Aug 26, 2011

Future of the Papua New Guinea Navy

It survives thanks to Australian aid...

Great contribution by "Sam" ;)

Cartography:
Of the entire Papua land aera, about 2% were of water (rivers/lakes).

Coastline: 5 152 km; 9 980 km² of water; a EEZ of 2,396,214 km2; and hundred of islands.

Personnel: 200+
200 and +/- 15 Australian supervisors at high command and on each vessel.

Up to 7 Inshore Patrol Vessels
4 Pacific Class
162 tons, 31.5 meters (ANZAC patrol boat design) Commissioned 1987-89. Only one normally active due to fuelling and maintenance issues.

3 Attack Class
(Reserve, Decommissioned, ex-RAN) 100-146 tons, 32.8 meters (Australian patrol boat design) Commissioned (With PNG) 1974, decommissioned ~1988. Held in reserve, some reporters indicate possible usage as training ships. All that is known is that they are now rusting in the Navy part of Port Moresby harbour.

Up to 2 Medium Landing Crafts

2 Balikpapan class LCH
(316-503), 44.5 meters (Australian landing craft design) Commissioned (With PNG) 1974. Thought to be running at the end of their lifespan with both navies now, the RAN has just cancelled a program to replace theirs so it is likely all vessels will be decommissioned without proper replacement.

Up to 10 Other Vessels
Tugs, tenders etc, known to be around the Port Moresby, Manus Island and Milne Bay Naval Bases, unsure of name and quantity.

Warship Names :
Salamaua (01) [LCH]
Buna (02) [LCH]
Aitape (03) [Attack]
Samarai (04) [Attack] Ladava (05) [Attack]
Tarangau (06) [Pacific]
Dreger (07) [Pacific] Seeadler (08) [Pacific]
Basilisk (09) [Pacific]

Generally the Papua New Guinea DF Fleet is not in too bad a shape, thanks to the Royal Australian Navy there is a constant patrol boat of the RAN or Customs Service within their waters and the sailors of the force are very well trained compared to those of other, similar, navies.

For future plans it is extremely likely that they will probably get three or four new patrol vessels to replace the Pacific class from Australia of either the Protector Class IPV or the Armidale Class within the next few years. Some new landing craft may be purchased/donated but they will probably be of a more civilian design. A main desire of the force is to acquire a larger, offshore, vessel of around 2, 000 tons that would have a multi-role capability like the Austal MRV (Baby LCS) design. I would however doubt that they would be able to afford the maintenance on such a complex ship without further Australian support so a modified commercial vessel is much more likely.

@ "Sam"
I have not had time to check your data, but I "generally" agree with your analysis, thank you !!!

As usual, It may be that this "Fleet Review", Sam forgot programs ? (or made few mistakes ?, especially for the auxiliary and smaller ships), then SAID IT ! Feel free to comment and give your opinion !

1 comment:

  1. PNG Navy, thank GOD for Australia, the PNG Government needs to think about improving their Navy, Air Force, and Ground infantry!! My goodness, we cannot depend on Australia, its a big country amd is got its owm problems, come on PNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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