Search found 619 matches

by whitelancer
15 Oct 2017, 20:56
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273152
United Kingdom

Re: Merlin helicopters

does it really matter whose badge is on the side? It matters a lot, and its not only which service "owns and operates" a particular capability but it matters even within services. Of course those who disagree will say that any problems that may have occurred in the past are not relevant t...
by whitelancer
15 Oct 2017, 19:07
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142952
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Pongoglo wrote: If as you say the ammo IS still being manufactured anyone know in what quantities and where ?
In I think 2009 Bae entered into a 15 year contract to supply the MOD with small arms and artillery ammunition not sure if this included 4.5" but it would make sense if it did.
by whitelancer
15 Oct 2017, 02:36
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057627
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Around two years from announcing what it wanted to do, to issuing the spec, via consulting with one of the top names in the ship-building industry (who took evidence from many others) is hardly last-minute, or cobbled together. Perhaps on this occasion I'm wrong and the government really did its ho...
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 23:09
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Strike Brigades (SDSR 15)
Replies: 156
Views: 22614
United Kingdom

Re: Strike Brigades (SDSR 15)

I always rather liked the US Army Armoured Cavalry Regiments. Though I would have replaced the Bradley M3 with the M2, to give it more dismounts. One thing the Strike brigades will need is aviation assets. Not that they will have them at least organically, they will have to rely on JHC to provide wh...
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 22:33
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Spaceflight & Cosmology
Replies: 180
Views: 12761
United Kingdom

Re: Space & Spaceflight

I'm even more depressed having watched that. :cry: If only the government realised that investing in science and engineering is investing for the future, Any short term pain will more than be made up by future rewards. Perhaps they do realise but are unwilling to face the pain or don't believe the p...
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 19:41
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057627
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Caribbean wrote: but I suspect that HMG did a bit of homework before it set that figure and also knows that it is challenging, but achievable.
I get the impression that HMG has a tendency to skimp on its homework, usually cobbling it together at the last possible minute.
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 19:33
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142952
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

Pongoglo wrote:Well the CO of Argyle is in no doubt about what gun he wants on the T31
Lets hope he has a Fairy Godmother.
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 19:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273152
United Kingdom

Re: Merlin helicopters

If the RAF required the UH60 it would get it, but there is no requirement for it, fro weather the Army or the RAF. AH64E, Wildcat, CH47 are a rather potent force that fits the requirements laid down by JHC, Land etc. That's rather the point, the RAF doesn't require an assault or utility helicopter,...
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 18:36
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142952
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

anything but 127mm as main armament will just be a complication and resource drain with its support costs ammunition etc If the MK45 was fitted would we use the automatic magazine as on T26 which saves manpower, which the RN is short of, but appears to be very expensive. Or a simpler arrangement to...
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 17:51
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273152
United Kingdom

Re: Merlin helicopters

Its also why we ended up with loads of heavy lift helicopters and no proper assault and utility machines. The RAF wouldn't want the Blackhawk for instance, because it would be so obvious that it should belong to the AAC their would be a risk of them losing it. In my opinion with JHC they are trying ...
by whitelancer
14 Oct 2017, 17:27
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: Spaceflight & Cosmology
Replies: 180
Views: 12761
United Kingdom

Re: Space & Spaceflight

All rather depressing, developed on a shoestring then just as it is becoming successful for some unfathomable reason the government abandons the whole project. Or in this instance if what was reported is correct abandoned in some shoddy deal made by Heath with the French. How very believable. As usu...
by whitelancer
07 Oct 2017, 00:32
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?

Lord Jim wrote:What we need in a full blown, transparent and honest SDSR.
That would be a first then!

