NationStates Jolt Archive


A Sad Day For The Royal Navy

Deep Kimchi
02-12-2005, 15:29
Well, maybe we'll do the Lend-lease thing again. Obviously, there's little interest in funding the Royal Navy to the level where it can accomplish the desired missions. Either build a few more ships, or stop sending the Royal Navy on missions.

From The Sun
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005550880,00.html

A ROYAL Navy officer is heading a multi-national task force — from a US warship.

Severe cuts have left no suitable British ship from which Commodore Bruce Williams can command Task Force 58, which protects vital oil platforms off Iraq.

So an SOS went out to the US Navy. And they made the missile cruiser USS San Jacinto available.

It is the first time a Royal Navy flag has flown from a US warship since 1917. Navy chiefs plan to get a British warship to the Gulf before Commodore Williams formally hands control back to the Americans in April.

A senior Navy source said last night: “In this, the 200th anniversary year of the Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson must be turning in his grave. The Royal Navy has been cut to ribbons and it is really showing.”

Former Naval officer Mike Critchley, editor of Warship World, said: “It is utterly humiliating for the nation that once proudly ruled the waves.
Exetonia
02-12-2005, 15:34
yeah well thanks to this war we eneterd, the new home policies etc... We just dont have the tax revenue to maintain a huge navy like we used to...


Unless we cut back a few things here and there, never built the millenium dome etc. It is indeed sad though going by our glorious naval past (Battle of Trafalga, the beating back of the spanish armada and our actions in WW2)

I live in cornwall and reported recently on the news the fact that DML (who can build 3 frigates at a time) were only offerd 1 new frigate. This has saved the yard though more cuts will need to be made...

I give it 5 to 10 years before devonport and portsmouth are down graded
Safalra
02-12-2005, 15:40
I propose scrapping most of the Army and Air Force and using the savings to fund the world's best Navy. Combine that with a load of missiles aimed at Argentina and the Middle East, and we should easily be able to defend our strategic interests, while singing 'Rule Brittania' on frequent occasions.
Silliopolous
02-12-2005, 16:01
Well hey! If you need boats we'd happily sell you back those rusty deathtraps you sold us last year!

We'll even leave the memorial in place so you can remember our serviceman who died thanks to the inept rebuild provided in your sales brochure.....
Deep Kimchi
02-12-2005, 16:03
Well hey! If you need boats we'd happily sell you back those rusty deathtraps you sold us last year!

We'll even leave the memorial in place so you can remember our serviceman who died thanks to the inept rebuild provided in your sales brochure.....

Those Canadians --- they'll buy anything...

Bomarc...
Voodoo fighters...
F-18s...
Sea King helicopters...

I guess the British noticed, and just came over and sold some junk...
Zyxtel
02-12-2005, 16:05
Sadly, the days when the Royal Navy could defeat any two other navies are long gone.
Falhaar2
02-12-2005, 16:07
Those Canadians --- they'll buy anything...

Bomarc...
Voodoo fighters...
F-18s...
Sea King helicopters...

I guess the British noticed, and just came over and sold some junk... Hey at least they aren't as bad as the Australian Military!



*weeps*
IDF
02-12-2005, 16:08
Sadly, the days when the Royal Navy could defeat any two other navies are long gone.
Yeah. If you guys had to fight Argentina again, you would be massacred. The RN has no good SAM to deal with a missile threat. A couple of Exocets would ruin the RN's day, and with the harrier being retired 8 years before a replacement is available means you can't deal with incoming fighters as they did in 1982.
Silliopolous
02-12-2005, 16:12
Those Canadians --- they'll buy anything...

Bomarc...
Voodoo fighters...
F-18s...
Sea King helicopters...

I guess the British noticed, and just came over and sold some junk...


The Bomarc.... did you have to bring THAT one up?

"Mr Dief, why would you really want to spend all that money on that Arrow thing that seems entirely likely to work when you could spend even more on something that doesn't!" :sniper: :sniper:

Although for a single multi-purpose airframe to build your airforce around, I think the F18 WAS a good choice at the time, as was the Sea King..... 30 years ago.
Exetonia
02-12-2005, 16:31
I'll have you know as a civilian search and rescue helicopter is excellent, and has loads of mileage BUT shes an old design and well, a bit crap in times of war!!
The Eliki
02-12-2005, 16:37
Meh, what's the big deal? So GB doesn't need a world-spanning fleet anymore. She doesn't need longbowmen either and nobody's complaining. If you ask me, one of the main purposes for having a huge fleet like she did was to 1) defend her worldwide territories, 2) enforce shipping laws, and 3) guard against enemies in Europe. There's no more British Empire, the shipping laws aren't as strict and are enforced by others, and Europe is more or less united. I understand nostalgia and tradition, but if she doesn't need a fleet, then so be it.

God save the Queen.
Portu Cale MK3
02-12-2005, 19:15
Three words: European Single Army

Togheter we could easily spend 100 billions a year on defence, thus providing an army larget than any single state, for a cost that individually would be lower.
DrunkenDove
02-12-2005, 19:22
Three words: European Single Army

Togheter we could easily spend 100 billions a year on defence, thus providing an army larget than any single state, for a cost that individually would be lower.

And it would provide work for all those translators that are out of work once the US has closes down the UN.
Portu Cale MK3
02-12-2005, 19:26
And it would provide work for all those translators that are out of work once the US has closes down the UN.

