Search found 30 matches
- 01 Nov 2016, 14:49
- Forum: British Army
- Topic: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (British Army)
- Replies: 114
- Views: 54752
Re: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (Army)
Right now it's difficult, but that will have to change. Rules and procedures will be developed for drones in the UK and both civilian and military operators will benefit. It will, but it's wishful thinking to believe it will do so in a common-sense minded way. The CAA is a naturally conservative bo...
- 01 Nov 2016, 14:42
- Forum: Defence Elsewhere
- Topic: Russian Armed Forces
- Replies: 1023
- Views: 68464
Re: Russian Armed Forces
Some interesting articles in the mainstream media today about 3rd party and direct threats to the UK from Russia. Personally I think the brazen steaming of the Kuznetsov TG (tug or no tgug) through the channel last week can only be good news for the RN's budget forecasts. Those P8's and carriers can...
- 01 Nov 2016, 14:28
- Forum: British Army
- Topic: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (British Army)
- Replies: 114
- Views: 54752
Re: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (Army)
I wonder is domestic patrol a role we could see watch keeper used for? We certainly have plenty of them. Not on the CAA's watch, unfortunately. Drones of any flavour have a abysmal reputation among professional aviators. Even watchkeepers, DH3's and the like are limited to a small area of Salisbury...
- 03 Dec 2015, 14:48
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
- Replies: 8490
- Views: 2198647
Re: Future Light Frigate
The RN is not moving towards American style carrier ops. Do you actually believe that? Massive American sized carriers, based in the Americans old stomping grounds, launching American made jets, dropping bombs on Americas enemy's, possibly even with America personnel. The entire SDSR was trying to ...
- 03 Dec 2015, 10:54
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
- Replies: 8490
- Views: 2198647
Re: Future Light Frigate
I worry using our European cousins to corroborate the light frigate concept is wrong. Their navy's haven't demonstrated much, and I am not sure they are demonstrating anything relevant to the royal navy which is taking a massive shift towards large, american style, carrier ops. Also I believe the s...
- 02 Dec 2015, 19:39
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
- Replies: 8490
- Views: 2198647
Re: Future Light Frigate
That's one theory. Not a very good one though given that your Prime Minister got on his hind legs in Parliament and said no, and his goverment published a document that says no, his CoE says no and the 1st Sea Lord says no. But if your ex-RN mate says different, I'm sure we'll be duly attentive. I ...
- 01 Dec 2015, 12:03
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
- Replies: 8490
- Views: 2198647
Re: Future Light Frigate
Sharkbait. Untiwst your knickers for a minute. The SDSR is proposing lighter frigates, as in, lighter than the ASW variant T26 (the variant most urgently needed to replace the increasingly shagged T23 fleet). Nobody has mentioned a 3000-4000 tonne frigate. Your assumptions on the capability of light...
- 23 Nov 2015, 22:53
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
- Replies: 632
- Views: 28023
Re: SDSR 2015 / "Defence Cuts" General News & Discussion
On the live BBC news feed it said that the Vanguard OSD had been pushed right into "the early 2030's".
Given existing safety concerns among deeps, that must be raising a few eyebrows
Given existing safety concerns among deeps, that must be raising a few eyebrows
- 23 Nov 2015, 16:48
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
- Replies: 632
- Views: 28023
Re: SDSR 2015 / "Defence Cuts" General News & Discussion
Pains me to say so, but the best questions to the PM have come from the SNP. What desperate times for Labour, that on the issue of defence at least, the SNP genuinely are the "effective opposition". ---- Overall it's a good news day for the armed forces. Can't remember the last time that w...
- 23 Nov 2015, 15:40
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
- Replies: 632
- Views: 28023
Re: SDSR 2015 / "Defence Cuts" General News & Discussion
A new class of light frigates at more affordable prices than the T26, starting with an initial 5 to complement 8 T26....
Interesting.
Interesting.
- 12 Nov 2015, 09:33
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
- Replies: 15455
- Views: 4459244
Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Very sad to hear of Mike's passing. He had some fantastic anecdotes and was a formidable contributor, not to mention his lifetime of service at sea.
Rest in Peace, Mike.
Rest in Peace, Mike.
- 13 May 2015, 20:27
- Forum: Deployments
- Topic: HMS Bulwark in the Mediterranean
- Replies: 8
- Views: 457
Re: HMS Bulwark in the Mediterranean
All over the news today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32723573
BZ!
----
Can't quite work out what the ECBA is about
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32723573
BZ!
----
Can't quite work out what the ECBA is about
- 13 May 2015, 20:24
- Forum: Joint Service
- Topic: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options
- Replies: 1217
- Views: 458890
Re: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options
Out of interest, why do you think that? I've no particular opinion, other than thinking it looks allydownsizer wrote:Nope. Not to the military.
