A few months ago I did a piece entitled 'Canada and the Support Ship' that looked at potential options to supplement the current two Joint Support Ships entering service.
Two points to add to the pot in regards to HNLMS Karel Doorman. First, after commissioning her, the Dutch ended up ordering a more conventional AOR (Den Helder). Two, the Dutch will be replacing their two LPD older sisters of the Doorman (and four Holland class OPVs) with smaller vessels (~10-12K ton range). Food for thought.
While a propper amphibious capability is outside of our list of wants, I do think the ability to do strategic sealift to areas that are lacking port infrastructure would be beneficial. We don't need to work on developing a capibility to do opposed landings from the GLAAM. But how about getting equipment and vehicles onto Victoria Island (or any other island in the archapeligo)?
I didn't view the well deck and amphib capability as "lets train for Pacific Island hopping". I saw it as a reflection of the lack of port infrastructure in the arctic and giving the CAF the ability to move the DAME vehicles in quantities that airlift can't match to wherever we want to run exercises and show a presence.
Unless the Ro/Ro capabilty can be used without a propper port (my experiece with Ro/Ro is limited to BC Ferries haha). Then that whole point is moot.
Its a fair idea. Point-class use the Mexeflote to get around the lack of proper port infastructure. JSS have their own Ship-to-Shore connectors for this purpose. Yes, they obviously have limited to a proper amphibious craft, and in actuality there is more an argument for the value of both in tandem.
Hypothetically, a JSS could carry a larger landing craft and their S-T-S connector, although its not gonna work how one would traditionally want it too lol.
Case in point, a Ro/Ro vessel, properly equipped, can be equipped with the tools needed to land equipment without a proper port facility. However trade-offs and limits and such. There are scenario where you would want a GLAAM.
Here's an image of a point using a Mexe in a makeshift shore connector role!
Excellent synopsis. Covered all the points for and against. There are a couple of other considerations, but you managed to strike the major points convincingly. I too am a fan of the capabiiities offered with the design, and hopeful there is a case made for policy coverage. The CAF cannot wait 48hrs to sealift a TBG domestically iso domops like Lama or Lentus. Thanks for putting a light on this one!
Yeah, this was getting to four thousand words, so I decided to cut some minor things for the sake of length. Besides. I dont think people need the usual spewl on crewing issues, berth space and how a hospital works. 😂
Nice write up, I think the sweet spot for GLAAM is as a command ship, with Ro/Ro capability & the RAS capabilities with polar class IV. I agree no amphibious capability is needed. For those interested in the logistical challenges of the north, I recommend a short series called ‘High Arctic Haulers’. It’s a cbc production and it’s available for free on cbc gem. I’m almost sure I watched on Netflix, in any case ifs a good watch.
I was very worried that this was gonna turn into me basically trying to sell this as a tanker, because its very clearly one if the major interests of mine here. 🤣
I will take the PC III class with a bag of salt, there are very few PC 3 breakers in the world, The multirole ships for the CCG will be PC 4. The AOP's are PC 4 bow and PC 5 hull, that would likley be more realistic.
A confrontation in the Arctic with likley be a hybrid affair, with a combined China/Russia occupying a place in the Canadian Archipelago (for example Mould Bay). They land heavily armed "Civilian researchers" and respond to any Canadian protest with declarations that Canada has never had a strong claim to region and it should be a "Internationally run area".
That muddies the political waters and they can have their client States start UN declarations that Canada should consider giving up it's claim. It's all political theatre, but it buys them time and likley paralyze the Canadian government for a time.
Currently we only have the CCG and AOP's to respond with the ability to land a few ATV's and pickups. With any form of ice strengthened landing ship, we can then land a significant force, big enough and equipped enough to force them off the shore without (to many) shots being fired.
