SHAH ALAM: Dutch shipyard builder has unveiled more details and pictures of the multi-purpose support ship (MPSS) which it is co-developing with Portuguese Navy. In the previous report on the MPSS, it was called multi purpose vessel.
In the report, I mentioned that I like the vessel as it appears that the ship is not equipped with a well-deck.
The MPV is interesting design for the RMN own MRSS requirements, as it is not equipped with a well deck. An MRSS without a well deck will be cheaper to operate and maintain, I believed. Of course, we also do not need the helicopter deck style of the MPV.
Damen is now offering the MPSS design in two versions – the 7000 and 9000 tons. Various version of the ship is also offered – a mother ship for airborne and water drones, an amphibious support ship with well deck and a non-well deck. All versions are equipped with hangars for airborne drones and a single 11-ton helicopter.
The release from Damen:
Damen has begun construction of the first vessel of this new design. The MPSS range, featuring 7000 and 9000 tons versions, combines the vision of the Portuguese Navy, with Damen’s proven process of shipbuilding, using standardised solutions wherever possible. As a result, the vessel can be constructed quickly and offers a reliable, cost-effective platform.
While the electrical, communication and navigation equipment installed on the MPSS will be military class equipment, the vessel will also use commercial off the shelf technology. This includes, for example, the mission specific equipment modules, by which the vessel achieves its multi-functional capability.
In this way, when not required to perform its primary function, the MPSS can be applied to a wide range of duties including managing drones (air, sea, and sub-sea), conducting amphibious support, emergency/disaster relief, search & rescue, diving support, performing submarine rescue operations and helicopter operations.
The MPSS 7000 is 107 x 20 metres. It is foreseen that it will be operated by a crew of 48 personnel, with additional facilities for up to 100 special personnel and extra, temporary, accommodation for 42 persons, for example in the event of a disaster relief operation. The MPSS 9000 is 130x 20 meters and is able to conduct even more operations.
As a result of its modular approach, the vessel could be utilised year-round and is also easy to maintain. The MPSS Series can remain at sea for periods of at least 45 days. All these factors contribute to the vessel’s overall value, significantly increasing uptime.
The only weakness of the design, if I may point out – is the lack of defensive options. The CGI provided by Damen only showed a 40mm gun on the aft deck. That said a customer can specified a CIWS or two on the main superstructure or along the sides of the hull, if they want to pay for it. I of course, prefer a VLS or two for area defence.
— Malaysian Defence
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Portugal, the launch customer is really using this as a mothership for various kinds of drones, UAS, USV and UUV.
As for using it as a MPSS, it is not designed to carry and deploy large amounts of armoured vehicles. Instead, it is more of a floating seabase to support special forces amphibious operations.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GH0b6FEbYAAGbmX.jpg
I definitely prefer a flattop MRSS. We can definitely use it to launch bigger TUAVs in conjunction to helicopters
Also removing well deck would hamper its multi role capability. We would definitely find well deck to be useful to transport trucks, supplies, manpower for humanitarian mission
What’s the budget allocated for the MPSS Marhalim? I’m afraid that’s going to be sticking point…
I have no idea, really. It has been delayed so long that I stopped making inquiries.
If the required MPSS need no well deck but only to transport personel, vehicle, logistic and a helo then it is not an LPD but LST.
It is still an LPD. A LST is a landing ship tank, which means exactly what is name, it land on beaches on for the tanks to get. An LPD without a well deck is basically a ro-ro ship, the vehicles goes out at a port or jetty.
Its more of an MPSS rather than MRSS similar to our Indera Saktis. Not sure if MRSS is meant wanting more of the same, or it should have a wider capability ie landing ship, well dock.
And whether its a thru deck mini carrier design or a more conventional ship layout depends on what types of equipment our MRSS is to carry onboard & launch and what kinds of mission profiles envisioned. Larger UAV/UCAV will need longer takeoff/landing runway deck while smaller portable UAVs can be launched & recovered from as small as a helideck (or even VTOL). A conventional design also offers more internal spaces for more crew in liew of raising the hull too high.
@Tom
Probably enough to buy enlarged Makassar Class
Yeah, keep dreaming guys with current situation/administration I don't think it's feasible, Malaysian voters will cry murder if any procurement involved billions RM they think everything is cheap and must be corruption involved, further more foreign manufacturer don't seem want to entertain fickle minded government just like HSR cancel cos' "it's to expensive" now want to restart it becomes twice as high and best part foreign governments don't want to layan anymore.ha..ha..ha now defense allocation is in the bottom of the list.
"Probably enough to buy enlarged Makassar Class"
The enlarge Makassar class is UAE 163m LPD Al Mariyah class which is just start built by PT PAL. The tonnage is almost 13.000 tons and still has a well deck.
If people just read the 15to5 Strategy Document, or just read, they will get some of the answers or at least a general idea of what the MRSS is. 15to5 Strategy Document page 55. One will realise whether a well deck is needed or how much aviation space is required, is really dependent on another branch of the MAF. It looks that if left to RMN to decide based solely on their own needs, they probably will be happy with a bigger and better version of an Indera Sakti type ship.
>why the government are bunch of short sighted idiots
Dunno, maybe the voters are just as short sighted as the politician they they voted into the office