Author Topic: M.A.D's 'Alternative Australian Defence Force Order of Battle' Questions please  (Read 67172 times)

Offline apophenia

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When bought, the CP-140 was meant to be superior to the P-3C. Then time passes and the Aurora Incremental Modernization Project became necessary (IIRC, AIMP is now entering its fourth decade). Meanwhile, almost everyone who bought bog-standard P-3Cs has just nipped down to their local 'Orion Upgrade Store' and bought off the peg  ;)
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Offline ScranJ51

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I'm not in a position to be certain, but I think the upgrade RAAF P-3C's underwent made them a very potent machine.


Used a lot in overland sorties providing intel to "certain" people on the ground in real time, including I believe video.

GTX may know more
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Offline GTX_Admin

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It's not a simple either or question.  If you take the RAAF as your focus point (given this thread) you have to consider that the RAAF first acquired Orions (P-3Bs) in 1968 whereas the first CP-140 didn't fly until 1979.  Therefore, for the RAAF, it made more sense to stick with the P-3 when they acquired the P-3Cs in 1978/79 rather than go for the CP-140.  There is also the commonality with the USN factor and the ability to benefit from common support bases and technology developments. 

As to upgrades for the RAAF birds, they underwent two major updates during their life (and I was there whilst these were occurring and SWMBO was directly involved as well):

  • AIR 5140:  This essentially involved the fitment of the AN/ALR2001 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) equipment
  • AIR 5276:  This was a much bigger program aimed at upgrading the aircraft's combat systems in multiple ways including fitting each aircraft with a new Elta EL/M-2022(V)3 radar, a nose-mounted Star Safire III electro-optical and infrared system, "highly capable" signals and electronic intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT) equipment, the UYS 503 acoustic system, a new automatic information system processor, a new navigation system, a new communications system and other improvements. The Orions' weight was also reduced by more than 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) as part of the upgrade. It also resulted in the Orions being redesigned as AP-3Cs

See more here:  http://p-3publications.com/PDF/AirborneLog-Fall93.pdf
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Offline Logan Hartke

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I'm no expert, but given the RAAF's threat environment, I'd say no.

You have to remember that during basically the entire Cold War, most of the Canadian Armed Force (RCN and RCAF, specifically) were geared towards countering the Soviet Navy attempts to disrupt NATO lines of communication across the Atlantic. Basically think Battle of the Atlantic 2: Redux, but replace "Dönitz" with "Gorshkov". This was fine with Canada. It made the most sense with their geography, immediate threats, and expertise post-WWII. They adopted the Sea King helicopter in 1963 (!), years before the UK and over a decade before Australia. They pioneered the very concept of ASW helicopter frigates, a couple of decades before the US finally gave up on DASH and got its act together. And, they independently developed the world's best ASW aircraft until the Orion came along, the CP-107 Argus. Why does all this matter? Well, when you consider Canada's focus on ASW, a 3% improvement in speed is well worth it when it comes to overall performance. The RCN and RCAF were expecting to encounter the best the Red Banner Northern Fleet could throw at them from Day 1 of any conflict.



By contrast, the RAAF, while a very professional organization, was never expected to serve the same role in the Pacific, a much lower threat environment, by comparison. The Soviet Pacific Fleet had about half the complement of ships that the Northern Fleet had for much of the Cold War, and these were often a bit older and less advanced on average. Likewise, the US Navy was far larger, more capable, and forward deployed compared to the Australian Navy in the Pacific, and the Pacific Fleet would have to get through the USN and JMSDF before Australia would have to handle them anyway. Japan's Orion fleet alone was more than five times as large as Australia's. During the 1980s, it's an open question whose side China would even have been on—if any—so it's no guarantee that their Romeos would have played a part in a hypothetical conflict.

I think an exciting ASW day for the RAAF in a live conflict might be picking up an Indonesian Whiskey. That's basically a warmed over Type XXI being operated by effectively a first time submarine operator that hasn't had user support for a couple of decades.



So, it may help, but I don't suspect it'll be worth losing the USN (and potentially JMSDF) Orion fleet commonality given Australia's likely threat environment.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline GTX_Admin

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One has to remember that the RAAF's use of the Orion was more on the Maritime Patrol role than the Anti-Submarine role (even though the latter was one of the roles they were capable of).
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Offline Logan Hartke

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Exactly. It was a good fit, no question there. I just don't think you'd need the extra 10% for a bit snappier ASW suite. And things post Cold War eventually got a bit more interesting in the region for Australia regarding ASW, but as other posters have pointed out, it's nicer to be in the stream for USN upgrades than out in the cold and paying out of your own pocket.

