Search found 556 matches

by benny14
03 Aug 2018, 12:44
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724679
United Kingdom

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Five are apparently on their way today. Due to arrive this evening.
by benny14
01 Aug 2018, 05:31
Forum: British Army
Topic: Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) (British Army)
Replies: 31
Views: 33286
United Kingdom

Re: Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) (British Army)

From some accounts the Warthog is a piece of crap. They want to dump them just like they want to dump the Panther vehicles. Last thing we want is multiple fleets doing the same job. Warthog is no longer needed and is a drain on resources.
by benny14
31 Jul 2018, 12:25
Forum: British Army
Topic: Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) (British Army)
Replies: 31
Views: 33286
United Kingdom

Re: Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) (British Army)

Little J wrote:And they couldn't be sold/gifted to a friendly nation?

Now that is a waste :cry:
They are still up for sale.
by benny14
31 Jul 2018, 09:44
Forum: British Army
Topic: Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) (British Army)
Replies: 31
Views: 33286
United Kingdom

Re: Warthog All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) (British Army)

Those will be the 17 destroyed by IEDs. The other 85 should still be up for sale given the timeframe.
by benny14
31 Jul 2018, 08:57
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34156
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

abc123 wrote:One ready, one in training is a wartime posture, not for peace and extended periods.
And my point is that is how it has been for a long time with 3 Cdo. They seem to be getting along fine with it. RMs love been active.
by benny14
31 Jul 2018, 04:21
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34156
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

I can see what you are saying in that it is easier to have one out of three battalions kept at high readiness than when you only have two. But I suppose those who join the RM expect excitement so alternating between the two battalions will have to do. Unfortunately the other will still have to unde...
by benny14
30 Jul 2018, 17:30
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34156
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

You can, but not as easy as out of three. That's the same thing like saying that the RN can do with just 8 frigates- yes, but not like with 13. Or with 7 submarines instead of 12 etc. And then you have 10 months deployments and similar things- and then you wonder why there's no enough fools to beco...
by benny14
30 Jul 2018, 10:13
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34156
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

IMHO, the standing task of the RM is amphibious maneuver, so 3 battalions to do that is minimum. No. The operational battalion provides the lead commando group. The standing tasks battalion conducts defence engagement abroad, training and force protection. Which is what 42 Commando is now doing, al...
by benny14
29 Jul 2018, 23:52
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34156
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Well if you accept that a marine battalion ( if even that ) is now the maximum of UK amphibious capability, then yes... Time to stop looking at the olden glory days. The new structure is fit for purpose. Before the change, we had one battalion doing standing tasks, one training and one operational....
by benny14
28 Jul 2018, 21:16
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34156
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Here is what 42 Commandos new structure looks like. Juliet Company - Maritime assault (Boarding) Kilo Company - Support, Augment, Liaise and Train (SALT) Lima Company - Joint Personnel Recovery Mike Company - Force Protection Support Coy (Mortar/Recce/Sigs/Int) Logistic Coy They still maintain organ...
by benny14
28 Jul 2018, 20:23
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

Thank you for your clarification Lord Jim and Benny14, I did not understand very well the role of the 3rd Division :thumbup: Yea, its a bit tricky to understand. Here is the simplified structure. 3rd Division, 16 Air Assault Brigade, and 3 Commando Brigade are the fighting forces. 1st Division woul...
by benny14
28 Jul 2018, 19:48
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

Don't agree. What you need is supports for additional two brigades- 7th and 51st, not SIG and 11th Brigade. I never said SIG and 11th needed supports. They don't. 7th and 51st would benefit from supports, but for the reasons I listed before, it is not absolutely vital. there is a lot of battalion w...
by benny14
28 Jul 2018, 00:09
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

