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Saervek
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 102
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 4 Dec 2006 03:42:30 GMT Report for Abuse
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GreyFox
Your right, we could probably get a unit of J-11Bs from China when they get them operational. It's questionable whether it's worth it though, since we probably couldn't purchase it in enough numbers to be worthwhile, and we'd probably have to retire the types already in SLAF service. It would probably benefit Pakistan more than us since the Indians would have to shift a couple of squadrons to SAC.
BTW does anyone know what's going on with the OPVs? Wasn't old man Sandagiri supposed to have gone off on a grand tour looking for those Serbian Koni-class light frigates/RFA Sir Galahad/Uruguayan(?) FACs? I don't think any of those deals worked out, but with any luck they'll shift the order to Colombo Dockyard. |
GreyFox
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 4 Dec 2006 11:57:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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Saervek
BRAVO! You understand exactly what I am talking about. The J-11 is the best bet if Lanka wants to buy Sukhois in the future. China has always been a realiable arms seller to us.
With regards to our Naval orders. I too heard that the SLN is looking to buy two 100m long frigates from Serbia and a giant Logistic Landing Ship from the Royal Navy. These three ships as said to cost the SLN about $70 million total. I am not sure if the SLN brought any of these ships yet.
The five FACs from Uruguay are called 'Vigilante patrol craft' the are about 45m long each. Again I am not sure if we already brought these ships or not.
For more info on the Vigilante class FACs go to:
http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIV/MMIVmar04.html
I know that the SLN told the govt earlier this year that they need at least 15-20 OPVs to patrol the seas properly and effectively hunt for LTTE weapons ships.
The latest rumor I heard is that Lanka is willing to buy a few foreign OPVs and then make similar ships locally via Colombo Dockyards. Colombo Dockyards already makes formidable FACs that are as good as the Israeli made Dvoras, and they cost less too.
Edited By - GreyFox - 4 Dec 2006 11:59:37 GMT |
snake2
Joined: Aug 2006
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4 Dec 2006 13:36:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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Arian,
I now reside in the US but several years back I took care of lot of forces personnel wouneded in battle.
Good on you! That is a very noble thing to do, regret that you are not anymore in SL, hopefully there are people continuing your effort. Thank you for your service.
Its kind of off topic but do you have any idea of any program in Sri Lanka geared towards addressing post traumatic stress of soldiers in battle?
Regarding the newspaper reporting standard in Sri Lanka, have to disagree with you on that though.
True the Airforce Mig scandal article seems to be biased, but as far as reporting standards go, I feel Athas is doing a good job.
And so are many others in the field. The bias is naturally there, but you have to agree that newspapers in the States tend to be biased towards one political view or another most of the time.
Mig29C is the man though, I have to agree with that! He works in the defence industry apparently, and that is where he gets his info.
Welcome to the forum!! |
Sandman
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4 Dec 2006 21:43:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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Saervek;
Ol man Sandagiri had a thing for LTTE honey traps. There is talk that he gave credible info in his pillow talk, but that may be politics, or maybe not. If he did, they should shoot fry his azs.
Overall, if you were to look back at Mig29's postings,the guy was amazingly predictive about an outright war happening soon. Looks like the events in recent history are proving him correct.
If that is so, then the entire unravelling episode has to be choreographed at some level, by someone. My bet is that it is the US with some support from india, while being careful to retain India's image as a reluctant bystander.
Elemination of the LTTE heirarchy is a stark necessity right now, and tne Norwegians appear to be laying the foudnation for the aftermath by grooming the barber. SLG also understands the game, its next step, and is eliminating the only credible opponent to the barber's ascension, the sea-tiger.
This war may eventually be about killing/deporting velu to Norway under an amnesty, to be followed by a sort of statehood without military powers to the North-east. SLG may hold retain military balance in the east and the ability to coax north's behavior. |
panzer
Joined: Oct 2006
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 5 Dec 2006 00:33:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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Interesting posts. Good to see that the forum is moving ahead with intelligent ideas and opinions, even though we are lacking the expert opinions of Mig-29C for the time being.
Anyway, I live in Canada and I helped out as much as I could when I was in S.L by funding artificial limbs through a German doc. in Minnuwangoda ($350.00 a piece)I'm looking to start up something here, but the general support from the local community here has been disappointing.
If we are to win the war we need to have total control of the seas. I don't agree with the Navy's current tactics: loosing a FAC almost every major battle is unacceptable. We can not afford to loose so many officers and men, never mind the cost of the units. I don't think that we have the necessary firepower to confront, and successfully destroy, attacking Muraj vessels. Destroying a few Muraj boats is not going to help us win the war. We need to annihilate the attacking fleet. We need superior firepower; we need guided missiles. I don't know how accurate this info is, but a navy buddy of mine, BTW he was killed a few years back when his FAC was hit and sunk, said that the navy is very very reluctant to fire it's missiles because they are too expensive.
From the few videos I've seen, the rate of fire from the Dvoras are far inferior to opposing LTTE batteries. The accuracy of SLN fire is far more precise, but at the end of the day the LTTE has the advantage of superior numbers on their side, not to mention their guided human missiles.
to be continued after dinner.... |
Saervek
Joined: Dec 2006
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5 Dec 2006 03:03:51 GMT Report for Abuse
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Here is some good news
http://www.colombopage.com/archive/December3134806JV.html
I heard about these guys a while back when they were selling armour to the Saudi Interior Ministry and the Jordanians. There were some pics of their products on the Yahoo photos page a while back. It's good that they've placed the order locally, a strong defence-industrial complex is an asset, unless your an eelam clown of course.
