It is welcome, it also highlights how far below the 2% of gdp they had fallen (around 1.4% presently) in that this will allow them to reach that target in about 3 years time. The main takeaways for me. • Regardless of the 2% debate, the worsening security picture requires a massive increase in defe...

We discussed this previously, but the RFA can actively operate about 7-8 vessels. Currently being generous it’s 9, but RFA Proteus and RFA Stirling Castle have relatively small crews, whereas Fort Victoria which is currently laid up is significantly more than than the average. In reality the RFA wit...

As many tankers in mothballs as there are inservice https://twitter.com/navylookout/status/1776290443468189892?s=61&t=-w58-AqEK8dlq02bHexwZA Madness - why on earth are we getting them to crew MRoSS and OSV ships when they can’t even provide the basic services they are there for. As someone once...

SW1 wrote: ↑05 Apr 2024, 18:45 As many tankers in mothballs as there are inservice

Madness - why on earth are we getting them to crew MRoSS and OSV ships when they can’t even provide the basic services they are there for.

The LSL/LSTs really need to be purchased and operated by NATO members with Baltic coastlines. A semi-commercial setup similar to the Points make work to keep them active. They would be low tech and cheap, both to procure and operate but in a conflict scenario extremely useful. An alternative could ...

Interesting, and a good reminder that to be relevant the RN needs top tier assets that others want, it’s not about making up numbers. I think however the article understates the value of the T45, which I understand is superior in aspects of its wide area AAW coverage to the AB class also.

How has the way the JEF can respond or pre position thing changed as a result of Sweden and Finland joining nato? Because historically both have tried to tread a careful line of partial neutrality not trying to upset or antagonise Russia. With the invasion of Ukraine and joining NATO that dynamic h...

Going back to this thread what ships / boats / craft are required to operate in such a region? Especially if most of the trained troops will already be based in Camp Viking? It’s not the MRSS designs we’ve seen IMO. I agree but it may not be a vehicle at all. Chinooks and heavy lift UAVs may become...

…Simply that the world changed post Feb22 and planning hasn’t caught up with Sweden/Finland in particular… We have been exercising with Sweden and Finland long before 2022. Your premise that the world changed in feb 22 is I believe wrong. I actually think you are both right. JEF was around before 2...

lots of potential resources Still resources. Also resources that they are denying others access to. Remember - Britain denying Germany access to the Middle Eastern oilfields was one of the most significant actions of WW2. Lack of fuel crippled the German war effort But they are still in the ground ...

Where is the plan for the British Army to operate at scale in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic? What does scale mean? No country is ready to act effectively in those regions at anything beyond a few thousand troops - maybe on paper but the readiness/kit/logistics to sustain a large operation beyond a batt...

I personally cannot see anything beyond a “trip wire” Army Battlegroup being of sense to deploy to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia when it comes to traditional units. Russia will not invade until it feels it has an overwhelming majority, which means that these countries will be captured or cut off in ...

I dont think there is any realistic scenario where Russian military assets start attacking merchant shipping heading to western nato nations. There maybe intimidation like we are seeing in the Philippine sea from China at the minute. There maybe interference with navigation systems as we have seen ...

I’m not convinced the US would actively engage Chinese forces both being nuclear powers and all. The play would be the put forces in before an attack took place with the implication that direct engagement would escalate conflict to Cuban missile crisis levels. I’m not sure anymore - if the conflict...

How many modern subs do Russia have in their northern fleet? Somewhere between 12 & 15 - enough to keep a large submarine and surface fleet busy. We ie nato have more than that even the European nato nations do would they not be keeping the Russian fleet busy? If the scenario is that they are a...

By 2030 about 40 to 50 but as said there would be 60 + modern Subs in Nato Would be interested to see how you got to that number of capable ASW frigates. 60+ modern submarines is including 40+ submarines suited to and designed for the Med and Baltic Sea. How many modern subs do Russia have in their...

Are we the west likely to engage Chinese forces directly anymore than we are engaging Russian forces directly in Ukraine? No, we (the UK) aren’t, but the US in Taiwan is quite possible which then draws in regional players. If the answer is no then should Chinese forces surround Taiwan there would b...

Just to put this into Context NATO Europe not including the USN & Canada has 3 x Fleet Carriers 1 x Light Carrier 6 x LHD's ( 3 fixed wing capable 1 x F35 , 2 x Harrier ) 7 x SSBN's 13 x SSN's 53 x SSK 127 x escorts 80 x Corvettes / OPV's 50+ MPA How many of the 127 Escorts have a capability to...

What we have is Mexeflote if we put 2 x Maxi- Mexeflotes together we get a 80 x 12 meters Causeway capable of taking 180 tons we have 50 Mexeflotes of different sizes what we need is away of fixing up to 3 Maxi-Mexeflotes together and fixing them in place so a Point class can unload We do, and it’s...

Thanks for your thoughts on the five year RN surface fleet priorities / tweaks given the realistic (IMO) China invasion of Taiwan scenario with Russia supporting by using its navy to threat and disrupt the NATO region in parallel. I’ve been thinking about it over the break also, and what strikes me...

With all the reporting on Gaza, I’ve been reading about the US Expeditionary Elevated Causeway (ELCAS) capability. There’s a lot of information over at ThinkDefence. Seems to be too expensive both in terms of cost and supporting troop requirements for the UK, but it does feel a capability that the U...

Whilst I do not buy the idea that Russia will be in a position to launch a major ground attack on NATO countries anytime soon, I can see a conflict in the far east having an knock on impact to the European region (and possibly Gulf, South America and Africa through proxy wars). One plausible scenari...

Sell 2 x T31 and buy 1/2 a T26 :D ? Really, that is not funny! T26s are £1.6bn each now are they? Regardless, it’s not just the money it’s the 2 x110 crew also. We really getting the 31's in service before the 26's? :eh: We might get HMS Glasgow first but the T31s will all be in service long before...

If 16AAB and 3Cdo have a underslung Chinook capability without losing effectiveness then where is the negative? It is ridicules to said that they should not get something just because it is tone or two over the weight transportable by Chinook. Perhaps not, but it’s only ridiculous if we rule out so...