Search found 1370 matches

by RichardIC
12 Sep 2023, 10:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Albion Class Amphibious Assault Ships (LPD) (RN)
Replies: 568
Views: 202066
United Kingdom

Re: Albion Class Amphibious Assault Ships (LPD) (RN)

Jensy wrote: 10 Sep 2023, 15:42 As I said on the future amphib thread, if the Navy don't demonstrate the value and future relevance of heavy ship-to-shore then it will simply be deleted before any comparable replacement is considered.
I'm not sure there is any relevance. The RM is now a light raiding force.
by RichardIC
11 Sep 2023, 09:20
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056875
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

It is not the job of the MOD to keep specific institutions employed. While the MOD should aim to keep a strong productive domestic industry, it should not be by directly managing suppliers, but rather a consistent commitment to buy British kit. The budget is for RN, not for the shipyard. Most of th...
by RichardIC
30 Aug 2023, 16:34
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142659
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Still all sounds a bit woolly to me. "Can be fitted" in a later capability insertion period. Can or will? How many will get them (and how many will they get and what will go in them?)? When will they get them? Thats the way I read it too. How hard is for the RN press office to say the T31...
by RichardIC
22 Jul 2023, 15:19
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Martlet/Lightweight multirole missile
Replies: 156
Views: 54693
United Kingdom

Re: Martlet/Lightweight multirole missile



Confirmation that RN regards Wildcat/Martlet as a credible air-to-air combo.
by RichardIC
12 Jul 2023, 13:02
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142659
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

https://www.navylookout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/HMS-Venturer-under-construction-in-Rosyth-1.jpg https://www.navylookout.com/first-members-of-ships-company-join-hms-venturer/ “Once accepted from Babcock, all five ships will undergo a period of capability upgrades under the MoD and demonstrati...
by RichardIC
06 Jul 2023, 10:29
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: BAE Hawk (RAF & RN)
Replies: 149
Views: 70693
United Kingdom

Re: BAE Hawk (RAF & RN)

More details from the same visit to Warton...apparently there is some embargoed big news for next week as well... BAE bought aeralis as "Next Gen Hawk", and are 'in discussions' with HMG to purchase said aircraft to replace the existing Hawk trainer fleet...? Don't think that's true. Do y...
by RichardIC
26 Jun 2023, 17:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 32 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]
Replies: 553
Views: 112676
United Kingdom

Re: Type 32 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Babcock's initial punt at Type 32 (for which there's still no money). https://www.navylookout.com/babcock-showcases-stretched-arrowhead-140-multi-role-naval-platform-concept-with-view-to-type-32-frigate-competition/ https://www.navylookout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Arrowhead-140-adaptable-friga...
by RichardIC
24 Jun 2023, 09:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056875
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Poiuytrewq wrote: 24 Jun 2023, 09:30
The RB2’s may have proven successful but they could have been more successful. RN can and most likely, will, learn from that.
Echoing the previous post, successful at what? Being better than nothing.
by RichardIC
18 Jun 2023, 19:55
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

No other public service is asked to put their lives at risk fighting for the country and be away from home for prolonged periods - it’s has to be seem and acknowledged as exceptional. Understand your comment on keeping experience. You really don’t need to convince me on the first point. On the issu...
by RichardIC
18 Jun 2023, 19:23
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

How would you like to see the figures presented to make them easier to understand? One idea would to make it relate to outcomes - e.g. x% of the escort fleet, y% of helicopters are crewed etc. I know it dumbing it down and but as we all know a shortage of even one specialist role means a ship canno...
by RichardIC
18 Jun 2023, 19:08
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Excellent article by former RN captain Tome Sharpe. https://twitter.com/tomsharpe134/status/1670462571474833409?s=61&t=v3p-ar2-83ikQMvwFZgTCA He’s analysed the comments. Key: https://twitter.com/tomsharpe134/status/1670463121700315137?s=61&t=v3p-ar2-83ikQMvwFZgTCA https://twitter.com/tomshar...
by RichardIC
17 Jun 2023, 21:40
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

BTW pay and conditions count. They count everywhere and it’s a highly competitive market.

But “easily” and “rapidly”?

