HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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SKB
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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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(NavyLookout) 24th September 2020
HMS Protector is currently in refit on Teesside and will deploy to the Antarctic later this year in support of UK interests, science and conservation.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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(Maritime UK) 12th October 2020
Ever wondered what it looks like when a dry dock re fills with water?
Watch this short time lapse video to see HMS Protector re entering water after refurbishment in Teesside.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

HMS Protector has a "summer" job this year!!

Looks like "using anything large" for HADR is going on. In other words, Bay-class LSDs are too busy these days, Wave-class is almost gone (in extended readiness) and Tide-class is busy for their job. So, it is Argus or Protector (or Scott?). Notably, Argus and Scott has not so long life left (without extension).

Also notable is, HMS Protector does NOT have a helicopter hangar. Is this the first case RN/RFA is going to gap helicopter in Carribbean HADR tasks?


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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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donald_of_tokyo wrote: 27 Jun 2022, 11:46 Is this the first case RN/RFA is going to gap helicopter in Carribbean HADR tasks
It's possible. There has been an ongoing push to get more helicopters permanently based in the region, with the UK subsidising the purchase and the BoTs picking up the running costs. I know that Cayman now has a second helicopter and, more importantly, at least one additional pilot (and potentially a third, local pilot, if some personal animosities can be overcame). The two official pilots are Police and ex-Army Air Corps. This model is being rolled out to all the larger islands

Likewise there has been a strong effort to stand up separate coastguard units (usually by upgrading the local Marine Police arms with new equipment, funding and career structures) and local Regiments (most only at a two-platoon Company level at the moment, but with plans to expand to three Companies), specialising in rescue, recovery and engineering.

These videos give you an idea of where they are now - clearly a long way to go, but a decent start

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW1l3kS46L0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2VFKcwxyUw
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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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Caribbean wrote: 27 Jun 2022, 14:00 I know that Cayman now has a second helicopter and, more importantly, at least one additional pilot
Damn..a helicopter pilot in the Cayman Islands. I really can't think of a better job than that.
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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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from twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1553692551462490113

We can see she carries, survey motor boat "James Caird IV", two RHIBs (only one is seen), and a small LCVP "Terra Nova" (only the wheelhouse is seen).

The LCVP is "Built in 1995, Terra Nova has a GRP hull, a Yanmar 4LHA-HTP engine and a maximum speed of 15kts. Her overall length is 8.7m, beam 3.2m and maximum draft 1m. Two spare outdrives, a boat canopy and lifting strops are aboard her." (ref: http://s3.amazonaws.com/thegovernmentsa ... Advert.pdf)

I'm wondering if putting similar LCVPs on River B2, in addition to the two RHIBs, will improve their versatility?

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

RHIB can also "land" small buggy (ATV). This means, River OPVs can also do the same. I think this capability is very important as it will enable transporting more material by shore. If the refugee is small (like a small isolated village), it will cover many of the "1st day" support. Of course, if it is a town, full-set of Mexefloat/LCU support will be needed. Scalable, it will be.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
You DO like to over exaggerate don't you.....

It was an exercise carried out by Protector during Antarctic Winter / our summer, i.e. her off-season from main task of ice patrol ship and supplying British Antarctic Stations.

It was a proof of concept giving us more options in accessing those areas requiring HADR assistance without having an operable harbour / dock. That will give more options to the RFA and OPV actually assigned to the Carribbean when the actual Hurricane season starts.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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wargame_insomniac wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 22:11
RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
You DO like to over exaggerate don't you.....

It was an exercise carried out by Protector during Antarctic Winter / our summer, i.e. her off-season from main task of ice patrol ship and supplying British Antarctic Stations.

It was a proof of concept giving us more options in accessing those areas requiring HADR assistance without having an operable harbour / dock. That will give more options to the RFA and OPV actually assigned to the Carribbean when the actual Hurricane season starts.
I thought Atlantic hurricane season was beginning of June to end off November so we would be near in the middle of it by now?

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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SW1 wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 22:28
wargame_insomniac wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 22:11
RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
You DO like to over exaggerate don't you.....

It was an exercise carried out by Protector during Antarctic Winter / our summer, i.e. her off-season from main task of ice patrol ship and supplying British Antarctic Stations.

It was a proof of concept giving us more options in accessing those areas requiring HADR assistance without having an operable harbour / dock. That will give more options to the RFA and OPV actually assigned to the Carribbean when the actual Hurricane season starts.
I thought Atlantic hurricane season was beginning of June to end off November so we would be near in the middle of it by now?
And??

