Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) Vessels
The Navy’s first Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA) boat was officially named TAKAPU in a formal ceremony at Opua. The ceremony marked a major milestone in the project, which entails local company Northland Spars and Rigging delivering two new REA boats, increasing the Navy’s amphibious, diving, surveying and rapid response capabilities. The boats were designed by New Zealand naval architect Alan Walker and built locally in Opua by Terry Forsbrey’s team at Northland Spars and Rigging. TAKAPU and sister boat TARAPUNGA will be delivered to the Navy over the next two months. The boats can be towed on a trailer, carried aboard Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels and CANTERBURY and carried in an Air Force C-130 Hercules.
How can the navy INCREASE the Navy’s amphibious, diving, surveying and rapid response capabilities when Manawanui and Resolution are going? Are these two boats the Government’s cheap answer to fill the gaps? More commerically built vessels to do a naval role! What next – Sub-lieutenants in charge of bath tubs?
…these two runabouts will probably be in lieu of the proposed littoral warfare combat ship that was to replace the Manawanui and the Resolution. After all, the navy is going to need a new tanker/supply vessel by 2015 to replace Endeavour. Only two of the five Seasprite helicopters are operational and the frigates are due for replacement within the next few years – if they are going to be replaced. I see NZ heading toward joint amphibious operations with no requirement for the navy to have “blue water” ships. Although if the PM is contemplating NZ going to “war” against North Korea to help out the Aussies and the Yanks, what would we have sent to help protect Task Groups/Convoys in lieu of our “Combat Force” – the two OPVs??
I though it was a joke – it is isn’t it?