Now this poses a really interesting question! Normally, Armour plate has a high Nickel content which makes it difficult to
A): Find welding stock which will weld effectively, and
B): weld properly as weld will embrittle the armour.
Australian carriers were manufactured from a heat treated steel alloy called ABP3 (Aust Bullet Proof, No3) which contained no nickel, as this was unable to be imported in sufficient quantities. It was still difficult to weld, but less so than normal nickel content armour plate. This makes problem A less of an issue, but problem B is accentuated (by the heat treatment) and Aussie carriers are prone to cracking after welded repairs. Now, the question! Where did NZ source it's armour plate for it's LP2 programme? Is it Aussie ABP3 or is the armour plate supplied from another source?
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14-08-05, 11:37
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