GreyFox
Thanks for the link on the Vigilantes buddy. The interesting thing on that page is the mention of FBM Babcock Marine. These guys are the actual owners of the design, and it appears that they allow various shipyards to license-build it, meaning we could probably just produce them new at CDL, provided we have a yard big enough rather than buying old boats built in 1980.
http://www.fbmuk.com/main.htm
Personally I don't agree with the OPV concept of the Navy. OPVs are the sort of vessels operated by a Coast Guard, not by a Navy. They are practically useless in combat. Once the suicide tigers are dealt with, we only have one threat and that's the Indian Navy. That's why they sold us Sayura, because it is absolutely no threat at all to them. Same goes for the Samudra (Courageous). They really aren't capable of threatening anything other than an illegal fishing boat. They should focus on building a smaller number of deep-sea vessels which will actually be useful in a post-conflict scenario, armed with SAM/SSM launchers along with anti-sub equipment.
Edited By - Saervek - 5 Dec 2006 04:41:40 GMT |
Biggles
Joined: Dec 2006
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5 Dec 2006 03:25:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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Now I wonder how Migs are going to do the job? In my day, I landed my plane in a nearby field and did the business with a pistol.
Are you not sort of getting caught up in the hype with the Mig? How many bombs can it drop in one sortie?
I am confused how the SLAF can fight terrorism with Migs. |
Saervek
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 102
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5 Dec 2006 04:09:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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Arian & Panzer
Good work, looking after those who fight on our behalf is noble work indeed.
BTW Panzer, sorry to hear about your friend. With the FACs though, some losses are probably inevitable, depending on the tactics/equipment used. With the last engagement, I think MiG-29C mentioned that we lost 2 Super Dvora Mk. Is. Those SDMKIs are 'only' capable of making a max. speed of around 38 kts.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/superdvora-specs.htm
By contrast, I think the ltte suicide boats can make somewhere round 30-40 kts. It was bound to happen. On the other hand, if on the day the ltte were facing these;
http://www.naval-technology.com/contractors/patrol/colombo/
or these
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/shaldag2/Shaldag2.html
(built locally as the Colombo-class at CDL I think)
It would probably have been a different story.
The eelam clowns are always fond of dressing up their suicidal (sea) tigers as the greatest thing to ever set foot on a boat, but really when you look at the number of conventional victories (i.e. actually sinking them using your gun), the suicide tigers are no where to be seen. As far as I am aware, suicide tiger victories are mostly achieved asymmetrically, either by ramming a SLN boat or using frogmen to lay charges on SLN boats at harbour. As a conventional fighting force, the SLN is far ahead.
Edited By - Saervek - 5 Dec 2006 04:45:20 GMT |
Saervek
Joined: Dec 2006
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5 Dec 2006 04:39:41 GMT Report for Abuse
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Sandman,
Totally agree mate, I think some of the proposed acquisitions were a step in the right direction, but with old Sandagiri you can't tell how much a commission he is taking with them. If he is making money off the blood of his sailors they should definitely court-martial him.
Yeah I also reckon the US will give us indirect support. We don't actually need material support anyway, we can buy perfectly good Russian/Chinese/local equipment if the US can help economically/politically. I wouldn't rely on India though, the Indians have no clue as to whats going on. They just want SL to stay in a state of contained chaos so they don't have to actually make a decision on what to do.
Speaking of s.p. tamilbarber... here is a great pic courtesy SLA Artillery Rgt.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/12/05/caption_story.asp
They've even got that idiot's incessant grin. You can't blame barber selvan.... he doesn't understand English so at the International Conferences all he can do is grin like a thrilled Baboon.
Now what we need is a pic of elilan, shot in the buttocks as he fled Sampur.
BTW Panzer
Buddy no wonder the Navy doesn't fire those SSMs.... They probably cost more than the muraj boats! If you look on the back of those fibreglass dinghies, you'll see 4 x Yamaha outboard motors! Glorified canoes.... Seriously though, your right, but there is only really a couple of solutions, firstly strikes on their boat production facilities and secondly preventing shipments of the heavy weapons they use on the boats. |
GreyFox
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5 Dec 2006 11:47:03 GMT Report for Abuse
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Saervek
You got some good info there. Thanks for the link that finally contains some real pictures of Vigilante FACs.
Here is a good page I found about Lanka made body armour with pictures:
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=918485852&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=17
I kinda disagree with your view on OPVs though. We don't really need big warships cause we are not fighting a blue water navy here. Bigger warships tend to be slower and more expensive to operate. I don't think the SLN can afford them at the moment.
We already have 2 'Saar 4' missile warships. And yes the navy is right about those missiles being damn expensive, and sometimes the missiles themselves are longer than some of the boats the cowardly LTTE use. Our missile warships are best used against big LTTE weapons trawlers or land based targets.
I think OPVs are the best solution for controlling the sea. They are reasonably priced, low cost to operate and they CAN be fitted with large caliber lethal weapons.
The real advantage of having an OPV fleet is that it can really extend the reach of our navy far beyond anything before. These vessels can survey Lanka's seas very effeciently and see any boat approaching them from miles away. This will mean real trouble for the LTTE weapons supplies and smugglers. Tamil nadu will be pissed, but who cares about those bafoons.
In Sri Lanka's theater of naval warfare I think an OPV model that is about 50m-65m(no heli-pad)long would be ideal. At that size it would have good speed and can be fitted with a automated 76mm cannon that can chew LTTE muraj boats to bits from a distance of 10km-16km.
The ships I am envisioning look something like this:
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/fearless/fearless1.html
Hopefully we can make something very similar to this locally.
Edited By - GreyFox - 5 Dec 2006 11:54:40 GMT |
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