The Australian Defence Force capability.

[Oldbloke]

"US Defence analysts talking about the fact that they will never get resources to make subs for us, as they are strapped trying to meet a quota for themselves"

I've heard similar from elsewhere. I think its US congress that has issues.

We just have to wait and see I guess.

[alexjones]

"US Defence analysts talking about the fact that they will never get resources to make subs for us, as they are strapped trying to meet a quota for themselves"

I've heard similar from elsewhere. I think its US congress that has issues.

We just have to wait and see I guess.

I think you and me will be dead before the subs come mate. We will be waiting a longtime.

[Beno]

Personally i hope this is true. If it goes ahead it could bankrupt us or at least give our economy a hiding. I don’t think we could effectively leverage any of the learned skills either. We’ve given away our productive manufacturing and can’t compete on a global scale to do much other than dig big holes and grow stuff. Our government (both sides) is not clever enough to pull this off. A good analogy is the housing crisis.

Having a pimped out submarine base capable of servicing our allies is a good strategy. I wonder what we have to give up to make that happen? it won’t happen just because we are mates there will be strings attached.

[Oldbloke]

"US Defence analysts talking about the fact that they will never get resources to make subs for us, as they are strapped trying to meet a quota for themselves"

I've heard similar from elsewhere. I think its US congress that has issues.

We just have to wait and see I guess.

I think you and me will be dead before the subs come mate. We will be waiting a longtime.

Could be right there.
For me the big issue is being at least mainly self reliant. Allies or not, the US will always look after the US first. We can't fully rely on them.
Sooo, make what we know how to make.

Frigates
Patrol boats
Subs if we make an affort.
Small arms
Ammo
Small rockets
Bigger rockets
155mm + the howitzers.
Bombs / various
Drones
Bush masters

Buy more F35s
Buy 2 doz tactical nukes for the F35s

Blh blah, blah.

Then just do what other countries do, conscription for 6 months for all young man and women.
Hand them 500 rounds of ammo and a BA 223.

We have at least at some point done all of above in the past or doing it now.

[Wapiti]

No more subs for us, Aukus has been going for what? 3 1/2 years? And nothing. Albanese, and before this Morrison, have done nothing to bolster and grow our defence force and use it and still do, to do absolutely nothing. And postulate and dribble about what good they are doing.
There will be no Australian subs for even your Grandchildren.
Marles talks tough like Dick Cheney but he acts like Bernie Sanders. We don't even have drones yet.
Because in 30 years, what's going to happen will have done, and you will be starting fires under trees.

[Oldbloke]

Someone else here who is in the ADF may be able to confirm.

But I was told by someone who works in the industry that Marles is starving the ADF of funds.
No money for pens and paper, let alone a few rounds of 7.62 nato for practice.

[Larry]

Problem is there is no gov in the US right now. When that is sorted we should play a lot tuffer and push the subs up the fast track or perhaps close the US bases in the north. Since Okinowa was closed they rely a lot more on our position.

[Oldbloke]

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says the purchase of SM6 systems is crucial in the ‘missile age’.

https://discover.abc.net.au/index.html? ... %20missile

But when?

maxresdefault.jpg (202.4 KiB) Viewed 2869 times

[alexjones]

Someone else here who is in the ADF may be able to confirm.

But I was told by someone who works in the industry that Marles is starving the ADF of funds.
No money for pens and paper, let alone a few rounds of 7.62 nato for practice.

A few years ago it was posted that the Army only has around 18 hours worth of small arms ammunition for heavy combat conditions. Basically one land invasion and one major battle and we are out of ammo.

I doubt the “stockpile” has increased.

I am all for government accountability but surely somethings should be kept secret for national security. Why tell the world we have no ammo to fight an invasion.

This is why we have America as our so called ally. Nobody is yet brazen enough to attack us with American troops in Darwin.

Say what you will about America as they have their problems but they don't F around.

[bladeracer]

I doubt we need to tell anybody, it doesn't take much deduction to work out that we have zero military capability, so why would we have stockpiles of ammo for troops and weapons we don't have, and without people or weapons to use it why would it matter if we did have stockpiles? Do we even have stockpiles of fuel to run vehicles and aircraft for any length of time?