Nato works with more armies without so many translators.
Lacadaemon
02-12-2005, 19:27
Well, maybe we'll do the Lend-lease thing again. Obviously, there's little interest in funding the Royal Navy to the level where it can accomplish the desired missions. Either build a few more ships, or stop sending the Royal Navy on missions.

From The Sun
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005550880,00.html

A ROYAL Navy officer is heading a multi-national task force — from a US warship.

Severe cuts have left no suitable British ship from which Commodore Bruce Williams can command Task Force 58, which protects vital oil platforms off Iraq.

So an SOS went out to the US Navy. And they made the missile cruiser USS San Jacinto available.

It is the first time a Royal Navy flag has flown from a US warship since 1917. Navy chiefs plan to get a British warship to the Gulf before Commodore Williams formally hands control back to the Americans in April.

A senior Navy source said last night: “In this, the 200th anniversary year of the Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Nelson must be turning in his grave. The Royal Navy has been cut to ribbons and it is really showing.”

Former Naval officer Mike Critchley, editor of Warship World, said: “It is utterly humiliating for the nation that once proudly ruled the waves.

I believe that the RN is in the middle of a replacement cycle, i.e, numbers will draw down over the next few years as ships are decommissioned and then start to increase again as new hulls enter service.

Of course, it's totally inexcusable; but part of the trouble is that those labour pin-heads like to do "defense reviews" every six minutes, instead of actually long range planning. Thus long range projects, like warship construction keep on getting delayed, resulting in shortfall. Look at the "carrier forces".

Or take the RAF, by the time the Eurofighter - which is a piece of dogshit - is delivered, it's slated to be phased out by FOAS. :rolleyes:

There is a bit of a backlash about all this though.
Rakiya
02-12-2005, 19:28
Three words: European Single Army

Togheter we could easily spend 100 billions a year on defence, thus providing an army larget than any single state, for a cost that individually would be lower.

Can you imagine the bickering that would take place when they had to decide who was getting stuck with the french soldiers.

I shouldn't have said that.

I'll go back to work and hang my head in shame.

:D
Portu Cale MK3
02-12-2005, 19:30
Or take the RAF, by the time the Eurofighter - which is a piece of dogshit - is delivered, it's slated to be phased out by FOAS. :rolleyes:
.

Woa, I didn't knew dogshit could do this. (http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=673262005)
Deep Kimchi
02-12-2005, 19:32
Woa, I didn't knew dogshit could do this. (http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=673262005)

That's pretty good - defeat aircraft that were designed in the early 1970s.

Honestly, I think the Eurofighter is a nice aircraft. Its only flaw as far as I'm concerned is its short range.
Korrithor
02-12-2005, 19:37
F-15s? Let's see it versus a Raptor, then I'll be impressed.
Lacadaemon
02-12-2005, 19:43
Woa, I didn't knew dogshit could do this. (http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=673262005)

I am not questioning its fitness as a short range interceptor/air superiority fighter. However, the RAF is not happy with it, owing to its range and lack of ability to loiter on target.
Lacadaemon
02-12-2005, 19:45
That's pretty good - defeat aircraft that were designed in the early 1970s.

Honestly, I think the Eurofighter is a nice aircraft. Its only flaw as far as I'm concerned is its short range.

You beat me to it. Its a great aircraft for when people start sending heavy bombers agianst London again. It just doesn't meet the need of the RAF. Hence the hush-hush, FOAS.
Iraqnipuss
02-12-2005, 19:55
Well hey! If you need boats we'd happily sell you back those rusty deathtraps you sold us last year!

We'll even leave the memorial in place so you can remember our serviceman who died thanks to the inept rebuild provided in your sales brochure.....

i was reliably informed that the Canadians 'driving'(?) the submarines left the hatches open in rough seas, thus was the cause of their downfall.
Isselmere
02-12-2005, 19:56
Those Canadians --- they'll buy anything...

Bomarc...
Voodoo fighters...
F-18s...
Sea King helicopters...

I guess the British noticed, and just came over and sold some junk...
Actually, it's called corruption and incompetence, the same reasons why the Canadian government axed the order for EH101s about 15 years ago because, to paraphrase the then-new Chrétien government, the Canadian armed forces do not need the best equipment for the job. And which is also why the Canadian government eventually purchased the civilian model of the same helicopter ten years later to replace other helicopters in the search and rescue role.

About the Australian military... From what I've read of the ADF, it is far better off than the CAF in terms of funding and government support.
Isselmere
02-12-2005, 20:02
i was reliably informed that the Canadians 'driving'(?) the submarines left the hatches open in rough seas, thus was the cause of their downfall.
Actually, the Canadian Navy had several problems with the submarines, part of which was the electrical system being inadequately protected against seawater, as well as leaks and other very dangerous problems.
Lacadaemon
02-12-2005, 20:03
i was reliably informed that the Canadians 'driving'(?) the submarines left the hatches open in rough seas, thus was the cause of their downfall.

Silly Canadians. You're supposed to close the yankee hatches at sea, not open them.
Deep Kimchi
02-12-2005, 20:35
You beat me to it. Its a great aircraft for when people start sending heavy bombers agianst London again. It just doesn't meet the need of the RAF. Hence the hush-hush, FOAS.
It suffers from the same problem that plagued the initial models of the F-18 Hornet - short range - in fact, such short range that if employed in a tactical role, the aircraft literally requires aerial refuelling on any real mission.

I think part of the problem is that it was designed as a single aircraft to meet all needs. Some of the best aircraft in the world were designed to do one thing well.

It is likely that the Joint Strike Fighter might end up being more useful all around than the Eurofighter.