Offline Volkodav

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And according to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet science advisor in the late 70s early 80s, ten P-3Cs are more valuable and capable the RANs entire Sea King fleet, the Wessex, the carrier replacement, and escort fleet.

Offline GTX_Admin

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And according to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet science advisor in the late 70s early 80s, ten P-3Cs are more valuable and capable the RANs entire Sea King fleet, the Wessex, the carrier replacement, and escort fleet.

Well that's obvious...says former P-3 Orion boy. ;)
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Offline M.A.D

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Thanks gents for your views and insight, defiantly some interesting and valid points to consider.
My notion in my Alternative ADF ORBAT is that as a nation, Australia seriously undertakes 'joint programs' to share, offset and mitigate cost and risk in developing given weapons/weapons platforms with allies and like-minded nations. The Canadian/Lockheed CP-140 being one consideration in place of the Lockheed P-3C.

MAD

Offline Volkodav

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And according to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet science advisor in the late 70s early 80s, ten P-3Cs are more valuable and capable the RANs entire Sea King fleet, the Wessex, the carrier replacement, and escort fleet.

Well that's obvious...says former P-3 Orion boy. ;)

Yeah, fit them with Sidewinders they could have replaced the Mirage and we wouldn't have had to waste money on the F/A-18.  ;D

Offline Volkodav

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I've long been a fan of the idea that GAF builds Shackletons following on from the Lincoln, probably instead of the GR/ASW conversion of some of the Lincolns, skipping Neptune and Orion, before going Nimrod  ;).

Offline GTX_Admin

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Yeah, fit them with Sidewinders they could have replaced the Mirage and we wouldn't have had to waste money on the F/A-18.  ;D

Ok.



I have heard a story of a RAAF F/A-18 getting shot down on exercise because he tried to take on an Orion.
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Offline M.A.D

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G'day all
Hope everyone has had a great Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year to you all!

For sometime I've been contemplating the development/adaption of a carrier-based derivative of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-27 Avon Sabre, for use by the RAN from it's Majestic-class aircraft carriers, and of course my want of commonality in both manufacturing and service maintenance between the services where and when possible...

But then I stubbled across this interesting snippet of information I neither knew or appreciated:

Quote
The F9F was known to be highly maneuverable and easy to fly. Corky Meyer, who flew both the F9F Cougar and North American FJ-3 Fury, noted that compared to the latter the Cougar had a higher dive speed limit (Mach 1.2 vs Mach 1), a higher maneuvering limit of 7.5-g (compared to 6-g), and greater endurance.
"[The] Combat Air patrol mission was for two hours on station at 150 nmi (280 km) from the carrier. This required 2+30 takeoff, cruise, and landing endurance plus reserves. The F9F-6 could perform a three-hour CAP mission on internal fuel. The FJ-2 and -3 with external tanks had less that 1+30 mission time and the FJ-4 just met the mission requirement."
The F9F Cougar was also a capable multi-role aircraft, which may explain why it was deployed less often than dedicated fighters.

So unexpectedly the F9F-8 Cougar appears to have some important performance advantages over that of the North American FJ-2 and FJ-3 Fury's.....🤔
Now I fully appreciate the performance gains of the CAC CA-27 Sabre over that of the legacy F-86/FJ-2/FJ-3's, what with it's RR Avon engine, Aden 30mm cannons.....

If I may, I'd like to lean on the forum for their input to the notion/potential of upgrading the carrier-based Grumman F9F-8 Cougar fighter-bomber in keeping it more effective, more combat relevant until the likes of a derivative of a mature Douglas A-4G Skyhawk can be developed and deployed.

P.S. please note, I'm aiming for a real-world type upgrade in terms of cost and timeframe, not a metamorphosis of the entire Cougar design as such....😉

P.P.S I can't help noticing that unlike the F9F Panther, I've never seen a picture or drawing of a F9F-8 Cougar armed with air-to-surface rockets. Was the Cougar actually capable of employing such weapons?
 
Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to what we might be able to come up with.

MAD

« Last Edit: December 31, 2021, 08:07:51 AM by M.A.D »

Offline Logan Hartke

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P.P.S I can't help noticing that unlike the F9F Panther, I've never seen a picture or drawing of a F9F-8 Cougar armed with air-to-surface rockets. Was the Cougar actually capable of employing such weapons?

