Oz Shars

[gengriz]

For various vaguely work related reasons I spent some time today looking at an Australian analysis of the fallout to the RAN of the Falklands, which resulted in the 1983 cancellation of the agreed sale of INVINCIBLE, plus SHARs to the RAN.  The Ozzies were pretty far advanced in their planning, having already cancelled the refit of MELBOURNE and paid off half their A-4s and Trackers in anticipation.  

As compensation for the cancellation, the UK MOD even offered to build the Ozzies a new 4th CVS hull, with cut-price SHARs & Sea Kings.  Sadly, the alternative plan turned out to be unaffordable on both sides, with the end result that Australia lost its fixed wing carrier capability for good.

And so it occurred to me that I have never ever seen a Whif of a RAN SHAR.  I have seen Chinese ones (another near reality) but not Oz.  This is not a far fetched concept, but a very near reality that had financial approval and would have happened if Gen Galtieri had waited another 12 months.   So what about it then whiffers - any takers?  or has anyone already done one (show us the piccies)!   A nice gull grey & white scheme like the A-4s (and like the AV-8S) sounds good to me !!

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Around that time, there would have been several decomissioned aircraft carriers available from the United States.  The USS Oriskany, USS Hornet, as well as several other ships of that class were already in the inactive ships fleet or getting close to disposal and available for sale.  

If Australia were to have taken advantage of that and obtained at least one or several (using the other hulls for spare parts) it might have allowed the RAN to continue with operating an aircraft carrier.  

These carriers were similar in size to the HMS Invincible and were capable of operating the S-2 Tracker and the A-4 Skyhawk.  If the catapult gear was removed, there would have been ample deck space to operate Harriers.  

How about a follow-on to one of these bargain basement deals twenty years later when the USS Ranger, USS Independence, USS Constellation, and others of the Forrestal class become available.  These carriers would allow the RAN to upgrade to the F-18 and the S-3 to allow the RAN to continue their fixed wing operations.  

[Captain Canada]

I did not know that !

The thought of RAN SHARs is very exciting !

     

[Maverick]

Richard (Gekko) did a run of Shars in RAN markings.

Whilst I know the RAN considered the Invincible, I wasn't aware that they considered Shars to the deal as well.

Regards,

Mav

[Excalibur]

I've been thinking about doing a Aussie SHAR for a while now, having just read the above posts though, I prefer the RAN to go with an American Carrier that allows them to possibly upgrade their Trackers to Hawkeyes, have Sea Harriers &/or the Av-8s.

I like the possibilities.

[AeroplaneDriver]

The plan for the two ESCI SHARs in my stash has long been one in the RAN markings from my ESCI A-4G and one in USMC colors.

I cant remember where I read it, but there is an article from Flight International or some other industry pubication from the mid-80s about the plan for the RAN to take Invincible and a SHAR air wing.  I seem to remember linking to it from here, so a search going back a year or two may turn it up.

[Thorvic]

RAN Harrier Carrier bit on Harriers website

This should help explain events and options.

[GTX]

Just to clarify things, although most people assume that the RAN had ordered the Invincible with SHARs this was not the case.  RAN planning at that stage only fore saw the carrier opperating helicopters!

On the topic of a whiff RAN SHAR, here you go - some done by Richard (aka Gekko_1) earlier:






As well as a RAAF Harrier II by Glanini:



Regards,

Greg

[Maverick]

Thanks for clearing that Greg,

I was pretty sure the deal wasn't to include the Shar, but it was soooo long ago that I was willing to accept faulty memory on my part.  I'd forgotten about the Helo Carrier idea, which I thought was a gross waste of resources at the time anyway.

Regards,

Mav

[Joe C-P]

A US carrier, even an Essex, would have required many more crew. Also, Invincible was just a few years old, which the Essexes were all around 30 years old, even with the upgrades.

JoeP

[elmayerle]

Roger can verify this for me, but ISTR that one of the two "Whif" issues of the Harrier SIG newsletter had SAN SHars and RNZAF Harrier GR.3s.  I'll have to see if I can find that issue and scan the "good stuff".