…I feel we need to try and get the Army back up to 90,000 with 84 ,000 UK troops and 6000 Gurkha's The headcount has been reduced to pay for the technology and replacement kit. The MoD run the argument that there is no point having the higher headcount if the troops are badly equipped. Sounds reaso...

Thankfully someone, finally, has found the balls to say it. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/20/britain-holding-on-nato-influence-army-too-small-warning/ Britain ‘just holding on’ to Nato influence because Army is now too small, deputy commander warns Gen Sir Tim Radford said Britain risked ...

Five years ago Australia seemed to have a clear eyed view of defence procurement. Now with all this chopping and changing it’s beginning to look like an incoherent mess. One of the reasons why the Hunters are going to take so long to build is due to the requirement for an entire production facility ...

SW1 wrote: ↑20 Jun 2023, 16:02 Can’t agree. Your assumption is that deployed military ships is the only way to show engagement. It is not.

I didn’t suggest it was the only way.

RN/RFA is only one facet in a multi faceted approach but there is rather a lot of water in the region.

The region that is strategically relevant is the one the country is based in, if it’s not secure nothing else matters that’s why it is relevant and of strategic importance if we stepped out of ensuring its security it would be strategic isolationism. It’s why Churchill went to America to ensure aft...

No it isnt. Strategic isolation would be declaring neutrality and leaving nato. Sorry, can’t agree. How is NATO even relevant in this context? Declaring neutrality is simple isolation, nothing strategic about it. It’s tempting ignore the problem but it won’t go away. The only thing that will stop f...

SW1 wrote: ↑19 Jun 2023, 17:10

Echos of Barrow but that’s improving now. A template for the future.

Decades of underinvestment are showing up now across the board.

Perhaps a change of administration will go full speed ahead with the technical apprenticeships. We can but hope.

Had enough after covid and the current company pensions and IR35 regulations means it is more effective to now retire than continue working so they are. It’s a bow wave that’s been coming something like 40% plus of engineering staff are now within 5 years of retirement. Possibly a positive rather t...

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. Which is why someone with the skill sets required should be able to transition across from RN to RFA with improved ...

SW1 wrote: ↑18 Jun 2023, 21:33 What we can do is bolster security here freeing additional US assets for deployment in the pacific.

Is that not the literal definition of strategic isolationism?

Depends on the nature of the instability, if we decide to get involved and the response of the international community. It’s why you build contingency to be able to react. Thats logical. The instability and tension in the Asia Pacific region is now pretty clear. The response from the international ...

That’s is how we provide stability in the areas we care about. It is absolutely NOT about us needing to be everywhere to maintain said stability. Clearly the UK cannot do all things everywhere. I don’t think anyone here is suggesting that. It’s just a constructive disagreement on the distribution o...

Frankly I don’t really care who fills the vacuum there. I don’t see it as our long term strategic priority. Are you proposing a UK Foreign policy based around isolationism? Since WW2 global peace and prosperity has been founded on the international rules based order. If countries like the U.K. retr...

SW1 wrote: ↑18 Jun 2023, 13:07 Defence in general.

Who are you expecting to fill the vacuum created by such a withdrawal?

A fundamental issue is to too many tasks too many deployments, wanting to be everywhere. A lack of focus and priorities of what is important. The use it or lose it mantra often promoted incorrectly or to coin the new phrase constant engagement. Not many are gonna choose work over family especially ...

I guess Poiuytrewq-san is talking about the RFA crew "lost" in the last year. There are hundreds of skilled sailors/officers. They just went away. Pay rise cannot bring them back? My opinion is that the MoD must get better at managing both RN and RFA manning and skills or the entire struc...

I would also keep what spending on the Wave's refits to a minimum. Looks huge conversions effort. Money is needed "in addition to" re-activating the Waves (which are suggested to cost a few million). My question. Why not simply use Fort Victoria? RN has funding for refitting vessels, my a...

RichardIC wrote: ↑17 Jun 2023, 21:34 This is a place that is frequently filled with stupidity but this is nuclear-grade stupid.

How so?

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...

It’s better than scrapping them, but what happens in 2028? No replacement in sight It’s a five year stay of execution as well as a pragmatic decision to leave a difficult call for someone else to take the flak in the future. IMO the Waves are too valuable to leave rusting away although due to the f...

Good news!

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

Jdam wrote: ↑16 Jun 2023, 13:14 CAMM is getting up there in range, I wonder if it could replace the aster system for the 83s?

At minimum it would give the type 26 a bit more reach and something to use in their mk41's for.

It looks too big to quad pack. Mixed load?

24x Mk41 cells looking minimal now.

RN headcount analysis

https://www.navylookout.com/not-enough- ... s-brewing/

dmereifield wrote: ↑12 Jun 2023, 14:15 Hardly much better...

Basically for the money saved by disposal this decision isn’t worth the negative PR.

Use them or lose them!

What is needed is a good balance of high end and workhorses Agreed but many are also too quick to forget the enablers. 6 to 8 x AAW escorts 9 x ASW escorts 8 x GP escorts 10 x OPV's Perhaps this is more realistic. 2x CVF 4x T83 8x T26 8x T31 5x RB2 5x HiCap OPVs 2x LHD 4x MRSS 4x Tides 3x FSS 2x MR...