UK Defence Forum

Maybe a smaller LHD like the mistral could be pushed past the bean counters LHD's are dumb. It's well accepted that aircraft carriers don't belong close to a hostile coast. At the same time its well accepted landing craft don't work over the horizon. I don’t agree here, LHDs on there own don’t make...

The problem I see here is a strategy that is relevant today maybe not be in 15 odd years time when the current amphibious fleet will be replaced so basing our speculation on today’s strategy is flawed True that the strategy may change, but if it doesn’t or doesn’t back to the late 90’s / early 00’s...

What I’d like to see and believe offers the greatest flexibility is what I described up thread together with a number of absalon style vessels along with the LSS and the waves replaced by a more multi role design like KD or Ellida design. A future fleet of say - 2 x LSS 2 x LPD ( British San Antoni...

Forget “full sized” LHDs, that does not seem to be the direction of travel. To match strategy what we should be looking for are probably two platforms optimised for Raiding, one company sized (@120 RMs) plus a mini Cdo sized (@400 RMs) platform. In my view the first should be an Abalson style ship ...

Your right it definitely looks like a 2/3 scale modal of the wasp class LHA/LHD, also I think your bang on the money about the concern of the RN loosing a QEC if a large LHD was built, personally I prefer the look of the mistrals Maybe a smaller LHD like the mistral could be pushed past the bean co...

Just a very quick one but do folks think that we will end up with a trieste type lpd /LHD someday ,just been looking at its Trieste a handsome ship for sure ,the Italians should be rightly proud ,was kind of hoping we would get one one day also , replacement for Albion/bulwark IMO it depends if the...

In that video from Forces TV, one of the lethality increases mentioned for the Trials "Strike" unit was an increase in anti tank fire power. To the best of my knowledge our longest range weapon in that class is Javelin. Is there a need for a heavier Anti-Tank weapon to compliment the Jave...

Agreed it should have a big impact on defence, but in a good way? All the promises about spending money here and there, in fact it seems everywhere but defence. It all depends on how HMG see brexit playing out, we’ve seen from leak recordings that May saw it as a damage limitation project, will Bor...

I agree right now we are only a small bit player in the Far East and I agree this won’t be able to change with out investment in to the forces So the rest of your argument is mute, none of the parties are calling for increased investment beyond the status quo. The last time aspirations matched budg...

The UK has large engergy imports from the Middle East It doesn’t it’s in the single digits percentage wise and getting smaller. As of 2015 National Grid estimated that 60% of UK gas consumption is imported and expected to rise to 93% by 2040. Out of this just over two thirds comes via pipe lines fr...

The UK has large engergy imports from the Middle East It doesn’t it’s in the single digits percentage wise and getting smaller. As of 2015 National Grid estimated that 60% of UK gas consumption is imported and expected to rise to 93% by 2040. Out of this just over two thirds comes via pipe lines fr...

The UK has large engergy imports from the Middle East It doesn’t it’s in the single digits percentage wise and getting smaller. As of 2015 National Grid estimated that 60% of UK gas consumption is imported and expected to rise to 93% by 2040. Out of this just over two thirds comes via pipe lines fr...

2 - the Middle East not only doesn’t seem to being getting more stable but infact getting worse, this is going to require maintain a reasonable land presence there along with increased naval an amphibious presence. 3 - a rising and belligerent China, this is a threat to vital trade along with very ...

2 - the Middle East not only doesn’t seem to being getting more stable but infact getting worse, this is going to require maintain a reasonable land presence there along with increased naval an amphibious presence. 3 - a rising and belligerent China, this is a threat to vital trade along with very ...

I really dislike the idea of the UK forward deploying military assets without the military having the mass to do so effectively. Take the Royal Navy. With current aspirations we are going to have one or two tripwire groups forward deployed that will rely on the Carrier Strike Group coming to their ...

It seems with the threat all but gone and new threats to global trade and global norms rising in the Far East to stay relevant and do our part we are having to look global again. 1 SL listed N. Atlantic as n:o 1 prio quite recently - you quite rightly listed the dilemma of governing parties - the d...

But such a priority does not preclude presence in the broader Indian Ocean region... whereas the Pacific might be a stretch. I’d doesnt but say having 2 river batch 2 vessels and perhaps a wave tanker operating in south Atlantic may allow more defence engagement with African and South American coun...

Yes and what we choice out of those peramiters to include for the whole life of NATO changed at the whim of the 2010 government. The budget before 2010 while less than the mid 90s was still stead compared to after 2010 the choice to sell 7 escorts and drop an carrier was political. But my wider poi...

they lock in at a minimum percent of GDP by law then set out their goals and leave it to the force to determine what equipment is best needed with in the budget to achieve those goals. That is what happens today. Min 2% gdp up To the services to propose force structure options that lives within tha...

they lock in at a minimum percent of GDP by law then set out their goals and leave it to the force to determine what equipment is best needed with in the budget to achieve those goals. That is what happens today. Min 2% gdp up To the services to propose force structure options that lives within tha...

a "Cheap" conversion will probably do but work on a specialised platform designed for this role must be begun at the same time. Yes, if we put together little snippets over the last year or so, the difference in time will be 10+ yrs each having a distinctive role and the loss of HMS Ocean...

I see them as a stop gap giving much needed aviation until the main amphibious force is replaced By what? I read the whole thrust of the RUSI paper to be more of we need forward presence that will be modest in size but can scale. It will also be closer to shore, backed as needed by the JSG. As avia...

ah, yes. i tend to focus on the ASG rather than the LSG - where i see no future utility in them. I can see a utility for the to be fare, I see them as a stop gap giving much needed aviation until the main amphibious force is replaced, once replaced I’d move the LSS to more of a high end SF platform...

do we really need a new LVCP? the smaller davits can certainly be used for CB90 (which everyone agrees is part of a raiding future). what does an LVCP mk6 really offer that couldn't be met by a LCU Mk11 (Caiman90)... Well from what we can tell with the plans going forward is the need to offload 6 R...

For the ship to shore connectors I believe we need 3 types out side of hover craft to be able to fully do raiding ops and commando ops. CB90 or equivalent to transport a small number of just troops or offer fire support to the larger landing force LVCP Mk6 this to offer a troop plus ultra light vehi...