A few years ago it was posted that the Army only has around 18 hours worth of small arms ammunition for heavy combat conditions. Basically one land invasion and one major battle and we are out of ammo.

I doubt the “stockpile” has increased.

I am all for government accountability but surely somethings should be kept secret for national security. Why tell the world we have no ammo to fight an invasion.

This is why we have America as our so called ally. Nobody is yet brazen enough to attack us with American troops in Darwin.

Say what you will about America as they have their problems but they don't F around.

[Oldbloke]

I doubt we need to tell anybody, it doesn't take much deduction to work out that we have zero military capability, so why would we have stockpiles of ammo for troops and weapons we don't have, and without people or weapons to use it why would it matter if we did have stockpiles? Do we even have stockpiles of fuel to run vehicles and aircraft for any length of time?

A few years ago it was posted that the Army only has around 18 hours worth of small arms ammunition for heavy combat conditions. Basically one land invasion and one major battle and we are out of ammo.

I doubt the “stockpile” has increased.

I am all for government accountability but surely somethings should be kept secret for national security. Why tell the world we have no ammo to fight an invasion.

This is why we have America as our so called ally. Nobody is yet brazen enough to attack us with American troops in Darwin.

Say what you will about America as they have their problems but they don't F around.

I pleased to say that fuel issue was recognised about 2 years ago.

Currently at I believe at least 3 locations in the country the government has contracted companies to build a sh1t load of fuel storage tanks. It's happening as we speak.

[mchughcb]

Someone else here who is in the ADF may be able to confirm.

But I was told by someone who works in the industry that Marles is starving the ADF of funds.
No money for pens and paper, let alone a few rounds of 7.62 nato for practice.

A few years ago it was posted that the Army only has around 18 hours worth of small arms ammunition for heavy combat conditions. Basically one land invasion and one major battle and we are out of ammo.

I doubt the “stockpile” has increased.

I am all for government accountability but surely somethings should be kept secret for national security. Why tell the world we have no ammo to fight an invasion.

This is why we have America as our so called ally. Nobody is yet brazen enough to attack us with American troops in Darwin.

Say what you will about America as they have their problems but they don't F around.

That's exactly what we want the Russians to think.

[Oldbloke]

Who would have thought, subs rust.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-01/ ... /104551528

[bigrich]

Just saw on my news feed this morning, one fully operational Collin’s sub. All the rest are in for major maintenance and repairs. Apparently corrosion is one of the main issues. By the sounds of that if you try to take a Collin’s deep they’ll implode.
The way the adf has been financed we’ll be lucky if new patrol boats aren’t recycled fishing boats with a oversized outboard and a ex Indian army Bren gun mounted on it

[Oldbloke]

Just saw on my news feed this morning, one fully operational Collin’s sub. All the rest are in for major maintenance and repairs. Apparently corrosion is one of the main issues. By the sounds of that if you try to take a Collin’s deep they’ll implode.
The way the adf has been financed we’ll be lucky if new patrol boats aren’t recycled fishing boats with a oversized outboard and a ex Indian army Bren gun mounted on it

Yep, Marles is starving them of funds.

And we tell the whole world.

[Oldbloke]

During ww11 German Wolf packs (submarines) that attacked the US "liberty" convoys in the Atlantic travelling to the UK sometimes numbered 40.
And we have one operating submarine. FMD.

2f16d3ad4d6042abdca753c7964f3304.jpg (138.99 KiB) Viewed 2110 times

[mchughcb]

Before we talk about ADF capabilities, can I even afford to pay Victoria's mental health levy.

[Wapiti]

See the 10 new Blackhawks at Holsworthy doing terrorist insertions with 2nd Cdo regiment. Smooth.
Might see some getting the Navy paint jobs at Albatross soon.

[Billo]

Making Himar shells locally should be a good thing and for Ukraine

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/australia-to- ... -per-year/

[Oldbloke]

Making Himar shells locally should be a good thing and for Ukraine

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/australia-to- ... -per-year/

There are a few things happening ATM.
NIOA is making 155mm ammo, but not filling them.
Drones are happening too I think.

