Re: StanFlex vs OUDF

Roger Books wrote:

 >>The Danish navy operates a number of STANFLEX ships, each of which is
able
 >>to carry one or more payload modules. With the use of a 15-tonne
capacity
 >>crane these modules can be changed very fast - 30 minutes for the
actual
 >>swap, plus a few hours to check the new module out. (Unfortunately
the crew
 >>often needs a refresher course to be able to use the new modules
 >>efficiently :-/ ) These were part of the inspiration for Alan's
modular
 >>OUDF designs.
 >
 >How long is the refresher course? If it isn't much longer than
 >module changeover times it shouldn't be a problem. I'd assume
 >yard dogs do the changeover, not ships complement.

The article didn't say, except that they were "more lengthy". IIRC
you're 
Navy, so you're far better placed to estimate how long it'd take to 
re-train a crew from full-time customs patrol/SAR duties to full-time 
sub-hunting or minesweeping?

 >I could also see specialists that work with one module type
 >only. A similar setup to the air wing on a carrier. Rotate
 >them on only when needed.

This approach works for a large navy like the USN (more likely "for a
large 
navy, ie. the USN"...), but I don't think the cash-poor RDN can afford 
having a lot of specialists just sitting around :-/

Later,

Oerjan
oerjan.ohlson@telia.com

"Life is like a sewer.
  What you get out of it, depends on what you put into it."