Australian Defence Force to sell off thousands of vehicles and other war equipment

[csv8]

Australian Defence Force to sell off thousands of vehicles and other war equipment

IAN McPHEDRAN - DEFENCE WRITER
News Limited Network
January 30, 2013 11:30PM



For sale: 3300 Land Rovers, 2500 trailers, 70 Hornet fighters (yep, Hornet fighters)
Vehicles alone worth $100 million
Wide range of colours: Khaki or camouflage

Hornet fighter

Seventy F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters are for sale, but probably not to private buyers. Pity. Picture: Defence Source: Supplied

AUSTRALIANS will soon be able to own, and use, a slice of military history, as a huge sale of second-hand vehicles kicks off the largest disposal of defence equipment since World War II.

A vast range of war fighting kit from machine guns to jet fighters and torpedos to warships will eventually be sold.

Starting in March, up to 12,000 vehicles, including Land Rovers, trucks, semi-trailers, tankers, Unimogs, motorcycles and trailers valued at more than $100 million will be sold by Sydney-based firm Australian National Disposals, trading as Australian Frontline Machinery (AFM).

Most are about 25 years old with 125,000km on the clock and not a bullet hole in sight, in either khaki or a fetching camouflage paint scheme.
Military vehicles

But you can get an all-terrain Unimog.

They range in quality from rolled-over write-offs to near-pristine vehicles fitted with premium accessories.

Defence is buying a new vehicle fleet for $7 billion with phase three of the project to deliver about 4600 light to heavy vehicles worth $3.1 billion.

Over the 15 years, the Commonwealth will also sell hundreds of warplanes, warships, helicopters, armoured vehicles, explosives and weapons as it moves to replace 85 per cent of military equipment.
Military vehicles

Four-wheel-drive not enough for you? The army has six-wheel-drive variants.

The sale of combat equipment is subject to strict rules to prevent it falling in to the hands of potential enemies or dodgy dictators. Countries such as Fiji, Syria, Yemen and Iran, and companies dealing with such regimes, are on the banned list.

The overall sale of used gear will yield hundreds of millions of dollars that will offset the cost of weapons systems such as new generation submarines and frigates and stealth fighter jets.

The vehicle offering will eventually include 3300 Land Rovers and light vehicles, 2500 light trailers, 2430 medium trucks, 1100 medium-heavy trucks, 110 semi-trailers and 80 low loaders.
Military vehicles

Smaller pieces of equipment will also be for sale, as will trailers to cart it all home in.

The first sale will be held in March using on-line auction house Graysonline when 70 vehicles will go under the virtual hammer.

AFM has a 12,000 square metre undercover facility at Minto in southwest Sydney where the vehicles will be sanitised, upgraded and stored for inspection by potential buyers.

Company spokesman Luke Parker said the vehicles would be thoroughly checked for hazardous materials before being sold under open auction conditions.
Military vehicles

Or maybe you'll buy too much to fit in a trailer.

About 1000 will go each year and many of them will be sold with a blue slip for registration and be ready for work.

"They will be sold unreserved so we expect some absolute bargains will be there for those with the cash on the day," Mr Parker said.

Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said the vehicles would be sold to Australian and overseas buyers to maximise the financial return to the Commonwealth.
Military vehicles

And of course, you're going to need fuel...

"A number of vehicles will be reserved and offered exclusively to community and heritage organisations, including the Australian War Memorial, RSLs and other historical organisations," he said.

Interested parties can register their interest with the Defence Disposals Agency at www.defence.gov.au/dda or e-mail disposals@defence.gov.au

THE DEFENCE GARAGE SALE

12,000 vehicles (3300 Land Rovers variants, 2500 light trailers, 2430 medium trucks)

Up to 24 ships; (Landing ships HMAS Manoora and Kanimbla, supply ship, frigates, barges)

70 combat aircraft; (F/A-18 Hornet fighters)

110 other aircraft; (C-130 Hercules, King Air)

* 120 helicopters; (Sea King, Seahawk, Blackhawk)

* 600 armoured vehicles; (Armoured personnel carriers)

* A range of communications systems, weapons and explosive ordnance (M2A2 Howitzers, 30 calibre machine guns, Hamel guns, M60D Machine guns, SLRs, torpedos).
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/austra...-1226565344839

[Streets]

For sale 6x Collins class submarines NOT XW-XY-XA-XB-XC

good for project or parts

single owner log books included

selling due to too many projects on the go and not enough money

inspections strongly recommended

buyer to arrange own transport -- vehicles have not run since 1996

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by Streets

vehicles have not run since 1996

This one seems to be running just fine...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFVOL7mLd4

[PridenJoy]

Originally Posted by DoreSlamR

This one seems to be running just fine...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFVOL7mLd4

Amazing stuff innit. Admire those sailors in that tin can, no wonder they get paid handsomely for being down there.

Media have unfairly canned the Collins Class subs for years, when the facts are they are one of the best non-nuclear subs in the world. A close friend is in RAN and tells me everytime there is an exercise between Aussie ships and subs, ships get a flogging

I wonder what they are replacing the Sea Kings with?? Not Super sprites I hope

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Streets

For sale 6x Collins class submarines NOT XW-XY-XA-XB-XC

good for project or parts

single owner log books included

selling due to too many projects on the go and not enough money

inspections strongly recommended

buyer to arrange own transport -- vehicles have not run since 1996

Diesel. All six are blowing smoke.

[wrongwaynorris]

So our already underfunded under equipped Armed Forces are denuded even more . Gee I hope they spend the windfall on something really important like painting pedestrian crossings like a rainbow . Forget a September 14 election have it this weekend and lets end this bloody farce now .

[Road_Warrior]

They sold off some Land Rovers and other vehicles a couple of years ago, must have been the really rooted ones they sold off.