It would help if they were working to some coherent strategy, but their doesn't appear to be one. Unless you call muddling through a strategy?
by whitelancer
07 Oct 2017, 00:21
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5981
Views: 1500669
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

@sharkbait Up thread you posted some tables of journey times for various landing craft, I wondered where they came from because I find them totally unrealistic. The main problem being the turn round time. Allowing just 15 minutes to beach, unload then unbeach and at the other end manoeuvre into the ...
by whitelancer
06 Oct 2017, 23:24
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 the Mod is so found of operating the Armed Forces as a business, perhaps its time to adopt a common practice when businesses are serious about making cuts, and reduce the "Head Office" (as they insist on calling It). |Or do we need all those senior and middle rank officers and civil ser...
by whitelancer
06 Oct 2017, 22:12
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: UK Complex Weapons Thread
Replies: 182
Views: 19829
United Kingdom

Re: UK Complex Weapons Thread

They (the manufacturers) forgot to specify where the 30% "soft-launch technology that is 30% more efficient than a 'hot' launch"is calculated from I am no expert, but you will note that missiles that use trainable launchers have smaller boosters than equivalent VLS missiles. I believe thi...
by whitelancer
04 Oct 2017, 23:49
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ground Based Air Defence
Replies: 685
Views: 191174
United Kingdom

Re: Ground Based Air Defence

A fixed system makes no sense at all, to make it survivable you would have to deploy the missiles in well dispersed, hardened and camouflaged silos. They would need to be connected to multiple,well concealed and hardened control centres, add in numerous dummy silos etc. and at worst you will force a...
by whitelancer
03 Oct 2017, 23:54
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Army 2020 Refine
Replies: 249
Views: 12085
United Kingdom

Re: Army 2020 Refine

Its about time the umpire raised his finger.
by whitelancer
03 Oct 2017, 23:25
Forum: British Army
Topic: FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (British Army)
Replies: 2323
Views: 1032144
United Kingdom

Re: FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (Army)

mr.fred wrote:Its not the in thing. Didn't you get the memo?
Sorry, must have missed it, living in the real world takes up so much of my time I get little chance to indulge in wishful thinking.
by whitelancer
03 Oct 2017, 22:12
Forum: British Army
Topic: Ground Based Air Defence
Replies: 685
Views: 191174
United Kingdom

Re: Ground Based Air Defence

marktigger wrote:we could do with a fixed system like the old bloodhound and ASTER might fit that role very well.
Not sure a fixed system is such a good idea :)


A mobile system on the other hand does make sense.
by whitelancer
03 Oct 2017, 21:52
Forum: British Army
Topic: FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (British Army)
Replies: 2323
Views: 1032144
United Kingdom

Re: FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (Army)

Lord Jim wrote: I would rather see Army funds going elsewhere, on kit we are more likely to actually have to use.
I seem to recall Challenger 1 & 2 being deployed several times on operations, what's happened to make it so unlikely to be deployed again?
by whitelancer
02 Oct 2017, 00:04
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724602
United Kingdom

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

Is "Jointness" the real problem, or is it a lack of airframes, aircrew and ground crew? When we finally stand up 4 sqns the government will claim that the RN can deploy 4 sqns from the carriers, and of course they will also claim the RAF could deploy 4 sqns on land, neglecting to mention t...
by whitelancer
01 Oct 2017, 22:54
Forum: British Army
Topic: FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (British Army)
Replies: 2323
Views: 1032144
United Kingdom

Re: FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (Army)

In my opinion part of the problem has been the almost complete loss to the MOD of any research and development capability. This has caused many problems, not least the loss of expertise in many areas and indeed the loss of facilities. Few companies can afford to maintain these capabilities without t...
by whitelancer
28 Sep 2017, 23:17
Forum: Political Discussions
Topic: Brexit - The UK's EU Referendum & Withdrawal
Replies: 4600
Views: 117537
United Kingdom

Re: Brexit - The UK's EU Referendum & Withdrawal

We agreed to guarantee - for the citizens concerned - that the UK will apply EU law concepts in a manner that is consistent with EU law after Brexit." Has the EU guaranteed the rights of British citizens in the same way i.e. that the EU will apply UK law concepts in a manner that is consistent...
by whitelancer
26 Sep 2017, 21:35
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Dreadnought Class SSBN
Replies: 706
Views: 278103
United Kingdom

Re: Dreadnought Class SSBN

Even if their was a cheaper alternative, do you really think that any savings would stay in the defence budget?
by whitelancer
23 Sep 2017, 17:20
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: ASDOT
Replies: 78
Views: 56354
United Kingdom

Re: ASDOT

The point I was trying to make was that practising against the same type of aircraft particularly when flow by experienced and capable pilots, is not a useless exercise. It will however only get you so far. Similarly, dissimilar air combat training against an aircraft that is not one you are likely ...