Search found 231 matches

by Pongoglo
24 Apr 2019, 14:15
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058242
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

By the way, canisters from T23 will NOT be used in T31e. Second Sea Load clearly states (in the answer to Engaging Strategy-san's question on twitter) that equipments transferred from T23 to T31 will be very limited. I also thin even Mk.8 4.5inch gun cannot be transferred. The two 30 mm canons, &qu...
by Pongoglo
22 Apr 2019, 09:14
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)
Replies: 133
Views: 59629
United Kingdom

Re: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)

https://twitter.com/US_Stratcom/status/974664616767905792?s=20 HMS Raider (P275) of the Faslane Patrol Boat Squardron (FPBS) escorts USS Maryland. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYaxC2PV4AApOn4?format=jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYaxC2QVQAUIsIM?format=jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYaz2mwUQAEIQ7...
by Pongoglo
22 Apr 2019, 09:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058242
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Repulse wrote:We know the £1.25bn is in the budget, so it’s as “real money” as it gets - an enlarged B2 River with a T26 style mission bay would be affordable and capable of doing the global forward based/flag flying that the T31 seems to be pitched for.
Haven't you just described Leander ?
by Pongoglo
19 Apr 2019, 16:30
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1465213
United Kingdom

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

(may be re-rolling of RM 43 commando is helping RN man-power a little?). It helps not a bit, all it does is free up the PIDS ie relieve the budget a tad. The reality is that the manpower shortage is down to the fact that despite a bloody good recruiting campaign, like the other services ( and in th...
by Pongoglo
19 Apr 2019, 16:18
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410403
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

It's also more than a remote possibility that it could be QE or PoW :oops:
by Pongoglo
19 Apr 2019, 16:09
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058242
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

personally don’t see the T31 as an answer to this question as their primary role is stated as freeing up the T45s/T26s for CSG duties. Aren't you contradicting yourself? Sailing a T31 (or two :) ) closer to the shoreline for NGFS would maintain the freedom of manoeuvre - well away :!: - for the res...
by Pongoglo
18 Apr 2019, 11:45
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058242
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

T31e is a cost cutting program of T23 replacement; cutting ASW (very expensive) and even cutting NGFS (rarely used) to make it cheap. Rarely used? NGFS or NGS as it is referred to by the RN has been used in action by the RN (and Commonwealth) surface fleet more than any other capability in pretty m...
by Pongoglo
15 Apr 2019, 10:45
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058242
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

(It's Niels Juel by the way.) thanks ... Also interesting that Niels Juel reportedly sailed with a complement of 160. That's 60 more than Babcocks core 100 figure for Arrowhead 140. Similarly, T45 is reportedly carrying 200-220 although its official number is 191. I think these real number is more ...
by Pongoglo
13 Apr 2019, 14:10
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Replies: 957
Views: 311939
United Kingdom

Re: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)

An interesting overview of the recent trail with Mounts Bay. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27215/u-s-navy-turned-a-british-amphibious-ship-into-a-mine-clearing-sea-base-packed-with-drone-tech Great article and really showcases the huge flexibility of the Bays , Amphib Ops, HADR, Counter Nar...
by Pongoglo
06 Apr 2019, 17:22
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5411
Views: 1420948
United Kingdom

Re: River Class (OPV) (RN)

Pop gun . :clap:
by Pongoglo
05 Apr 2019, 18:48
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143195
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Looks like Babcock are serious about putting TACTICOS into the RN version of Arrowhead as well as the export boats ? Their building a new support center in Plymouth too;

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/l ... rt-2683577

The image shows Leander however !
by Pongoglo
27 Mar 2019, 10:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

With no apparent ship to shore connectors apart from LCVP's visible in any of the FLSS concepts, how would a FLSS vessel compare to a capability such as this? HADR could be a primary mission for the FLSS vessels. https://twitter.com/MarineNationale/status/1110277787535970306?s=20 Translation: Loadi...
by Pongoglo
25 Mar 2019, 14:55
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143195
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

I won't be surprised it will have a 76 mm gun (even re-used from somewhere), I think the 4.5 is now nailed on for T31. It's free, training pipeline and spares available and there has been some re-certification work underway recently, including the first land based trials for a long time. 4.5 inch g...
by Pongoglo
25 Mar 2019, 14:19
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

