Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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shark bait
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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by shark bait »

Why does Brexit change anything?
  • Post Brexit we will still have responsibility in the Med.
  • Post Brexit most of our oil will still come through the Med.
  • Post Brexit uncontrolled immigration into Europe will still impact British security.
  • Post Brexit we will still support our closest allies.
Brexit changes nothing.
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GibMariner
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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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shark bait wrote:And Echo has now replacing her, guess you'll see her coming you're way soon.
HMS Echo patrolled through Gib waters on 07/11 and I believe was spotted in Malta a few days later. Presumably had already been on station for a while prior to today's news.

HMS Enterprise departed Gib yesterday morning:



Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning was in Gibraltar to award the Sword of Peace to HMS Enterprise:



shark bait wrote:RN maintaining a patrol boat in the med, is that a taste of things to come with the new Rivers? I suppose if that's the case assigning one to Gib would make sense.
Believe Bulwark is homebound, having visited Barcelona last week, not sure if RFA Mounts Bay is going home too or being kept in the Med. A River OPV might be useful for Op Sophia and as a presence ship in Gib (but don't think will be as useful as fast patrol boats to tackle other small, fast boats), had the Batch II been an addition to and not a replacement for the Batch I - they'll probably be busier in UK waters post-Brexit and will also have annual 6-month stints in the Caribbean, so not sure there'll be enough to spare for long deployments to the Med or forward basing in Gib.

Presumably that would also have to entail a significant increase in RN personnel in Gib and likely the infrastructure to house them etc... £££££

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GibMariner
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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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HMS Enterprise praised for saving lives in the Mediterranean
UK Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning today (Sunday) praised the Royal Navy vessel for her contribution to Operation Sophia, which is focused on tackling human smugglers and arms traffickers who endanger the lives of migrants seeking travel to Europe.

Of around 30,000 migrants rescued during the operation to date, Enterprise has saved over 9,000, as well as denting the activity of criminal gangs. She will now hand over responsibilities to sister ship HMS Echo.

Enterprise is currently alongside Gibraltar, and Mr Penning was able to personally thank members of her crew during a visit to the British overseas territory.

Aboard the ship today, he presented Enterprise with the Firmin Sword of Peace in recognition of her service.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hms- ... iterranean

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by marktigger »

shark bait wrote:Why does Brexit change anything?
  • Post Brexit we will still have responsibility in the Med.
  • Post Brexit most of our oil will still come through the Med.
  • Post Brexit uncontrolled immigration into Europe will still impact British security.
  • Post Brexit we will still support our closest allies.
Brexit changes nothing.
it means we don't have to be part of the EU operation or Border guard effort

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shark bait
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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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That's not necessarily true, and that still doesn't change any the other reasons for maintaining watch in the Mediterranean.
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shark bait
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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by shark bait »

GibMariner wrote: so not sure there'll be enough to spare for long deployments to the Med or forward basing in Gib.
We're getting a single extra patrol vessel, so I assume that gives us the option to do one extra thing. We already to Falkland, UK and part time Caribbean so perhaps the extra could be the Mediterranean.

Yes rivers are no food against fast craft, but it's helo, if it has one, will be. In which instance basing out of Gibraltar makes sense for both ship and aircraft.

We're using our survey ship as Mediterranean patrol boats at the moment, and it would be preferable to actually use them for surveying. We can't remain great at ASW if we don't know what the environment looks (sounds?) like.
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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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HMS Enterprise Takes Command Of Key NATO Maritime Force

(Forces TV) 6/7/2017
The Royal Navy has taken command of one of NATO's key maritime forces. HMS Enterprise is returning to the Mediterranean as a communications and command hub, becoming the flagship of a NATO mission to protect and reassure allies. The Echo-class survey ship is now the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 2 with Royal Navy personnel leading the mission for a year. Enterprise takes over from the ship's company of Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki, a logistics support ship, who travelled to Portsmouth to hand over their duties

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

"At the same time HMS Enterprise has just taken charge of a minehunting force patrolling the very same waters, following a 30-minute ceremony aboard Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory in Portsmouth."
- same waters being the Med, may be even Black Sea
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by SKB »

HMS Enterprise surveys Falklands wrecks

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... s-coventry

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by SKB »

HMS Enterprise returns home



(Warship TV) 23rd July 2018
HMS Enterprise H88, returns to Devonport after a year's deployment in the Mediterranean and Black Sea acting as NATO Flag Ship. 22nd July 2018.
Some background music for the video above ^


:mrgreen:

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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HMS Enterprise enters space dock, I mean dry dock.

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by Pongoglo »

Anyone else think that the Echo Class are crying out for a single Phalanx fitted aft of the bow and forward of the heli pad in front of the bridge? Clearly not as a permanent fixture for all deployments but perhaps drawn from the same pool as the RFA's. Always struck me as odd how we routinely fit Phalanx to the RFA's when sent in harms way but not our Survey vessels which are frequently deployed in more 'up front tasks'

With their two BMARC 20mm, Mk 44 Mini Guns and GPMG they actually pack a decent amount of fire power when deployed in the patrol and MCMV command ship role as they increasingly seem to be - to my mind a Phalanx fitted forward would cross the 'T'. Certainly looks as if there is plenty of space ?

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by SKB »

Image
Image
Image

:lol:

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by SKB »

Image
Image


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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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Warp speed. :mrgreen:

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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HMS Enterprise visits Portsmouth


Ships Cat (ex QE) has gone aboard Enterprise...!


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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

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Enterprise boldly departs Portsmouth!


Image
The Enterprise has entered the Mutara Nebula... err, North Sea

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by Poiuytrewq »

Cracking shot of HMS Enterprise acting as mothership with HMS Grimsby, HMS Hurworth, HMS Cattistock and HMS Ramsey on Exercise TridentJuncture in Norway.
image.jpg

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by donald_of_tokyo »

Poiuytrewq wrote:Cracking shot of HMS Enterprise acting as mothership with HMS Grimsby, HMS Hurworth, HMS Cattistock and HMS Ramsey on Exercise TridentJuncture in Norway.
Looking at these image, I really think MHC must adopt bulky hull. Large deck space, more flexibility to future MCM drones. I think we must omit "high speed" requirement, which will significantly degrade the effectiveness as MHC ship, by requiring more slender hull. I think, 18 knot is max. Even 16 knots is doable.

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Poiuytrewq wrote:Cracking shot
It is, shows how the modernised MCMs have 4 "arms" to get "stuff" in and out water.

The markings on the "mothership" might suggest (?) that where pongoglo wants to place a Phalanx is reserved for helicopter'ed resupply (in a hovering mode... is that still VERTREP?).
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by Tempest414 »

HMS Echo being sent into the black sea at a time of high tension. given how Russia gave a Type 45 a warm welcome maybe not a good idea

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

I would think its location will be recorded for every moment from above, in a documented way
... and it might find out useful stuff while there?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

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Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

Post by Tempest414 »

donald_of_tokyo wrote:Looking at these image, I really think MHC must adopt bulky hull. Large deck space, more flexibility to future MCM drones. I think we must omit "high speed" requirement, which will significantly degrade the effectiveness as MHC ship, by requiring more slender hull. I think, 18 knot is max. Even 16 knots is doable.
So lets say the UK went for a 100 meter Venari with a wildcat capable hangar and Max speed of 18 knots it could still be very a useful patrol ship

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