Back to Army 2020 for me, or the German model. This is my re-structure from the 2020 Refine model. Cancel the 4th brigade and retain the three brigade structure. Split the monster 101 logistics brigade back in to two again and give one to each division. This gives you logistics for both divisions, s...
by benny14
26 Jul 2018, 23:49
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410106
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

seaspear wrote:Is there any consideration of using the baseline two phalanx
Fairly sure all are either already upgraded or in the process of been upgraded to version 1B.
by benny14
26 Jul 2018, 21:04
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

As for the "Mechanised" Brigades they would have three Infantry Battalions Three battalions of what? So some issues/questions... Your plan requires us to life extend a ton of additional CR2s, Warriors and Bulldogs. Do we cut back on the Boxer order? What do we do with the 4th Ajax regimen...
by benny14
26 Jul 2018, 09:44
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

Can anybody explain, what's the purpose of Specialised Infantry Group? Specialized training battalions. Top heavy, smaller battalions that can be used to train other forces, so that we don't have to rip sections out of regular battalions. Added benefit of releasing manpower to strengthen the other ...
by benny14
26 Jul 2018, 07:56
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

3rd Division: 3 Mechanised Brigades each with 1 Armoured, 1 Recce, 3 Mechanised and 1 Artillery Regiment/Battalions. So essentially the Army 2020 plan. I assume 2 Warrior and 1 Boxer battalion as was the previous plan? I have always preferred this structure to the current one. 1st Division: 16 Air ...
by benny14
26 Jul 2018, 04:21
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?
Replies: 703
Views: 28051
United Kingdom

Re: Mid-term review for the Strategic review?

Why would we need more than two? We currently have over two thirds of our infantry in "Light" role battalions that have little or no war fighting capabilities. These formations were fine when we ere garrisoning the Empire, but now they are a drain on resources especially has personnel cos...
by benny14
24 Jul 2018, 22:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410106
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

If there was a reason to scramble QE this is it. Fires in Greece, a need for Helicopters there, she should go now! Best possible PR and she could really make a difference. One of the reasons she exists. Not worth devastating her trials schedule for a token gesture. If we want to help, fly the helic...
by benny14
24 Jul 2018, 22:33
Forum: British Army
Topic: Multi Role Vehicle – Protected - MRV(P)
Replies: 767
Views: 226073
United Kingdom

Re: Multi Role Vehicle – Protected - MRV(P)

shark bait wrote: The government to government price to the U.K. before integration is a little over double the price you worked out. I've been told that price is closer to $700k.
Does that include the theatre entry gear? If so, then still cheaper than Foxhound by a mile.
by benny14
24 Jul 2018, 22:27
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057790
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I take the current situation as BAE saw Arrowhead and realized that they could not compete within the price range, so pulled out of the competition. This results in there been only one company in the competition, hence it needs to be reworked, either requirements change, or the price cap raised to b...
by benny14
23 Jul 2018, 23:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410106
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

I think at least one of the Phalanx guns has been fitted, on the starboard side just in front of the forward island. Look back to my 13th July post to find the video when Portsmouth FC visited the ship, its in the first few seconds. You'll see what I mean. Found this one as well. https://pbs.twimg....
by benny14
14 Jul 2018, 11:34
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724679
United Kingdom

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Of the multi-platform choices we do not use the air-launched weapon that LRASM was derived from so that leaves just the updated Harpoon and NSM/JSM (that share components) as good choices. I agree. We wont see a decision on this until 2020-21 at the earliest. Potential that it might be gapped due t...
by benny14
14 Jul 2018, 09:56
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724679
United Kingdom

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

I wonder if the RN is going to have to wait until the 2030s as well for a replacement for Harpoon? A couple days ago the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for Military Capability said that an interim Harpoon replacement is not funded in the equipment plan. He said that they are looking at options d...
by benny14
12 Jul 2018, 03:04
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724679
United Kingdom

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

If anyone was watching the defence committee meeting today on future ASM. They said the F-35 is going to get the future joint UK-French ASM. So we are going to have to wait until the 2030s until we have dedicated air-launched ASM... Also seems that the P8 is not getting Harpoons, I think we might be...