I don't think that would work all that well as you lose the ability to move heavy specilist equipment from the well dock. Your right, I meant LHD. We probably can't afford to loose over half of our well dock capacity. One Ocean and two Albion's should be replaced by 2 modern LHD's, and I think that...

What I'm wondering is, if we were to replace the Albion's with LHD's might we see the the Bay's replaced by a couple of larger LPD's in RN service rather than RFA LSD's? I don't think so. If the royal navy did get LHD's similar to the Mistral's or Canberra's I don't think they would need, or could ...

They royal navy simply can't afford to operate carriers, LPD and LPH at the same time, there is neither the man power or cash available. If there are any available resources it needs spending on more surface combats. Replacing the 2 LPD's with 2 LPH's is a very reasonable expectation. With leaner cr...

ArmChairCivvy wrote:or shall we maintain that a 'pop-gun' ruins the ship for two and a half penny's worth of tar?

That is my preference.
If we are going to be cheap with the gun we may as well be really cheap and remove the complexity associated with a new type.

marktigger wrote:76mm does not provide enough to make it an viable alternate to the 127

Agreed, it has to be big enough to match the naval gunfire support of the T26, otherwise you would be better off not fitting one and instead relying on the platforms missiles.

Isn't MHPC renamed as MHC, after the OPV order? It was written in some document from MOD. It has. Program is a name change only, the new platforms will still be expected to have a patrol capabilities as any sizeable platform has inherent patrol capabilities. Its a long way away yet, 2028 is the cur...

I really hope that the RN does not mix the MHPC and Frigate requirements, they are both distinct in my book and any merging would be mean big comprises on both. Likewise. They cannot be merged, completely different platforms, with completely different aims, and hopefully completely different costs....

http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2014/05 ... -boneyard/

Some images of our harrier fleet in an American bone yard.

If you ask me, removing mission space and aviation space is the ONE thing that must NOT be done. Absolutely, if we did we would not only end up with a flexible GP that is less flexible and less general purpose than the T26, but one that has zero future proofing. You are right to speculate that syst...

The requirement in MoD for FLF is: Independent patrol operation at range, Full RAS capability Self and local area air defence (CAMM) ASuW capability Local ASW Merlin capable deck and ops. Contiguous hangar and mission bay (4iso container) 5 inch gun CIWS possible VLS x16 Is that an actual MOD requi...

yes a "Study" is a euphemism for saying allot and doing nothing the odd conceptual drawing will appear but little else. The RN has just lost 5 frigates. I don't think that's true. The T26 has been though many different names and many different studies, all those may appear to have produce...

I think the QE will have a standard air group of 18 to 24 f35, 12 will be usmc + there maintenance crew and command staff. This will be a win win for UK & USA as the royal navy will get the experience of running a QE with a large compliment of f35 and the USA will free up a carrier group. I wou...

I think it is a bit more than just the bean counters. It is the national pride/ defence industrial policy of maintaining the ability to build high end kit. Therefore everything becomes multi-role by necessity, I think you are right. We want great kit, so it will be expensive, which leads to a decre...

Here's hoping that the LPD replacement is a through deck design similar to a Juan Carlos that can embark a handful of F35s, helos and boats from the well dock. I think that's the "optimum" package for the future of the RN capital fleet: 4 flat tops 2 CVF 2 LHD with one of each available a...

I am sad to say may be not. BF are looking for more "less capable" = cheaper vessels, look like. They will be seriously under funded. Navy may "present" these 3 OPVs to BF. But I am not sure BF will be happy with it. But, in the case BF are to go to Med much frequently, yes, the...

- no CIWS, the same as T23GP-mod that is not acceptable and saving are minimal, the Americans pay $5million per system. Anyway, we have a fall-back plan to have a ship similar to T26GP, but with reduced number (say only 4 or even 3) unacceptable again, we only just have enough surface combatants as...

If you mean, "even a light frigate must have the same range/enduarance as T23", I agree it is reasonable I do mean that yes. It has to be more than just range though. It needs to be able to support it's self in combat very similarly to a T45 or T26. Otherwise we will have a general purpos...

Interesting point, I don't think a real light frigate would actually fit into the way the RN fights and deploys. Without the range to move between theatres independently it becomes a liability and relies on other units to support it. Without the equipment to look after itself in high intensity comb...

Just found this. It seems be bought one of our cutters from a newspaper advert.



It was printed in Norway's biggest newspaper

But I guess if you wanted to compare the merits between STOVL and CATOBAR it should be done between 2 equal designs that of UK CVF and the now defunct French CVF PA2 and both countries had 2x carriers It is a shame they never went through with that. It would have been the perfect case study to argu...

See above for quote. And the TAG overoptimism has been around for a while. Before it gets out of hand, a reminder of how things happen was in order. I'll go back to silence now. Sorry but what a loas of BS . I don't think anyone is under the illusion that our TAG's will better than a fixed fully lo...

wonder if any of the retired MCMV's will be sold or given to the Border guard as patrol vessels? The border force aren't going to be chasing much down in the slow mine hunters unfortunately. Perhaps if they could sell the three Sandown-class and the 3 river class they could fund another batch of cu...

Please, PLEASE, let's not try and kid ourselves about having less resources somehow enabling more flexibility. It is delusional at an unbelievable scale. Leave that to politicians and their nonsensical catchphrases. I'm not sure anyone was suggesting because we have less resources we are inherently...

This is something I haven't has the chance to say yet, but it is another reason why light frigates just won't work for the RN. It has been said many times that it is logistics that wins wars. It might not be a sexy as frigates or fighter jets but it is every bit as important. At sea, where we have a...

The French did it properly and they got rewarded with some nice foreign sales, unfortunately between our politicians and BAE we are going to get a massively overpriced, delayed and borderline dangerous empty hull. Lots of nations have them or a simily type, which is precisely the reason why we need...