My point was more that this was an exercise carried out by Protector during the Northern summer / Antarctic winter when the British Antarctic Stations are closed and that therefore Protector could nt fullfill it's main tasks. Surely that is the best time for Protector to do so?

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
Do not forget the LCVP carried on Protector.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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wargame_insomniac wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 22:11
RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
You DO like to over exaggerate don't you.....

It was an exercise carried out by Protector during Antarctic Winter / our summer, i.e. her off-season from main task of ice patrol ship and supplying British Antarctic Stations.

It was a proof of concept giving us more options in accessing those areas requiring HADR assistance without having an operable harbour / dock. That will give more options to the RFA and OPV actually assigned to the Carribbean when the actual Hurricane season starts.
Does Protector have any vertical lift options? Does Protector carry carry Mexes that can lend some serious engineering equipment?

It’s there because nothing else is available.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by wargame_insomniac »

RichardIC wrote: 15 Aug 2022, 13:42
wargame_insomniac wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 22:11
RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
You DO like to over exaggerate don't you.....

It was an exercise carried out by Protector during Antarctic Winter / our summer, i.e. her off-season from main task of ice patrol ship and supplying British Antarctic Stations.

It was a proof of concept giving us more options in accessing those areas requiring HADR assistance without having an operable harbour / dock. That will give more options to the RFA and OPV actually assigned to the Carribbean when the actual Hurricane season starts.
Does Protector have any vertical lift options? Does Protector carry carry Mexes that can lend some serious engineering equipment?

It’s there because nothing else is available.
Are you ignoring HMS Medway??

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by Caribbean »

RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
Also forgetting the additional helicopters, new local regiments and their gear (mainly Unimogs, excavators and field kitchens at the moment), new Coastguard organisations, on-shore military planning and co-ordination teams seconded from the UK from each hurricane season, along with a number of other local resilience initiatives (e.g. complete field hospital kits).

There is more than one way to skin a cat.
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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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wargame_insomniac wrote: 15 Aug 2022, 18:05
RichardIC wrote: 15 Aug 2022, 13:42
wargame_insomniac wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 22:11
RichardIC wrote: 14 Aug 2022, 19:14 Christ, this is our disaster relief contingency in the Caribbean now. A quad bike delivered by a RIB from a tiny icebreaker!

Complete embarrassment.
You DO like to over exaggerate don't you.....

It was an exercise carried out by Protector during Antarctic Winter / our summer, i.e. her off-season from main task of ice patrol ship and supplying British Antarctic Stations.

It was a proof of concept giving us more options in accessing those areas requiring HADR assistance without having an operable harbour / dock. That will give more options to the RFA and OPV actually assigned to the Carribbean when the actual Hurricane season starts.
Does Protector have any vertical lift options? Does Protector carry carry Mexes that can lend some serious engineering equipment?

It’s there because nothing else is available.
Are you ignoring HMS Medway??
May as well. With it’s lack of rotary, and it’s crew of under 40.

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

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Perhaps they can press gang some penguins?!

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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

RichardIC wrote: 15 Aug 2022, 21:11
wargame_insomniac wrote: 15 Aug 2022, 18:05
RichardIC wrote: 15 Aug 2022, 13:42Does Protector have any vertical lift options? Does Protector carry carry Mexes that can lend some serious engineering equipment?

It’s there because nothing else is available.
Are you ignoring HMS Medway??
May as well. With it’s lack of rotary, and it’s crew of under 40.
I think all here agrees putting a Bay is the best option in view of HADR. Sending HMS Protector is a compromise, we all know.

But, I think, even sending a Bay is a compromise.

Why not send an Albion and a QLNZ? Why not build a regilent logistic bases, hospital, airbase with 2-3 helicopters, and an engineering company for HADR, on each of the island?

In other words, RN/RFA HADR tasks are by nature always compromise.

As a compromise, HMS Protector is not a bad option. Has a large hull, a LCVP, 2 RHIBs, and one survey boat. It has a helicopter flight deck pad. As Bay LSD was used as a helicopter lili-pad refuel station on the hurricane HADR tasks, having a helicopter flight deck is surely useful. BUT, yes its lack "the first day" helicopter operations. BUT (again), River B2 OPV (and possibly Protector) will soon have (or already carrying) small UAVs for surveilance, the situation is much better than before.

In short, I think HMS Protector is a compromise compared to a Bay, but she could be even better solution than a Wave, taking into account the helicopters recently added on these islands.
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Re: HMS Protector (Ice Patrol Ship) (RN)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

Beautiful. This kind of visit will be attractive for the crew. May be good for retention?

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