Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Contains threads on Royal Navy equipment of the past, present and future.
User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7930
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by SKB »


Image
Image
Image

Wikipedia:
In January 2023, the first vessel for this role - MV Topaz Tangaroa - was acquired and is to enter service as RFA Proteus. She was purchased for some £70 million and is to be converted to act as a mothership for autonomous systems and have military communications and light defensive armament added. The vessel ship is described as having been built in 2019 and is equipped to operate autonomous submersibles. She has diesel-electric propulsion with powerful twin bow thrusters to "hold a precise stationary position when working over subsea installations". She is also equipped with a ‘moon pool’, permitting a sheltered way for robot submersibles to be launched or recovered in high sea states. The ship is 98.1 metres-long with a flight deck, heavy duty crane and 1,000 square metres of cargo space. It is reported that a second MROS ship is envisaged, which is to be a new build vessel and as of 2023 is in the concept stage.
These users liked the author SKB for the post (total 3):
Repulsedonald_of_tokyozanahoria

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7930
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by SKB »

Navy Lookout:
The vessel was purchased for £70 Million from Topaz Marine, a subsidiary of P&O Maritime. This modern, 6,000-tonne ship was built in 2019 for work in the offshore oil industry supporting construction, maintenance and inspection work and is equipped to operate autonomous submersibles. VARD designed her (classname VARD 3 08) and the hull was built by their Tulcea shipyard in Romania and fitted out at their Brattvaag facility in Norway.
https://www.vard.com/shipbuilding/refer ... z-tangaroa


(P&O Maritime Logistics) 23rd November 2021


(Cora A.) 10th December 2022
Nice video of the TOPAZ TANGAROA passing by in the Kiel Canal (in Schleswig-Holstein State, Germany).

(Wilfried Thiel) 14th Decmber 2022

She has a sister, a ship named Topaz Tiamat.

(Hornet Hail) 9th December 2018
These users liked the author SKB for the post:
Ron5


bobp
Senior Member
Posts: 2684
Joined: 06 May 2015, 07:52
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by bobp »


Will the crane lift a plane off the sea bed I wonder.
These users liked the author bobp for the post:
Clive F

Repulse
Donator
Posts: 4579
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:46
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Repulse »

“K” pennant - Corvette?
”We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." - Lord Palmerston

User avatar
mrclark303
Donator
Posts: 813
Joined: 06 May 2015, 10:47
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by mrclark303 »

Repulse wrote: 05 Apr 2023, 08:45 “K” pennant - Corvette?
It's certainly a great example of bang for your buck.

Normally this sort of thing would take ten years and 10 bun fights " will it be built here" etc etc and cost £500 million plus....

£70 million for a virtually new ship, absolute bargain!

I'll bet It costs more to buy the fleet of luxury cars to ferry top brass / MOD suits around every few years, so they can bluster over buying a ship like this!
These users liked the author mrclark303 for the post:
SD67

Timmymagic
Donator
Posts: 3224
Joined: 07 May 2015, 23:57
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Timmymagic »

Repulse wrote: 05 Apr 2023, 08:45 “K” pennant - Corvette?
From Navy Lookout

"The prefix ‘K’ for the pennant number is assigned to ‘miscellaneous’ vessels by the RN and was last used by the diving ship HMS Challenger (K07) decommissioned in 1990 and the helicopter support ship, RFA Engadine decommissioned in 1989. The half-completed paint job can be seen in this bow view."
These users liked the author Timmymagic for the post (total 2):
Repulsewargame_insomniac

Timmymagic
Donator
Posts: 3224
Joined: 07 May 2015, 23:57
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Timmymagic »

mrclark303 wrote: 05 Apr 2023, 09:51 Normally this sort of thing would take ten years and 10 bun fights " will it be built here" etc etc and cost £500 million plus....
Pretty much describes HMS Challenger...our previous MROSS...
These users liked the author Timmymagic for the post:
Jensy

User avatar
Ianmb17
Member
Posts: 145
Joined: 01 May 2015, 21:33
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Ianmb17 »

These users liked the author Ianmb17 for the post (total 2):
PoiuytrewqRon5

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7930
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by SKB »


Image
Image
Image

wargame_insomniac
Senior Member
Posts: 1135
Joined: 20 Nov 2021, 19:12
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by wargame_insomniac »

RFA Stirling Castle now commencing trials. Great news that conversion done so quickly.



new guy
Senior Member
Posts: 1183
Joined: 18 Apr 2023, 01:53
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by new guy »

Look at the pictures: MROSS and no.1 of castle class with stuff


User avatar
xav
Senior Member
Posts: 1626
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 22:48

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by xav »

These users liked the author xav for the post:
RichardIC

User avatar
RichardIC
Senior Member
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 May 2015, 16:59
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by RichardIC »

So MROSS 2 possibly not a new build as promised? Which would actually make a lot of sense in many ways.

