99 replies to this topic

[Bedford Roughyed]

Going to scrap either ocean or Illustrious (probably ocean as it knackered).

1 Bay class ship scrapped.

On the good side they are going with the F-35c not the F-35b.

[Northern Sol]

The talk is that the MOD will merge officer and rating training programmes into a joint "Initial Naval Training" programme and close down either HMS Raleigh or Britannia Royal Naval College. It would probably be Raleigh.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Lots of questions about St Athan. Was going to be the base of a massive PFI project but after 5yrs plus the contract is still not sorted. Lots of MP's have been courted by the PFI firms PR team...alledgedly...

[exxile]

Utterly breathtaking incompetence. The Argentinians must be rubbing their hands.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Utterly breathtaking incompetence. The Argentinians must be rubbing their hands.

Why? They have less capability than 1982, and we have a much better defended Island?

[JohnM]

Lots of questions about St Athan. Was going to be the base of a massive PFI project but after 5yrs plus the contract is still not sorted. Lots of MP's have been courted by the PFI firms PR team...alledgedly...

That whole thing is a complete and utter scandal and should be cancelled forthwith without compensation.

[JohnM]

Why? They have less capability than 1982, and we have a much better defended Island?

why, have we armed the sheep or left the Argies mines in place. I

If we can't afford to defend ourselves, neither can the infinitely worse off Argentinians afford to attack.

[exxile]

Why? They have less capability than 1982, and we have a much better defended Island?

Yes, I did see a review of the Argentinian capability recently, and indeed it was on another thread on here. It is quite feeble, but then we now have no way of projecting any air power to the region, nor protecting any sea power. I don't know what we currently have on the Falklands.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Yes, I did see a review of the Argentinian capability recently, and indeed it was on another thread on here. It is quite feeble, but then we now have no way of projecting any air power to the region, nor protecting any sea power. I don't know what we currently have on the Falklands.

4 Typhoons, VC10, a Herc and a few Helicopters.

[bowes]

who are the candidates for invading the uk?

Who were the candidates to invade the UK in 1925?

Just because there's no immediate candidate doesn't mean we can disband the army, if we were an easy target then 10-15 years from now someone will fancy their chances. In the short term Argentina in the Falkland Islands would seem the only likely scenario, though there have been calls from Gibraltar to send over warships to keep the Spanish out of their waters, presumably while the EU is in place that wouldn't happen

[Trojan]

Soon to be announced, but current strong rumours are -

New Nimrod scraped before its even used.
Ark Royal scraped
Harriers scraped
Defence training centre binned (good, it was a stupid PFI)
Super carriers to be built as its cheaper to build them than bin the project.
Army pulled out of Germany

There's a strong connection between the Ark Royal and Leeds
http://news.bbc.co.u...000/8530169.stm

[l'angelo mysterioso]

Utterly breathtaking incompetence. The Argentinians must be rubbing their hands.

there is an airbase on the island, the raf has the capability to reinforce and protect the island very quickly
satellite and other intelligence is far better than it was, there is a permanent guardship -currently HMS Clyde an OPV stationed there.

the problem with this 'revue' and it's far from the tory's soul fault is that the stuff that's being kept is either no good or irrelevant
two massive carriers with no planes for them when they are built: and those planes being behind schedule and massively over cost, and possibly what we don't need anyway.
obsolescent fighter bombers-tornado, that weren't that great in the first place
typhoon a cold war plane introduced after the cold war long ended now being depolyed in Afghanistan
a nuclear detterrent we don't need and never did, that we can't afford to upgrade anyway.
over sophisticated and expensive nuclear attack submarines, when cheaper but effective diesel electric subs would haave done

at least they've scrapped the ridiculous Nimrod MR8

Edited by l'angelo mysterioso, 19 October 2010 - 05:26 PM.

[JohnM]

two massive carriers with no planes for them when they are built:

serious point: When will those carriers come into service, allowing for the traditional late delivery. When will the appropriate aircraft be delivered? As I understand it , these carriers will take aircraft from other airforces - France and US were mentioned. Is that correct and if so why can't they do that now?

[Bedford Roughyed]

serious point: When will those carriers come into service, allowing for the traditional late delivery. When will the appropriate aircraft be delivered? As I understand it , these carriers will take aircraft from other airforces - France and US were mentioned. Is that correct and if so why can't they do that now?

They will arrive from 2020. The aircraft is planned to be ready at the same time.

They can't do that now, as they are not built and if they was built to the original plan they would not have catapults or arrestor cables.

[Methven Hornet]

serious point: When will those carriers come into service, allowing for the traditional late delivery. When will the appropriate aircraft be delivered? As I understand it , these carriers will take aircraft from other airforces - France and US were mentioned. Is that correct and if so why can't they do that now?

Aren't they adapting the carriers to be able to take these aircraft?

[Methven Hornet]

Who were the candidates to invade the UK in 1925?

Just because there's no immediate candidate doesn't mean we can disband the army, if we were an easy target then 10-15 years from now someone will fancy their chances. In the short term Argentina in the Falkland Islands would seem the only likely scenario, though there have been calls from Gibraltar to send over warships to keep the Spanish out of their waters, presumably while the EU is in place that wouldn't happen

In neither of those scenarios would nuclear weapons be considered. In fact it is hard to think of a situation other than to deter another power using similar weapons. Who would that be? France?

[Methven Hornet]

Just a couple of questions to those who know about military matters. How long does this type of strategic military review usually take? Do they usually take place while a major military operation is still ongoing?

When Afghanistan comes to an end (5 years?) won't there need to be a new review?

[Bedford Roughyed]

Just a couple of questions to those who know about military matters. How long does this type of strategic military review usually take? Do they usually take place while a major military operation is still ongoing?

When Afghanistan comes to an end (5 years?) won't there need to be a new review?

Cameron has proposed to do one every 5 years.

The last one was in 1997 and a new one was well overdue.

[bowes]

In neither of those scenarios would nuclear weapons be considered. In fact it is hard to think of a situation other than to deter another power using similar weapons. Who would that be? France?

China or Pakistan would be the only possibilities from current nuclear powers (North Korea's a bit too far off), but anything can happen in the future

[WearyRhino]

New Nimrod scraped before its even used.
Ark Royal scraped
Harriers scraped

I hope the insurance premium's are up to date, it'll cost a fortune to paint match and respray 'em!