Vapid nonsense.
by RichardIC
17 Jun 2023, 21:34
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

I would love it if the Waves could be reactivated, even if just Wave Knight, but I can't see how possible without additional funding. How can the RFA crew them? Its simply a question of priorities. The RFA headcount issue is easily resolvable with improved pay and conditions. If the will is there i...
by RichardIC
17 Jun 2023, 15:53
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

It’s better than scrapping them, but what happens in 2028? No replacement in sight With escort numbers dropping continuously until around 2030 RN needs to maintain presence in multiple locations without spending big by building more stopgaps. Modest conversions to make them Joint Logistics Vessels ...
by RichardIC
17 Jun 2023, 12:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Replies: 194
Views: 227577
United Kingdom

Re: Future Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Poiuytrewq wrote: 17 Jun 2023, 11:22 Good news!

Now time to make the case to get them reactivated and forward based EoS.

There are no people to freaking well crew them. Why is that so difficult to understand?
by RichardIC
09 Jun 2023, 09:13
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142659
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

Poiuytrewq wrote: 08 Jun 2023, 19:45 Can we agree on this?

- One T83 equals two T26
You have no blind clue what a T83 equals. Absolutely none.

And there's no certainty it will even happen.
by RichardIC
05 Jun 2023, 18:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: RFA Argus (Casualty Receiving Ship / Aviation Training Ship) (RFA)
Replies: 386
Views: 177713
United Kingdom

Re: RFA Argus (Casualty Receiving Ship / Aviation Training Ship) (RFA)

The perfect companion for RFA Argus would actually be RFA Fort Victoria as it would cover now only refuelling but also solid supply including ammo. It isn’t going to happen however, but something we should think about in the future fleet mix as it’s a powerful (but low key) in situ enabler for larg...
by RichardIC
02 Jun 2023, 18:29
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409502
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Ron5 wrote: 02 Jun 2023, 14:27 Fills me with complete confidence that an army colonel is heading this up. :(

Nearly as bad as having a land based RAF in charge of the ship's major weapon system :(

Only in the UK, sigh.
Royal Marine former FA2 pilot you daft clot.
by RichardIC
02 Jun 2023, 16:21
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142659
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

I disagree… the RN knew it had to go minimalistic to get the program approved, and they did… the AH 140 design is ready from the outset to take MK41, so no, I don’t think any extra money will be spent due to only announcing MK41 now as opposed to when the competition happened… everyone knew there w...
by RichardIC
31 May 2023, 09:36
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships
Replies: 178
Views: 28106
United Kingdom

Re: Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ships

So MROSS 2 possibly not a new build as promised? Which would actually make a lot of sense in many ways.
by RichardIC
19 May 2023, 20:05
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142659
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

BTW the declared aim of the type 32's is to provide a superior platform for deploying unmanned assets i.e. the thing that the type 31's are particularly useless at. Have you got a quote for that? I read that it should have a focus on unmanned I have also read that it should support the LRGs ie act ...
by RichardIC
10 May 2023, 09:15
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464828
United Kingdom

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

https://twitter.com/redunley/status/1656191181460766721?s=61&t=v3p-ar2-83ikQMvwFZgTCA Classic thread: No-one knows for certain why Australia selected the Type 26/Hunter for a multi-billion $ order because the minutes of key meetings have been lost. I can personally relate to this. No-one knows w...
by RichardIC
02 May 2023, 14:47
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: NavyX - the Royal Navy’s new Autonomy and Lethality Accelerator
Replies: 161
Views: 62121
United Kingdom

Re: NavyX - the Royal Navy’s new Autonomy and Lethality Accelerator

The XV's getting a new 3D surveillance radar to trial. https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2023/saabs-giraffe-1x-wins-uk-ministry-of-defence-orders One of these would be a decent upgrade for the River B2s. People are always talking about upgunning them but giving them a decent radar would p...
by RichardIC
01 Mar 2023, 09:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056875
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Opportunity for Babcock to supply a joint class of fast attack craft for Sweden and Ukraine? https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/sweden-rethinks-plans-for-new-ships-second-generation-visby-plans-in-flux/ So if they’re looking for something larger than a corvette, why would it be an opp...