RN-SRN4+

[Scotaidh]

Almost done - now I'm just painting the veekles that will be her cargo, but I've got one still in primer that I'm using to show that what I planned will, in fact, fit. 


These are the veekles in question - a Chally 2 and a Warrior.  I know, not Marines' kit at all, but the Navy doesn't just move the Marines about, they also have to shift the pongoes, on occasion ... 




Mind the gap! 




You can just make out the clear plastic discs standing in for the props

[PR19_Kit]

That's looking pretty darned good. I'm impressed! 

[Leading Observer]

"I know, not Marines' kit at all, but the Navy doesn't just move the Marines about, they also have to shift the pongoes, on occasion ... ."
I'm sure the Royal Navy are very adept at conducting a deep clean after such an occasion

[buzzbomb]

Nice work.

Is a honking big unit, so well done.

[NARSES2]

"I know, not Marines' kit at all, but the Navy doesn't just move the Marines about, they also have to shift the pongoes, on occasion ... ."
I'm sure the Royal Navy are very adept at conducting a deep clean after such an occasion

Looking very good

[Scotaidh]

The Tissue of Lies Backstory:
   In the run-up to the new millennium, the Prime Minister was deeply concerned that there was no real, practical way of quickly deploying troops to areas of concern – even for humanitarian concerns, such as tsunami relief.  A strongly worded memo was sent to the Army General Staff suggesting that there really should be a better way to deploy the forces at their command.  Particularly concerning was the weight of the armored forces, with the weight of a Challanger II tank in excess of 74 tonnes.  The problem was how to quickly deploy these massive vehicles and the even more massive logistical train required to support them.
   Given that emergencies, by their very nature, seldom give warnings or advance notice, ideally deploying the Army needed to be done quickly – and ships really are not quick, especially when someone is shooting at you. 
   It was decided to try something radical.  The SRN.4s had been laid up as non-economical with the advent of the Chunnel – surely they were large enough?  The PM invited the Third Sea Lord's office to render an opinion on the matter, with an eye to "Developing A Solution To The Problem."
   As a result of the PM poking his nose into strictly military matters this high-level concern, permission and funding were secured to rebuild one of the SRN4 Mk.Is to military standard.  Obviously the vehicle deck would need strengthening; the engines up-rated to Proteus Mk.765s; the propellers were shrouded to increase efficiency and reduce noise; the electronics brought up to snuff; and the passenger seating was altered to something altogether more military.
   For self-defense purposes, three reinforced weapons mounts were added to the top deck, each designed to take any of the Automated Small Calibre Gun systems in the RN inventory – this example is shown with the 30mm DS30M Mark 2 guns, borrowed from spares intended for Type 23 frigates.  Provision was also made (not seen on this example) for smaller automatic weapons to be mounted on the main deck, although these would reduce troop-carrying capacity/volume and, it was felt, not greatly be of use under-weigh due to spray reducing the gunners' view.   
   The first Landing Craft, Air Cushion (Heavy), pennon number "C 30" made its appearance.  Capable of carrying 250 tonnes of general cargo - or up to three Challenger II tanks or nine Warrior IFVs (or any combination there-of) – it can travel at speeds of up to seventy knots with an endurance of four hours. Exercises soon proved the value of the "Emellcee" (Mountbatten Landing Craft) as it came to be dubbed.  Some press photos were made available, and can be seen below.
   Currently HM Armed Forces have no real demand for these particular attributes, barring the unforeseen.  However, once acquired, The Powers That Be were loathe to abandon the unique capabilities of the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (Heavy).  Therefore more will be procured at what Whitehall calls a "high-sustainable low-cost tempo" of not more than two per annum, "allowing due replacement, with development and improvements to be implemented as suitable and as required."









And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I'm calling it Don! - I mean, Done!

[chrisonord]

That is really cool

[PR19_Kit]

Really, REALLY good, and well done for persevering with such a pain of a kit. 

And I love the backstory too. 

[Captain Canada]

So cool ! Who would't love to watch and listen as that thing roared ashore !

[Scotaidh]

Thanks, guys.  It was fun! 

Kit- I could not have done it without your suggestions and help.
There are a lot of others here who helped, too - Mossie, Joncarrfarrelly, DougK, and I'm sure I'm missing someone - you all helped, with suggestions and pointing out sources of supply.  I thank you all. 

[PR19_Kit]

Kit- I could not have done it without your suggestions and help.

Only too glad to chip in, it's handy having had jobs like mine that took me to all sorts of usefull places. 

[tigercat]

Very nice  can only imagine  the nicknames the sailors and marines might have for such a beast .

[NARSES2]

That's come out really well 

Backstory made me smile as well 

[Old Wombat]

For the Australians among us:

[zenrat]

Very good Womby.  But an SRN4 is hardly "small goods".


Scotaidh.  You dd double plus good.