article seeks to continuity of Australian shipbuilding, that given evolving anti-ship missile enhance that understanding. to achieve commonality … and to (ASM) and other threats, the FFGs Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 130 5 FFG and side number Launched Commissioned Original Life Upgraded Life planned life of type schedule. HMAS Adelaide - 01 June 1978 November 1980 2008 Withdrawn from service Jan 08 HMAS Canberra - 02 December 1978 March 1981 2008 Withdrawn from service Nov 05 The FFG Upgrade Project HMAS Sydney - 03 September 1980 January 1983 2010 2015 The FFG Upgrade Project began in HMAS Darwin - 04 March 1982 July 1984 2012 2017 earnest when the RFT was released HMAS Melbourne - 05 May 1989 February 1992 2019 2019 which led to ADI Ltd being selected HMAS Newcastle - 06 February 1992 December 1993 2021 2021 as the prime contractor in 1998.
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