Totally.



https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F9F_Cougar_launches_Zuni_rockets_c1959.jpg

https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/369569-did-the-f9f-8-cougar-carry-non-zuni-hvars-historical-loadout/



I've always thought the two-seat TF-9J Cougar is one of the more beautiful carrier aircraft.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline M.A.D

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P.P.S I can't help noticing that unlike the F9F Panther, I've never seen a picture or drawing of a F9F-8 Cougar armed with air-to-surface rockets. Was the Cougar actually capable of employing such weapons?

Totally.



https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F9F_Cougar_launches_Zuni_rockets_c1959.jpg

https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/369569-did-the-f9f-8-cougar-carry-non-zuni-hvars-historical-loadout/



I've always thought the two-seat TF-9J Cougar is one of the more beautiful carrier aircraft.

Cheers,

Logan

Oh wow, thanks Logan Hartke, you're a bloody legend finding and sharing this information 👍
I have to admit, I was thinking of 5-in rockets, as opposed to 70mm Zuni rockets, but a rocket is a rocket and an explosion and explosion🤔

Cheers again

MAD

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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<snip>I was thinking of 5-in rockets, as opposed to 70mm Zuni rockets, but a rocket is a rocket and an explosion and explosion<snip>

The rockets in both images are the larger 127mm (5.0") Zuni FFAR in the standard four-shot rocket pod.
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Offline M.A.D

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<snip>I was thinking of 5-in rockets, as opposed to 70mm Zuni rockets, but a rocket is a rocket and an explosion and explosion<snip>

The rockets in both images are the larger 127mm (5.0") Zuni FFAR in the standard four-shot rocket pod.
Thank you for that clarification, now that you've said it, I clearly see the difference 😯👍

MAD

Offline M.A.D

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Just for some inspiration, a few pictures that emphasis the F9F-8 and TF-9J shape and lines which might be refined 🤔

On top of this, I stumbled across the following studies/proposals which sound like could have been applied to the Cougar:

Quote
A night-fighter version with AAM armament was considered but not adopted, and an improved trainer with a P&W J52 turbojet was also considered but rejected.

An all-weather fighter sounds imperative to the RAN.
The P&W J52 turbojet for its size, weight and thrust sounds promising.

MAD

Offline Old Wombat

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Well, in my universe the RAN did fly Cougars;


https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6963.25

 ;)

PS: She has her AIM-9Bs fitted, now (that only took about another year after the missiles arrived :-\). I may even take photo's one day. ::)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline M.A.D

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Well, in my universe the RAN did fly Cougars;


https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6963.25

 ;)

PS: She has her AIM-9Bs fitted, now (that only took about another year after the missiles arrived :-\). I may even take photo's one day. ::)

Wow, she's gorgeous Old Wombat 😍
The colours and markings makes her seem so right🤔
Looking forward to seeing her with Aim-9B!

I can only assume you had a backstory to it mate?

MAD


Offline finsrin

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Such a good looking scheme for a good looking jet.  And all that M.A.D. wrote applies.  :smiley:  :smiley:  :smiley:
1950s jets have style like 1950s car do.

Offline M.A.D

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Well, in my universe the RAN did fly Cougars;


https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=6963.25

 ;)

PS: She has her AIM-9Bs fitted, now (that only took about another year after the missiles arrived :-\). I may even take photo's one day. ::)

Any chance of some photos from different angles and with Sidewinder's fitted mate?

MAD

Offline M.A.D

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A question to the forum please, in relation to the RAN's reluctance to operate their Douglas TA-4G from the Majestic class light aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, as quoted:

"TA-4G trainers were fitted with the same avionics and weapons as the single-seat aircraft, but were unable to be operated from Melbourne, as their flight characteristics meant that they could not safely take off from the ship in the event of a "bolter" landing."

Hypathetically, was there a potential fix to this "flight characteristics" issue?

MAD

Offline Old Wombat

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Yeah, a bigger engine; requiring a complete refit of the entire A-4 compliment to maintain commonality, an excessive cost given that there were only 2 TA-4's & up to 18 A-4G's (minus operational losses).
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline GTX_Admin

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If they had needed to keep them in service, perhaps a retrofit with the A-4M's more powerful J52-P-408 engine with 11,200 lbf (50 kN) thrust vs the A-4G's/TA-4G's J52-P8A of 9,300 lbf (41 kN) thrust?
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