Two points to add to the pot in regards to HNLMS Karel Doorman. First, after commissioning her, the Dutch ended up ordering a more conventional AOR (Den Helder). Two, the Dutch will be replacing their two LPD older sisters of the Doorman (and four Holland class OPVs) with smaller vessels (~10-12K ton range). Food for thought.
Indeed. Something to think about. I want to raise the point also that Den Helder is beautiful and Damen makes pretty ships.
If we need to own sealift, do an Astrix 2.0: https://horizonship.com/ship/200m-vehicle-carrier-roro-22755-tdw-6502-cars-built-2007-japan/
While a propper amphibious capability is outside of our list of wants, I do think the ability to do strategic sealift to areas that are lacking port infrastructure would be beneficial. We don't need to work on developing a capibility to do opposed landings from the GLAAM. But how about getting equipment and vehicles onto Victoria Island (or any other island in the archapeligo)?
I didn't view the well deck and amphib capability as "lets train for Pacific Island hopping". I saw it as a reflection of the lack of port infrastructure in the arctic and giving the CAF the ability to move the DAME vehicles in quantities that airlift can't match to wherever we want to run exercises and show a presence.
Unless the Ro/Ro capabilty can be used without a propper port (my experiece with Ro/Ro is limited to BC Ferries haha). Then that whole point is moot.
Its a fair idea. Point-class use the Mexeflote to get around the lack of proper port infastructure. JSS have their own Ship-to-Shore connectors for this purpose. Yes, they obviously have limited to a proper amphibious craft, and in actuality there is more an argument for the value of both in tandem.
Hypothetically, a JSS could carry a larger landing craft and their S-T-S connector, although its not gonna work how one would traditionally want it too lol.
Case in point, a Ro/Ro vessel, properly equipped, can be equipped with the tools needed to land equipment without a proper port facility. However trade-offs and limits and such. There are scenario where you would want a GLAAM.
Here's an image of a point using a Mexe in a makeshift shore connector role!
https://x.com/thinkdefence/status&s=19/377023273311031299?t=d_4Bjd4cYaXUXWU3wkFZkw
Excellent synopsis. Covered all the points for and against. There are a couple of other considerations, but you managed to strike the major points convincingly. I too am a fan of the capabiiities offered with the design, and hopeful there is a case made for policy coverage. The CAF cannot wait 48hrs to sealift a TBG domestically iso domops like Lama or Lentus. Thanks for putting a light on this one!
Yeah, this was getting to four thousand words, so I decided to cut some minor things for the sake of length. Besides. I dont think people need the usual spewl on crewing issues, berth space and how a hospital works. 😂
Nice write up, I think the sweet spot for GLAAM is as a command ship, with Ro/Ro capability & the RAS capabilities with polar class IV. I agree no amphibious capability is needed. For those interested in the logistical challenges of the north, I recommend a short series called ‘High Arctic Haulers’. It’s a cbc production and it’s available for free on cbc gem. I’m almost sure I watched on Netflix, in any case ifs a good watch.
I was very worried that this was gonna turn into me basically trying to sell this as a tanker, because its very clearly one if the major interests of mine here. 🤣
I will take the PC III class with a bag of salt, there are very few PC 3 breakers in the world, The multirole ships for the CCG will be PC 4. The AOP's are PC 4 bow and PC 5 hull, that would likley be more realistic.
A confrontation in the Arctic with likley be a hybrid affair, with a combined China/Russia occupying a place in the Canadian Archipelago (for example Mould Bay). They land heavily armed "Civilian researchers" and respond to any Canadian protest with declarations that Canada has never had a strong claim to region and it should be a "Internationally run area".
That muddies the political waters and they can have their client States start UN declarations that Canada should consider giving up it's claim. It's all political theatre, but it buys them time and likley paralyze the Canadian government for a time.
Currently we only have the CCG and AOP's to respond with the ability to land a few ATV's and pickups. With any form of ice strengthened landing ship, we can then land a significant force, big enough and equipped enough to force them off the shore without (to many) shots being fired.