Search found 251 matches

by swoop
11 Oct 2023, 07:04
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38468
Pitcairn Island

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

NighthawkNZ wrote: 10 Oct 2023, 09:42But the two majors parties are just as bad as each other over the last 30-40 years
Just with one of the "big 2" worse than the other...
by swoop
10 Oct 2023, 02:58
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38468
Pitcairn Island

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

and then Little had to go and say the rest of his tweet which we all know is BS... but we will leave that part of his tweet for the proper thread... lol (mutter mutter muter curse swear @ labour ;-) ) The disgust that the utter bull***t that labour produces is unending. :roll: Which party got rid o...
by swoop
18 Sep 2023, 09:49
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38468
Pitcairn Island

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

Requiring to replace 90% of the fleet in around 2035 has been known for years... Will they ever get a ship launched Anti-Ship-Missile... who would know (but I doubt it) but sure NSM makes sense. but the is talk behind the scene that they need to upgrade the Penguin ASM. I can see an attitude of &qu...
by swoop
06 Aug 2023, 11:10
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479874
Pitcairn Island

Re: Australian Defence Force

I wonder how fast they are being built? Expensive way to ship them over would have thought they would have sent them over a LHD and bring them back in one lot I'd expect the first few to arrive this way to allow for integration, testing, acceptance trials, etc. The rest would probably be shipped.
by swoop
06 Jul 2023, 10:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15440
Views: 4408460
Pitcairn Island

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Hopefully it gets done before August then.
PhillyJ wrote: 05 Jul 2023, 16:39... though I'm not sure they get involved with below the waterline painting!
Quite doubtful. Ship's crew usually leave that to contractors to waterblast then spray new coatings on.
I wonder how often they find the divers' lines of any use?
by swoop
05 Jul 2023, 06:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15440
Views: 4408460
Pitcairn Island

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Never a truer word said! They would however have mired the whole programme down with typical French Gaelic intransigence. French demands for a 50% worshare etc, etc.... We probably dodged a bullet there. Mid summer not late! The start of the PoW's first good chapter. 23' very interesting trials, 24'...
by swoop
02 Nov 2022, 07:57
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: Invasion of Taiwan
Replies: 16
Views: 1615
Pitcairn Island

Re: Invasion of Taiwan

I don't really no much about the islands other than where they are, but it would make sense that they're easily defensible because I'd imagine that if they weren't the PRC would have taken them decades ago. VERY defensible indeed. Imagine a sheer cliff of rock emerging from the sea, much like an ex...
by swoop
20 Oct 2022, 08:08
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15440
Views: 4408460
Pitcairn Island

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

She was due in Rosyth next year anyhow, I would hope that whatever she was due for then, could be included in this 'unscheduled' trip. I'd be guessing a full waterblasting and repainting of the antifouling paint, along with the boot topping would be done - IF they can plan such an event to go ahead...
by swoop
21 Sep 2022, 09:51
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

Quite the stat considering this war is 7 months old and against the peer enemy in Europe They inherited substantial numbers of aircraft when they split with the USSR, only keeping a few squadrons airworthy (and also upgrading them) since then. Now it seems they are re-activating some of the stored ...
by swoop
16 Sep 2022, 08:24
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

It's certainly the right approach, fast moving, hard hitting and rapidly redeployable units will start to hit the Russians hard as Autumn really gets into its stride. Winter rolls in fast and early in part of the world and dosen't ease its grip before mid April. I believe the temperature has alread...
by swoop
14 Sep 2022, 11:03
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

bobp wrote: 13 Sep 2022, 12:56Doubt that they are using British Boxers.
Probably a Husky then? :think:

Either way, I bet there is a kettle in there somewhere, confusing foreign users... It certainly perplexes the Septics!
by swoop
13 Sep 2022, 09:57
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

They are using lots of supplied vehicles from MRAP's, to Aussie Bushmasters and Brit Boxers. The footage shows them travelling at a decent clip, to push hard and force the momentum on the battlefield.