I'm thinking that the ideal base location for the western LSS/LSG is Gib, rotating between there and the excellent NATO facilities at Souda Bay in Crete. Despite our recent success in Syria IS have far from gone away and I see this as continuing to be the primary focus for UK SF, which includes RM w...
by Pongoglo
25 Mar 2019, 13:35
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

I said we will be pushed to deploy 4 Merlin's and 4 Wildcats Two of each on each of the FLSS i.e 2 Merlins and 2 wildcats per ship Thanks, sorry for misunderstanding. As I said, my idea is to have only 1 Wildcat on Caribbean LSS. In crisis, C17 will send more Wildcats. For the east-of-Suez LSS, I a...
by Pongoglo
25 Mar 2019, 12:36
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143195
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

My other view is that the RN sailing 2nd rate Frigates around the world impressing the natives is another era now. Absolutely! Rather than responding to the challenges in the modern naval domain the RN is retreating to its post colonial gun boat comfort zone. The RN is responding to what HMG direct...
by Pongoglo
24 Mar 2019, 12:07
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143195
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Clearly the cheapest and most realistic will be the Leander - all the others are stating numbers that are cloud cuckoo land for £250mn. If there is more money, then buy more T26s, the cost of operating multiple classes / systems will outweigh any benefits. Cloud cuckoo land - surely we have heard t...
by Pongoglo
23 Mar 2019, 11:49
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

If only spreadsheet Phil could find a few pounds down the back of the Treasury sofa as the addition of one these on the FLSS vessels would make a massive difference :thumbup: https://twitter.com/RNASCuldrose/status/1108704181609730048?s=20 Dream on I know....... :D Dear Phil, could we have three mo...
by Pongoglo
07 Mar 2019, 14:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5985
Views: 1500873
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

For those who are UK based could be an interesting watch tonight, ITV 1s ' Tonight ' programme 19.00 -'19.30 'Can we defend ourselves? '. The preview suggests a heavy focus on RM , forward deployment , and quote ' the Governments ambitious plans to keep the UK a world leader' . Should be a nice brea...
by Pongoglo
06 Mar 2019, 10:47
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19150
Views: 7058242
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Lord Jim wrote:Just out of interest, is there a reason we haven't tried to fit a Phalanx on top of the Hanger on the T-23 now that Sea Wolf has been replaced?
£££££££ !
by Pongoglo
02 Mar 2019, 13:51
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

White-SOF Concept ofEmployment - which the above quoted source nicely defines: "Contributing to the military imperative, White-SOF offers more mass andmanoeuvre than Black-SOF Squadrons’ to tackle ‘high value, critical objectiveswith high risk and high payoff’[17] – either in support of orinde...
by Pongoglo
24 Feb 2019, 14:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1995
Views: 555263
United Kingdom

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]

SKB wrote:
Great looking ships , almost a Cruiser like presence. Unlike Duncan however I note no Harpoon :-(
by Pongoglo
20 Feb 2019, 12:31
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

The T31 could bring a lot to the party. The naval Wildcat for surveillance and ASuW, Artisan radar for situational awareness, strong comms links, EW intelligence gathering, etc. as well as a Sea Ceptor umbrella. and crucially and often forgotten.. NGFS...which is why at a minimum it needs a Mk 8 gu...
by Pongoglo
17 Feb 2019, 15:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Future Littoral Strike Ships
Replies: 888
Views: 358784
United Kingdom

Re: Future Littoral Strike Ships

Since the US has already done a Point conversion, and H&W built two of them, I would think that it would provide the starting point (dammit!) for any assessment. No doubt the existing ships will be prime candidates, but it may well prove that a new(er) hull is cheaper overall. Since both ro-ro ...
by Pongoglo
16 Feb 2019, 18:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD (A)) (RFA)
Replies: 367
Views: 193169
United Kingdom

Re: Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD (A)) (RFA)

Somewhat underwhelming as a port https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Little+Bay+Ferry+Terminal/@16.8030353,-62.2069812,444m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8c13ab53e1c7369d:0x1e0fea838805b1a2!2sMontserrat!3b1!8m2!3d16.742498!4d-62.187366!3m4!1s0x8c125305c4784265:0xce5a3e307c27eccf!8m2!3d16.8032932!4...