Given that current plans to deploy just 1 Cdo requires:

1 × LPH (Ocean)
1 × LPD (Albion or Bulwark)
2 × LSD (Bay class)
1 × RoRo (Point class)

your mini ARG looks very small if you hope to deploy 1 Cdo battlegroup.

Just seen some nice pictures with 3 Apaches on deck... If the three 3 SSSs were kept for the CBGs, then perhaps 3 RFA JSSs (with an Argus style flat deck) could be squeezed out of the budget to cover the small ARGs; replacing Ocean, Argus and one of the Bays. Could be done relatively quickly throug...

Remember these ships also have the sea base requirement of MARS rolled into a single platform, so aviation and supporting forces ashore is also a key piece for the design. I would expect extensive facilities for aviation, probably as @Aethulwulf says, similar to Fort Victoria. The early concepts we...

Fort Victoria can carry 6250 cubic m of stores and has RAS rigs that can transfers loads of upto 2 tons at a time. I think I'm right in thinking the new MARS SSS will be fitted with heavy duty RAS rigs able to transfer upto 5 tons at at time. This is partly due to the need to be able to lift the F35...

The UK effectively gave up this capability in SDSR 2010. True - so to be able to have a company level CVF based (airborne) capability with the ability to add a Cdo Battle group at a months notice and scale up to 2 Cdos plus 2 airborne companies is as good it'll get. Probably. And don't be too optim...

With the announcement today on RM cuts and the re-role of 42 Cdo does this mean the UK has given up the ability to deploy a RM brigade? The UK effectively gave up this capability in SDSR 2010. SDSR 2010 decided that the UK deployment of an amphibious force would be limited to an EMF of 1800 (includ...

Obviously not. But it might be a lot cheaper and easier to keep the lifts where they are, and just fit a smaller opening for a second RAS station on the starboard side that aligns with the MARS SSS stations. I suspect that the only real reason to want to move both lifts to starboard would be to do w...

The amount of redesign work in moving the lifts should not be underestimated. Any big hole in a ship's side/upper deck has a big effect on structural integrity, stiffness, vibrations, etc (not to mention centre of gravity). Moving a lift from port to starboard, so that both lifts are on the starboar...

Here's a cunning plan. In the national shipbuilding strategy, MOD publishes its intention to replace Albion & Bulwark with LHDs in ~10 years, but opens up the possibility of modified French, Spanish, Italian designs or a UK bespoke design. Start an assessment that will run for 2-3 years, which w...

Do we not also currently use a 3rd party rented tanker to supplement the fleet ? Maybe I read that wrong on another forum. She does not resupply ships at sea. She is used just to move fuel between depots and places such as Falklands etc. The ship in question is called the Maersk Rapier and is curre...

Apparently the Queen has first dibs on ZZ336, then Prince Charles, and then the Prime Minister. The rest of the cabinet are next on the list. Always nice to remind the politicians that they are not the most important people. I hope that if the RAF ever need it for AAR, they would get a higher priori...

Nice article and video about RFA Tidespring at Falmouth...
http://m.cornwalllive.com/a-p-falmouth- ... story.html

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/march-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5038-babcock-secures-us-coast-guard-cutter-design-support-contract.html Babcock secures US Coast Guard Cutter design support contract Is this anothe...

SRN have put together this infographic which looks at the schedule for delivery of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and their embarked aircraft. Prepared using MoD statements and public domain information, some dates are estimates and programs are likely to be subject to change. http://w...

bobp wrote:Well she is underway again heading north east doing 18.6 knots.

If she travels straight to Falmouth and averages 18 kts, the journey would take 9 days. More likely is a slower average speed and a least one more port call. So arrival sometime in early April appears likely.

Italian newspaper reporting the government has decided to break up Leonardo (Finmeccanica) Il governo riesuma Profumo per liquidare Finmeccanica Italianità addio - Renzi e Padoan avrebbero preso contatti con Usa e partner europei: l’azienda spacchettata e ceduta ai colossi francesi e tedeschi Rest ...

Italian newspaper reporting the government has decided to break up Leonardo (Finmeccanica) Il governo riesuma Profumo per liquidare Finmeccanica Italianità addio - Renzi e Padoan avrebbero preso contatti con Usa e partner europei: l’azienda spacchettata e ceduta ai colossi francesi e tedeschi Rest ...

AgustaWestland sold to Lockheed Not sure if that would be a good thing or a bad thing to be honest. At least it wouldn't be called Leo anymore! :) Lockheed also own Sikorsky. A number of Sikorsky products are direct competitors to AgustaWestland. If the reports are true, the word 'rationalisation' ...

Tidespring on her way through the first set of locks. Need to be careful to avoid any scratches on that nice new paintwork.

Tidespring is now off the coast of Panama, on the approach to the canal.

Are there any information about who are going to build this Venator 110? I mean, ship builder. The ship builder will provide the detailed design/building plan. If it is not good enough, it shall be "very" different from future possible RN version... The BMT Saab proposal mentions that it ...

BMT/SAAB proposing Venator 110 for the Colombian Navy: http://www.bmtdsl.co.uk/media/6684660/BMTDSL-Saab-Technology-Partner-Proposal.pdf https://mobile.twitter.com/BMT_Defence/status/839814063953694720 Since I saw this design I thought it was ideal for S.America, perhaps Brazil, Chile and Peru at a...

Much of the Type 26's costing could be considered as having been measured on the old adage of 18 of them. When that drops to 8, of course the price will skyrocket. Look at HMS Duncan compared to HMS Daring in their costs. Almost halved! Even PoW has ended up vastly more efficient than QE and that's...

Interestingly, given previous discussions, RFA Tidespring appears to be travelling at 18 knots at the moment while heading due east.

In theory the Royal Navy owns enough Phalanx (41, after 5 new ones were purchased in 2012) for mostly all ships that could carry them, but the upgrade and refurbishment is going extreeeemely slowly for some reason, which probably includes having had i don't know how many mounts taken away to serve ...