- 11 May 2015, 18:03
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
- Replies: 1195
- Views: 369013
Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)
Ok I get what you mean now. I definitely don't agree though. You just can't deliver a broad capability, especially one as complex as amphib ops, without the sort of capability that a proper flat-top offers. Ocean was definitely good value for money, though I doubt we'd ever get a replacement for a r...
- 11 May 2015, 17:24
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
- Replies: 1195
- Views: 369013
Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)
We don't need power projection, it's only got us into trouble every time we've tried it. Worked pretty damn well over the last couple of hundred years, so much so that we were able to build and sustain an empire it's back. The actual employment of sea-based power projection continues to be a specta...
- 11 May 2015, 17:19
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
- Replies: 632
- Views: 28023
Re: SDSR 2015
The pesky back benchers could well be our saviour in the next 5 years.
On Daily Politics this morning, there was some concensus that the MoD is the department most likely to get hammered in the coming few months.
On Daily Politics this morning, there was some concensus that the MoD is the department most likely to get hammered in the coming few months.
- 11 May 2015, 17:16
- Forum: Political Discussions
- Topic: General Election 2015 thread
- Replies: 109
- Views: 3651
Re: General Election 2015 thread
Navy reservist Penny Mordaunt is the first female Armed Forces Minister in the Tory cabinet reshuffle. I'm more pleased with the fact that she actually has some current/recent military experience, than her gender (not suggesting you think differently, SDL). There's been far too many bean-counters i...
- 09 May 2015, 11:26
- Forum: Deployments
- Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
- Replies: 245
- Views: 31545
Re: The Falkland Islands
There was a massive cock-up in the case of Sheffield. Several actually. Starting with the fact that the air search radar was foolishly switched off (albeit only briefly to establish comms), a relatively lacklustre approach to pre-emptive damage control, and poor response once the exocet was identif...
- 08 May 2015, 21:49
- Forum: Deployments
- Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
- Replies: 245
- Views: 31545
Re: The Falkland Islands
Possibly so, although I believe the extensive use of aluminium in RN Vessels was a big issue in respect of fire management...I'd guess there will be someone hereabouts who knows more about that than I do? I think lessons were probably learned right across NATO and beyond from those events. Sheffiel...
- 08 May 2015, 19:54
- Forum: Deployments
- Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
- Replies: 245
- Views: 31545
Re: The Falkland Islands
Were the Kiwis really going to send warships? Why exactly? At the time New Zealand was led by a conservative government with Rob Muldoon as PM. He and Thatcher were sort of cut from the same cloth. Plus at that time New Zealanders themselves strongly identified with the idea of being British post-c...
- 06 May 2015, 09:05
- Forum: Deployments
- Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
- Replies: 245
- Views: 31545
Re: The Falkland Islands
Btw wasn't the Dutch Marines attached to the RM at the time. why did they not deploy with them to the Falklands? IIRC, they were disappointed that they didn't, but the Falklands wasn't a NATO deployment. do you have a link? So was their amphibious force strictly only for NATO purposes? They just we...
- 05 May 2015, 11:12
- Forum: Royal Navy
- Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
- Replies: 513
- Views: 317176
Re: Merlin helicopters
Overflown 10 mins ago by a Mk3, resplendant in RN markings. Couldn't have been more than a couple of hundred feet, heading for Odiham.
Here's an article about the return of 847 to Yeovilton a few days back:
https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/12695
Here's an article about the return of 847 to Yeovilton a few days back:
https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/12695
- 04 May 2015, 17:20
- Forum: British Army
- Topic: Foxhound Protected Vehicle
- Replies: 290
- Views: 116993
Re: Foxhound Protected Vehicle
This one is from a top cover view
- 04 May 2015, 17:16
- Forum: British Army
- Topic: Foxhound Protected Vehicle
- Replies: 290
- Views: 116993
Re: Foxhound Protected Vehicle
400 Foxhounds are listed as in service as a final order and have seen deployment to Afghanistan. Just spent 6 months working with them in Kabul. Generally they're very good, but not without fault. It goes without saying that they're a VAST improvement over Snatch, but they can be a bit temperamenta...
- 04 May 2015, 12:16
- Forum: Off-Topic
- Topic: UK DEFENCE MEMBERS OWN PICTURE THREAD
- Replies: 16
- Views: 870
Re: UK DEFENCE MEMBERS OWN PICTURE THREAD
Getting on one of the last (of thousands) of Strat flights out of Bastion a few months ago. I think it was less than a week later BSN was off limits to Voyagers and such.