[bigrich]

Making Himar shells locally should be a good thing and for Ukraine

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/australia-to- ... -per-year/

There are a few things happening ATM.
NIOA is making 155mm ammo, but not filling them.
Drones are happening too I think.

Underwater naval drones are a big thing now. Lots of developments in this field. But Australia has a massive coastline. The amount of foreign fishing boats raiding our waters is rediculous . We don’t have the resources to maintain our borders from Indonesian villager’s in half assed fishing boats. How easy is it to get contraband into our country let alone foreign agents.

[alexjones]

40k bonus if you have done your 4 years and sign on for anther 3.

I would never join seeing how the government stole my guns, locked me in my home and called me non essential. I don't suffer from Stockholm syndrome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=JKi9Bw ... e=youtu.be

[Larry]

This is some interesting and good to hear news about the defence force https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKJS0v6VqS4

[mickb]

Making Himar shells locally should be a good thing and for Ukraine

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/australia-to- ... -per-year/

There are a few things happening ATM.
NIOA is making 155mm ammo, but not filling them.
Drones are happening too I think.

Underwater naval drones are a big thing now. Lots of developments in this field. But Australia has a massive coastline. The amount of foreign fishing boats raiding our waters is rediculous . We don’t have the resources to maintain our borders from Indonesian villager’s in half assed fishing boats. How easy is it to get contraband into our country let alone foreign agents.

yeah defence of Australia is never a thing. We are the completely wrong concept to defend. Limited assets, massive coastline, our few major assets(cities) neatly lined up on the exterior(coast).

I remember in the army it was sort of funny everyone would picture the chinks/commies landing in the north and struggling through the outback to get to the cities, blokes would even rate our poisonous snakes as a deterrant.

With Australia you dont need to walk anywhere. We have a tiny navy, all our assets are on the outside edge of the country, you just sail up to the easy targets, a single medium missile ship takes out our defence force before it even reaches our waters, they blockade our ports and as we dont make anything they control our resources.

We lose quickly militarily, the real fight is how much the population themselves resists a takeover, or which major power wants to save us.

[Oldbloke]

Making Himar shells locally should be a good thing and for Ukraine

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/australia-to- ... -per-year/

There are a few things happening ATM.
NIOA is making 155mm ammo, but not filling them.
Drones are happening too I think.

Underwater naval drones are a big thing now. Lots of developments in this field. But Australia has a massive coastline. The amount of foreign fishing boats raiding our waters is rediculous . We don’t have the resources to maintain our borders from Indonesian villager’s in half assed fishing boats. How easy is it to get contraband into our country let alone foreign agents.

yeah defence of Australia is never a thing. We are the completely wrong concept to defend. Limited assets, massive coastline, our few major assets(cities) neatly lined up on the exterior(coast).

I remember in the army it was sort of funny everyone would picture the chinks/commies landing in the north and struggling through the outback to get to the cities, blokes would even rate our poisonous snakes as a deterrant.

With Australia you dont need to walk anywhere. We have a tiny navy, all our assets are on the outside edge of the country, you just sail up to the easy targets, a single medium missile ship takes out our defence force before it even reaches our waters, they blockade our ports and as we dont make anything they control our resources.

We lose quickly militarily, the real fight is how much the (disarmed) population themselves resists a takeover, or which major power wants to save us.

Just corrected it for you.m8

[on_one_wheel]

Disarmed, distracted, feminised, unfit, untrained population.

[mickb]

well corrected fellas, sadly

[Oldbloke]

Would Musk and Trump really dump manufacturing the F35?
That would definitely effect us.

I think EM has a conflict of interest here. He can see a business opportunity.

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/us-te ... ablishment

[on_one_wheel]

Sounds like the F35 has been a money pit.
It's likley they'll redirect the funds into something more suitable for modern warfare.
Looks like air / sea drones and explosive scooters are the way forward.

[Oldbloke]

Was reading about 2 weeks ago. It's considered to be about ummmm 8-10 years ahead of the nearest rivals, China and Russia.

But agree, drones are a good thing. US already has plenty.