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7930
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by SKB »


User avatar
shark bait
Senior Member
Posts: 6427
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:18
Pitcairn Island

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by shark bait »

RichardIC wrote: 31 May 2023, 09:36 So MROSS 2 possibly not a new build as promised? Which would actually make a lot of sense in many ways.
If they like Proteus, the Navy would be better off buying her sister ship.
These users liked the author shark bait for the post (total 4):
SKBnew guywargame_insomniacDahedd
@LandSharkUK

Poiuytrewq
Senior Member
Posts: 3952
Joined: 15 Dec 2017, 10:25
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Poiuytrewq »

Proteus continuing to protect the critical subsea infrastructure in Birkenhead.

https://www.navylookout.com/in-service- ... to-autumn/

Repulse
Donator
Posts: 4579
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:46
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Repulse »

Poiuytrewq wrote: 10 Aug 2023, 10:41 Proteus continuing to protect the critical subsea infrastructure in Birkenhead.

https://www.navylookout.com/in-service- ... to-autumn/
Who would have predicted finding the crew required in the RFA resource pool would be difficult… what silent cut will be made to fix this priority? Just makes it even more of a joke when the RFA still has to find crew for 3 FSS and another MRoSS under current plans….
”We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." - Lord Palmerston

new guy
Senior Member
Posts: 1183
Joined: 18 Apr 2023, 01:53
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by new guy »

Repulse wrote: 10 Aug 2023, 15:18
Poiuytrewq wrote: 10 Aug 2023, 10:41 Proteus continuing to protect the critical subsea infrastructure in Birkenhead.

https://www.navylookout.com/in-service- ... to-autumn/
Who would have predicted finding the crew required in the RFA resource pool would be difficult… what silent cut will be made to fix this priority? Just makes it even more of a joke when the RFA still has to find crew for 3 FSS and another MRoSS under current plans….
Instant doubling of staff needed for the RFA

Repulse
Donator
Posts: 4579
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:46
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Repulse »

new guy wrote: 10 Aug 2023, 15:20 Instant doubling of staff needed for the RFA
I wonder why they haven’t thought of this already?

In all seriousness, it’s all about conditions (aka money) and money, given they are already going on strike then what gives to pay for it, and what happens to the moral in the RN. The RFA is their for logistics not as a stand in for the RN, yet we keep giving them more to do.

Perhaps with a shrinking number of ships overall better to scrap the RFA and get everything operated by RN sailors.
These users liked the author Repulse for the post (total 2):
jimtheladJensy
”We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." - Lord Palmerston

Poiuytrewq
Senior Member
Posts: 3952
Joined: 15 Dec 2017, 10:25
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Poiuytrewq »

Proteus making a move from Cammell Laird

These users liked the author Poiuytrewq for the post (total 4):
new guydonald_of_tokyowargame_insomniacserge750

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7930
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by SKB »


(Stratus Imagery Ltd) 16th September 2023
These users liked the author SKB for the post:
bobp

Repulse
Donator
Posts: 4579
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:46
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Repulse »

Shows the complete farce of using the RFA for critical tasks.

https://x.com/navylookout/status/170417 ... AEmCklKdgA
”We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow." - Lord Palmerston

Poiuytrewq
Senior Member
Posts: 3952
Joined: 15 Dec 2017, 10:25
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

Post by Poiuytrewq »

Repulse wrote: 19 Sep 2023, 17:56 Shows the complete farce of using the RFA for critical tasks.

https://x.com/navylookout/status/170417 ... AEmCklKdgA
Are we approaching the point where the RFA just isn’t viable anymore?
These users liked the author Poiuytrewq for the post:
Repulse

Post Reply