What warship?

[avgas]

Did it replace a boat? Or was it used purely because it could go on land?
Never said the h-boats were failure..........just a failed replacement for a boat.
Worked perfectly fine if you were going somewhere it could be supported..........but few made it outside that. Same problem Ekranoplan still face, fantastics for going 900kph to a destination..........provided the conditions were right.

You also have to remember that I am talking about a design 70 years ago. Hovercrafts back then were like shooting ducks in a barrell. Even the Russian Juggernaut Zubr class was a really big fish to shoot. They were big and slow, and easy to take off-line.
Not to mention the inefficiency of using gas to lift the craft, and another to move it. Ekranoplans were the opposite, it lifted itself up, due to the hydrofoil effect of wind under the wing, it keep itself low by the rebounded pressure - thus it travelled more efficiently than even a plane. But it travelled at speeds a boat (or hovercraft) could not imagine. Not only that but it did not matter if the other surface was water or earth - the operating principle remained.

But I still have a soft spot for the old H-craft. But I can see the complaints about inefficient travel means......and the complaints about steering. But they are still cool - especially the zubr

[Swoop]

A great photo of what the Marines play with!

[Swoop]

It's quite interesting that the NZ Navy wants to keep HMNZS Endeavour in service until 2018.
Due to be decommissioned in 2015/6 due to severe corrosion, but you get that from a commercially designed vessel. Couple that with a crew so small, even maintaining the paintwork is a challenge let alone removing areas of rust.

Then we have Canterbury's problems...

[avgas]

It's quite interesting that the NZ Navy wants to keep HMNZS Endeavour in service until 2018.
Due to be decommissioned in 2015/6 due to severe corrosion, but you get that from a commercially designed vessel. Couple that with a crew so small, even maintaining the paintwork is a challenge let alone removing areas of rust.
Then we have Canterbury's problems...

Marine Enamel is on special in comparison to frigates........

If only we had that much common sense when it came to our strike wing rather than shutting down the jets on the hope of F-15's.

An aging navy is better than none.

[Mental Trousers]

Also called the PE (for precision engagement) model, the refurbished A-10s are supposed to remain in service until 2028, meaning most A-10Cs will have served over 40 years and as many as 16,000 flight hours. The upgrade effort has been underway for over five years. The upgrades include new electronics as well as structural and engine refurbishment. The A-10C provides the pilot with the same targeting and fire control gadgets the latest fighters have. The new A-10C cockpit has all the spiffy colour displays and easy to use controls. Because it is a single-seat aircraft that flies close to the ground (something that requires a lot more concentration), all the automation in the cockpit allows the pilot to do a lot more, with less stress, exertion, and danger.

The basic A-10 is a 1960s design, so the new additions are quite spectacular in comparison. New comms gear has also been added, allowing A-10 pilots to share pix and vids with troops on the ground. The A-10 pilot also has access to the Blue Force Tracker system, so that the nearest friendly ground forces show up on the HUD (Head Up Display) when coming in low to use the 30mm cannon. The A-10 can now use smart bombs, making it a do-it-all aircraft for ground support.

I wonder if adding alot more gizmos makes the A10 more vulnerable. Originally it was designed to fly around full of bullet holes with bits missing and still be able to hit anything on the ground with the 30mm. But circuit boards don't like bullet holes.

[Swoop]

I wonder if adding alot more gizmos makes the A10 more vulnerable. Originally it was designed to fly around full of bullet holes with bits missing and still be able to hit anything on the ground with the 30mm. But circuit boards don't like bullet holes.

No, not really. There are still double and triple-redundant systems onboard.
The new electronics enable far greater capability and greatly reduces the chance of fratricide... Something the US is quite capable of doing even under the best laid set of plans.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

It's quite interesting that the NZ Navy wants to keep HMNZS Endeavour in service until 2018.
Due to be decommissioned in 2015/6 due to severe corrosion, but you get that from a commercially designed vessel. Couple that with a crew so small, even maintaining the paintwork is a challenge let alone removing areas of rust.

Then we have Canterbury's problems...

The Navy doesn't get a say how long they get to keep stuff... the final say is from the NZG and bean counters...

Endevour was commissioned in 1988 that will make her 28 years old in 2016 That is getting up there for any ship. The main reason that they want to replace Endeavour, is that she a single skin hull... with a temporary double hull, but no longer meets international standards and is being used at a reduced capacity. As for maintenance all the ships have regular maintenance periods, and not just done buy the crew, but she is getting on the old girl. HMNZS Endevour has had an outstanding record & career in the RNZN. She one of the nicer and easier ships to receive fuel from (this comes from the many ships and crews that she has served over her career) The Aussies call her their third tanker. (not sure if that is a good thing or not... lol)

While Canterbury has had teething problems... (most new designs do) however most have now been rectified... Many other navies have looked and taken all the good designs from the concept and put into their own designs...
She has served her function well. She has been a learning curve in the art of amphibious landings etc and with Exercise Southern Katipo, she proved that she can do it. Remember, her main role and reason for being bought was and is 'Humanitarian Aid', and then moving troops, and then as a training ship... she was never bought to face armed landings or to go into hot spots. She proved herself the 2 times she has been on the Pacific Partnership Missions, The Cyclone Relief Aid in Tonga etc even here in NZ she moved equipment for the the ChCh EQ, Southern Katipo, and the many other exercises she has been on etc... Her Command and Control systems are being upgraded soon. I believe she will be going to RIMPAC in June/July this year. Is Canterbury perfect, no... but no ship is... The all have limitations, they all have problems, they all have their quirks.

[pzkpfw]

On the A10's : sadly they're now talking about dumping them, for budget reasons.

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/0...r-longest-war/

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2...in-new-budget/

[avgas]

If this continues all will be left is the predator. F35 is a dud (a very sexy dud, but still a dud). Its 5 times over budget with no deadline in sight.

I wonder if NZ can buy the warthogs - they would actually suit as a replacement for the skyhawks.

[pzkpfw]

If this continues all will be left is the predator. F35 is a dud (a very sexy dud, but still a dud). Its 5 times over budget with no deadline in sight.

I wonder if NZ can buy the warthogs - they would actually suit as a replacement for the skyhawks.

Yep. Some Canadians are apparently pushing to buy some, reckon they'd be good for us too. Fire some shots across the bows of trawlers (like one of our Skyhawks once did.)

Kiwi pilots were apparently masters of low-level Skyhawk use. Sounds right up A10 alley.

[TheDemonLord]

The A10 is one of my top 3 Aircraft of all time,

Whilst it might have looks that only a mother could love - there is something that always makes me feel gooey (in a Manly way) when you see one of those do a run on a Tank - shredding it with the Avenger cannon.

I would be surprised if they scrap - hell the B52 is still trucking and that is coming up to its 60th birthday

[MisterD]

Whilst it might have looks that only a mother could love -

It looks perfect in the way only something so perfectly functional can.

It'd be a dream to see them over the Central Plateau...

[pzkpfw]

It looks perfect in the way only something so perfectly functional can.

It'd be a dream to see them over the Central Plateau...

I don't understand people. They say the Spitfire is beautiful, but to me it's weird and blobby.

They call the Thunderbolt II a Warthog - but to me it's just as you wrote.

[TheDemonLord]

if both of them were women, I would tap them 6 ways till sunday....

Jus Sayin.....

[pzkpfw]

Yeah, nothing wrong with weird and blobby women.