Slava Ukraini!
by swoop
13 Sep 2022, 09:50
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38468
Pitcairn Island

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

...this article says the Te Kaha refit took 1-year, so she was occupying the dock for year long. Not necessarily in dock for the entire time. The hull plating and hoisting the engines out would be done in the dock, but other work can be done alongside the boiler wharf. As for remaking the exhaust s...
by swoop
11 Sep 2022, 10:24
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: BAC TSR-2 (Cancelled Project)
Replies: 67
Views: 39038
Pitcairn Island

Re: TSR-2 (Cancelled Project)

Unfortunately Swoop, the Avionics were a serious concern, had TSR2 survived into service it would probably have had technology refresh to MK2 standards in the late 1970's. The early 1960's Avionics would have been obsolete by the early 1970's for that matter, just as it reached operational service!...
by swoop
10 Sep 2022, 09:25
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: BAC TSR-2 (Cancelled Project)
Replies: 67
Views: 39038
Pitcairn Island

Re: TSR-2 (Cancelled Project)

According to public source material - Only flew supersonic once (1) - Major problems with landing gear (2) - Terrain following radar immature, may have been shaken to bits by low level flight (3) - Engines would have been a maintenance nightmare (4) - Mission computer verging on obsolete (5) Added ...
by swoop
09 Sep 2022, 05:20
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: BAC TSR-2 (Cancelled Project)
Replies: 67
Views: 39038
Pitcairn Island

Re: TSR-2 (Cancelled Project)

Unfortunately, the decision I've come to is that in reality, it's a project that should never have been started. It was simply beyond the capacity of the Mod to fund in the numbers needed and operation of the type in squadron service would have been 'ferociously' expensive. I have to disagree. The ...
by swoop
09 Sep 2022, 05:07
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

Or Russia preparing a retreat from Crimea? :lol: Hopefully they will take a lesson from the French & follow their example! Russian Lt .Gen Andrei Sychevy the commander of western districts has reportedly been captured a picture was apparently posted to facebook of him if confirmed would be the ...
by swoop
09 Sep 2022, 05:04
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15440
Views: 4408460
Pitcairn Island

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Am still curious as to how this all happened, did the prop strike a submerged object, damaging the shaft in the process?? I guess there is a very remote possibility of where the harbour channel is dreged out for her, there may be a shelf that could be struck? Possibly when turning the ship around t...
by swoop
03 Aug 2022, 03:52
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

https://news.yahoo.com/horrifying-footage-appears-to-show-russian-captors-castrating-a-ukrainian-prisoner-of-war-221414554.html Article seems to not mention that they executed the P.o.W. after doing that. Bastard scum of the earth. The statement from the only russian minister of parliament who vote...
by swoop
28 Jul 2022, 05:02
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15440
Views: 4408460
Pitcairn Island

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Any thoughts on what the war in Ukraine means for the future use of the QNLZ class, what lessons have been learnt/relearnt and what assumptions need to change? It brings into focus the change from counter-terrorist operations and chasing different groups around in various countries, into near-peer ...
by swoop
29 Mar 2022, 02:11
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38468
Pitcairn Island

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

It is a sad fact that many small island nations fall under the control of small cliques that then seek to manipulate their "nation" to line their own pockets. The individuals pushing this will suddenly become extremely wealthy Unfortunately china does not "sway a nation" but sim...
by swoop
12 Mar 2022, 01:10
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479874
Pitcairn Island

Re: Australian Defence Force

Received this in my email a few days ago ALERT LEVELS BY CONTRY - Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout Loudly and Excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.” Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level ...
by swoop
12 Mar 2022, 01:10
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479874
Pitcairn Island

Re: Australian Defence Force

Received this in my email a few days ago ALERT LEVELS BY CONTRY - Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout Loudly and Excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.” Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level ...
by swoop
11 Mar 2022, 05:59
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479874
Pitcairn Island

Re: Australian Defence Force

R686 wrote: 25 Feb 2022, 21:54Seems the French cannot let go of the sub deal and quite possibly the Taipans and Tiger fleets, well I’m sure they will still would like us to buy more KC-30A
Surely the French should just accept the decision and back down?

They are quite good at surrendering, after all.
by swoop
11 Mar 2022, 05:53
Forum: Conflicts
Topic: The war in Ukraine
Replies: 1163
Views: 85530
Pitcairn Island

Re: The war in Ukraine

May explain the mig story https://twitter.com/tombateman/status/1501471897510371334?s=21 Israel refused to sell Iron Dome systems to Ukraine as they are "comfortable" with doing business with russia. The development of workable relationships during the Syrian war assisted both countries.