[Peuty]

Sign me up for a Perentie Land Rover.

[2011G6E]

A Unimog would be a great off roader...

Motorcycles? I seem to remember they had something like DR650's a few years back...awesome go-anywhere bike that can be used for touring as well.

Should be some bargains there...

[mcnews]

XT600s was the go for a long time.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by mcnews

XT600s was the go for a long time.

I thought it was M20 and M21 BSA's? Or 42WLA Harley's?

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by mcnews

XT600s was the go for a long time.

Yep, XT600's are what the MP's used, I have seen XR250's and DR400's come up at auction as well.

[hy_boi]

Pretty sure it's a whole bunch of quad bikes, not "motorcycles". They come with trailers too.

[AWD Chaser]

The hornets aren't for sale... News story sorta ran away with the facts... Haha... They won't be mothballing any classic hornets for at least 12 months... And even when they do, they will use parts off old ones to keep the rest of the classic fleet flying...

[AdamL]

Unimog's would be great off road however they tend break down a fair bit and gearboxes die fairly regularly.

Landrover's chew through rear mains, 2nd gear, diffs and front axle shafts often.

[flappist]

A lot of this stuff is Vietnam era or earlier and not compatible with current technology.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by flappist

A lot of this stuff is Vietnam era or earlier and not compatible with current technology.

Geez flappist don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, all the Labor haters are thriving on this and you come in and take away their steam -

[BAWITHLOT]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

Geez flappist don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, all the Labor haters are thriving on this and you come in and take away their steam -

I agree that you should all stop beleiving what is in the paper! The only good reading is the comic section Do you really think they would sell that many F/18s ( doubtful all but a few readers really know how many we actually have!)

[Zubes xa]

Thanks Flappist, but if you want to go around calling me a "bogan" because i work on fighters go ahead and i cant remember any one i work with ever asking $200,000 a year because "thats wot the miners get mate" and i am in the hunter where the miners are !!! So before you go around throwing insults maybe you would like to talk to some people who are in the industry who would love to get a chance to build some new planes and keep our already small, and shrinking industry going. And the hornets are not for sale!

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Zubes xa

Thanks Flappist, but if you want to go around calling me a "bogan" because i work on fighters go ahead and i cant remember any one i work with ever asking $200,000 a year because "thats wot the miners get mate" and i am in the hunter where the miners are !!! So before you go around throwing insults maybe you would like to talk to some people who are in the industry who would love to get a chance to build some new planes and keep our already small, and shrinking industry going. And the hornets are not for sale!

You build Russian fighters from scratch?

Or do you assemble US fighters in Australia from mostly parts imported from USA.

Ok the $200k bogan was probably an unfair exaggeration but my point was that we are too small to be independent and using equipment that in compatible with out allies is probably the best policy.

[mcnews]

I want a Sea King in the bottom paddock, preferably one I controlled a lot back in the day :-)

[buggerlugs]

I want one of them Black Hawk Helicopters. I 've got some bad weeds near my creek and can't get near them with the mower. That would get the neighbours talking..........

[csv8]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

I want one of them Black Hawk Helicopters. I 've got some bad weeds near my creek and can't get near them with the mower. That would get the neighbours talking..........

How about a flame thrower ???

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by csv8

How about a flame thrower ???

He wants something to use against the weeds, not the neighbours.

[FGII-XR6]

Wouldn't you prefer something that stays in the air

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

I want one of them Black Hawk Helicopters. I 've got some bad weeds near my creek and can't get near them with the mower. That would get the neighbours talking..........

[FrogInASock]

Originally Posted by csv8

The overall sale of used gear will yield hundreds of millions of dollars that will offset the cost of weapons systems such as new generation submarines and frigates and stealth fighter jets.

Gods, they must be stealthy. I am in the RAAF at a fighter base and haven't seen one yet.

[Motorbreath310]

Originally Posted by FrogInASock

Gods, they must be stealthy. I am in the RAAF at a fighter base and haven't seen one yet.

It says "to offset the cost of new technologies" which means they want to put the money toward the F-35 purchase.

Did the Aus gummint' only support the JSF programme to build relations with the US? Hope the F-35 is good enough to justify the cost over something like a mig-35 or su-37.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Motorbreath310

It says "to offset the cost of new technologies" which means they want to put the money toward the F-35 purchase.

Did the Aus gummint' only support the JSF programme to build relations with the US? Hope the F-35 is good enough to justify the cost over something like a mig-35 or su-37.

What?

The real world is not a XBox or Playstation.......

[Motorbreath310]

Originally Posted by flappist

What?

The real world is not a XBox or Playstation.......

What I'm saying is, the F-35 was developed as a result of the "Joint Strike Fighter" programme for the US military's next multi-role fighter. It has since proven to be a bit of a dud and it's maintenance costs are so much higher now than previously stated. This has forced a number of buyers to reconsider their commitment to the fleet acquisition.

Why then, did they not consider Russian fighters? Or the Eurofighter Typhoon?

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Motorbreath310

What I'm saying is, the F-35 was developed as a result of the "Joint Strike Fighter" programme for the US military's next multi-role fighter. It has since proven to be a bit of a dud and it's maintenance costs are so much higher now than previously stated. This has forced a number of buyers to reconsider their commitment to the fleet acquisition.

Why then, did they not consider Russian fighters? Or the Eurofighter Typhoon?

You don't seem to get it.

We have no chance whatsoever against a major force without our allies. USA is our number one ally so we use stuff that is compatible with them.
In the same way that before WW2 were used pommy stuff.

Buying russian equipment is just silly as they are not our traditional ally and if the fighters were actually NEEDED there is a pretty good chance we would not be able to get parts or technology.
After the excellent record the dugongs have set I would not be keen to rely on any european equipment at all.