Size : 8 million square kilometers. 6th largest country.

Population: 19 million (USA 270 million, UK 60 million)

Military budget: USD $7 bn

Military size: 60 000 total (40 000 land, 10 000 air, 10 000 sea)

Tanks: Total - 72

Warships: hardly any
Subs: 5 - maybe
Planes: 150-200

Now, is it just me, but for our landmass aren't we just a tad under defended? OK, we have a low threat environment, and a very big friend, but all this still seems a bit on the weak side from where I am sitting.

------------------
Re: Russia in WWII

"Hey, we butchered Poles! Thats OK."
- DT.

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**...****...**

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"Ed Gruberman, you fail to grasp Ty Kwan Leap. Approach me, that you might see." -- The Master

Quiet, Rob! You'll give away our plan!

*ahem*

Daryus, you are aware that the plot of a couple Clancy books involves India trying to island-hop south towards Australia? You know, low population, no military, undeveloped resources. What more could you ask of a target?

You guys could probably be a real world power, if you wanted to be.

Yeah, they're a big, open country, but they're, like, mostly desert! Who'd want it?

*end voice*

Hey, is it true that a guy once found a gold nugget the size of a VW Beetle in a field in the outback?

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"Ed Gruberman, you fail to grasp Ty Kwan Leap. Approach me, that you might see." -- The Master

As far as a big gold nugget goes...no idea.

If we were to try and be a 'world power' we'd need more people. Say about 90 million plus. Then yes, we'd kick some heavy duty arse. But 20 million just isn't sufficient for any such ambitions.

------------------
Re: Russia in WWII

"Hey, we butchered Poles! Thats OK."
- DT.

------------------
**...****...**

As for the RAN, here's the list of all the ships they currently have

Perth (CF Adams) Class air defense destroyer:
HMAS Brisbane D-41 (planned for decom soon)

Adelaide (Perry) Class frigates:
HMAS Adelaide F-01
HMAS Canberra F-02
HMAS Sydney F-03
HMAS Darwin F-04
HMAS Melbourne F-05
HMAS Newcastle F-06

Anzac Class patrol frigates:
HMAS Anzac F-150
HMAS Arunta F-151
HMAS Warramunga F-152
HMAS Stuart F-153 (fitting out)
HMAS Parramatta F-154 (fitting out)
HMAS Ballarat F-155 (ordered)
HMAS Toowoomba F-156 (ordered)
HMAS Perth F-157 (ordered)

Collins Class submarine:
HMAS Collins SSG-73
HMAS Farncomb SSG-74
HMAS Waller SSG-75
HMAS Dechaineux SSG-76 (under construction)
HMAS Sheean SSG-77 (under construction)
HMAS Rankin SSG-78 (under construction)
SSG-79 (proposed)
SSG-80 (proposed)

Kanimbla Class amphibious transport:
HMAS Kanimbla L-51
HMAS Manoora L-52

Tobruk Class large landing ship:
HMAS Tobruk L-50

Fremantle Class patrol boats:
HMAS Fremantle P-203
HMAS Warrnambool P-204
HMAS Townsville P-205
HMAS Wollongong P-206
HMAS Launceston P-207
HMAS Whyalla P-208
HMAS Ipswich P-209
HMAS Cessnock P-210
HMAS Bendigo P-211
HMAS Gawler P-212
HMAS Garaldton P-213
HMAS Dubbo P-214
HMAS Geelong P-215
HMAS Gladstone P-216
HMAS Bunbury P-217

Huon Class minehunters:
HMAS Huon M-82
HMAS Hawkesbury M-83
HMAS Norman M-84 (fitting out)
HMAS Gascoyne M-85 (under construction)
HMAS Diamantina M-86 (under construction)
HMAS Yarra M-87 (under construction)

Bay Class inshore minehunters/training craft:
HMAS Rushcutter M-80
HMAS Shaolwater M-81

Bandicoot Class auxilary minehunters:
HMAS Bandicoot Y-298 (ex-Greenville VII)
HMAS Wallaroo Y-299 (ex-Greenville V)

Brolga Class auxilary minehunter:
HMAS Brolga 1102 (ex-Lumen)

Koraaga Class auxilary minehunter:
HMAS Koraaga 1185 (ex-Grozdana A.)

Bermagui Class auxilar minehunter:
HMAS Bermagui 1121 (ex-Nadgee 2)

Success (Durance) Class multi-purpose replenishment ship:
HMAS Success AOR-304

Westralia (Appleleaf) Class fleet oiler:
HMAS Westralia AO-195 (ex-Appleleaf)

Pacific Class oceanographic research/survey ships:
HMAS Leeuwin HS-01
HMAS Melville HS-02

Balikpapan Class support craft:
HMAS Balikpapan L-126
HMAS Brunei L-127
HMAS Labuan L-128
HMAS Tarakan L-129
HMAS Betano L-133

That's all of them. That makes a grand total of 49 ships currently in service, 48 once the Brisbane is decommissioned. Sure, ya got about half a dozen other ships that will come along soon, but, geez, that's a SMALL Navy! Funky names too!

------------------
Me: "Why don't you live in Hong Kong?"
Rachel Roberts: "Hong Kong? Nah. Oh, but we can live in China! Yeah, China has great Chinese food!"

(discussion with fellow classmate, 9/5/00)

Mustang Class Starship Development Project

New Zealand ...

FRIGATES

HMNZS TE KAHA
HMNZS WELLINGTON
HMNZS CANTERBURY
HMNZS TE MANA

LOGISTICS SUPPORT FORCES

Tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR
Sealift Ship HMNZS CHARLES UPHAM

Diving Support HMNZS RESOLUTION
Survey Craft ISC HMNZS TAKAPU & HMNZS TARAPUNGA

Patrol Craft HMNZA Kahu

NOW THAT IS SMALL!

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Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Rated 7 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux

------------------
Me: "Why don't you live in Hong Kong?"
Rachel Roberts: "Hong Kong? Nah. Oh, but we can live in China! Yeah, China has great Chinese food!"

(discussion with fellow classmate, 9/5/00)

Using our mining and primary resource background to mine the asteroid belt...

We wouldn't need a large defence force because our death gliders and pyramid ships... errrr ummmm... shut *UP* now Andrew...

Ummmm

ng-hey!

I'll have to pass this on to ASIO.

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Re: Russia in WWII

"Hey, we butchered Poles! Thats OK."
- DT.