Could the Orcas not also be modified to operate ROV, AUV, towfish and some of the other minehunting/survey equipment operated by the Kingstons? I realize they are a lot smaller but that equipment doesn't seem to take up much space.
No it can't its set up as a training ship. AUV's could possibly be operated from there however it lacks the footprint for a 20ft ISO as the workshop and analysing capability.
Supplements the training loss, I should clarify. Can't make up the loss of the Kingstons and the time they provide at sea with what we have, so an interim solution is needed until other assets arrive.
There is no training loss, the Kingston Class hasn't done training in that manner for many years. All RCN ships conduct training to get tickets, qualification and gain experience. The ORCAS actually took over that training from the Kingston Class many years ago, leaving the Kingston Class to be operationally focused.
I mean, Orca can certainly handle small AUV and such. The Orca have been used for testing in that role. You can find some images of them doing tests with Cellula recently. However it isnt a role the vessels themselves are optimized for, and they couldnt reasonably fit the new RMDS for example.
The future ORCA replacement likely could though, although in any case we need to be careful to not deviate to fsr from their training role. The more OPV you go, the harder it is to justify keeping it in a training role.
Could the Orcas not also be modified to operate ROV, AUV, towfish and some of the other minehunting/survey equipment operated by the Kingstons? I realize they are a lot smaller but that equipment doesn't seem to take up much space.
No it can't its set up as a training ship. AUV's could possibly be operated from there however it lacks the footprint for a 20ft ISO as the workshop and analysing capability.
I don't see how buying a new batch of ORCA's will supplement the loss of the Kingston Class?
Supplements the training loss, I should clarify. Can't make up the loss of the Kingstons and the time they provide at sea with what we have, so an interim solution is needed until other assets arrive.
There is no training loss, the Kingston Class hasn't done training in that manner for many years. All RCN ships conduct training to get tickets, qualification and gain experience. The ORCAS actually took over that training from the Kingston Class many years ago, leaving the Kingston Class to be operationally focused.
I mean, Orca can certainly handle small AUV and such. The Orca have been used for testing in that role. You can find some images of them doing tests with Cellula recently. However it isnt a role the vessels themselves are optimized for, and they couldnt reasonably fit the new RMDS for example.
The future ORCA replacement likely could though, although in any case we need to be careful to not deviate to fsr from their training role. The more OPV you go, the harder it is to justify keeping it in a training role.
We are many years from getting a ORCA replacement so the contention that it will take up the slack from the Kingston Class is false.