Sounds like a clear commitment to keep 19 frigate/destroyer fleet PLUS these lighter ships, NOT instead of, so sounds like the plan is to keep the last 5 T23 in service, with these being replaced by the T26 follow on??.

Obviously Tonka numbers are not just down to Attrition. My point was that a lot of factors contribute as to whether aircraft are upgraded or not, retired early etc. In general terms the larger the fleet the better, with the pre SDSR concern over the numbers ordered now, hopefully, a thing of the past.

This still seems a very low number when we look at the number of GR1 Tonkas originally purchased and what we have left now. My concern is the unknown attrition rate of this very complex bit of kit. There has been much said about attrition rates when comparing Single engine types to twin's, and I've ...

I would imagine that there will be no definitive number announced in the SDSR, just a commitment to the first T26 batch, as previously suggested. Any reduction below 19 hulls would simply not be enough, and you would like to think that if a proper T26 procurement strategy is employed, and by not rep...

I love the TSR-2. What a fantastic looking machine with a truly mad initial requirement to try and meet. As discussed, the best option sometimes is to replace a machine with a new build modernised version of the same. Nimrod, F-18, Hawk, Harrier etc. If TSR-2 had indeed entered service, wouldn't the...

So how many operational 'Tonkas' have we got left then? looks like things are going to hot up a bit from Akrotiri soon.

Terrible news. Gutted for his Family and Friends. RIP Mike.

Whatever. You miss my point. Still well patronised!.

Saturdays SUN (I obviously don't buy it!) had a piece by J Clarkson, where he described the Vulcan as a 'weaponised version of Concorde'!
I'm not sure just on how many levels this statement is wrong. Really JC I expect better. Sad day for 558. All good things........

arfah wrote:Maybe the next Ark Royal could be a SSBN ?

"Warspite'' has to be the ultimate SSBN name, so W's for me.

POW's starboard bow and sponson area are now a lovely colour of pursers grey. So, are they going to paint the whole of the front of the ship before sliding it back to join LB04, or slide LB04 this time. I know people close to the project have suggested that the front of the ship will be slid again,...

The Armchair Soldier wrote:Fantastic new pic here from the ACA:

Plus a CB04 ring in the background.

SKB wrote:Is Rosyth's dock 1 coffer dam in yet?

yes, you can see it in the last batch of released photo's a few pages back, where we were wondering what the tent in the dock was for.

Nice pics, can any one remember when LB04 is getting transported to Rosyth, also what is the white tent for behind POW? This month I thought. Coffer dam already in place. With all that scaffolding around the front part of the ship, i reckon we may see an LB04 slide this time. Another lesson learnt?...

Thanks for taking the time to post E. Is there a date when QE is expected to be 'finished'. Are you able to share?. Well there are several because it depends on what you mean by finished. I'm not allowed to give you an exact date for any of them mind. When the ACA has completed installation When sh...

U.S. Marine Corps proves F-35B’s capability at sea, looks over horizon to IOC Thanks xav, I enjoyed that. Really looking forward to seeing the same happening on QNLZ. Not heard any F-35 critics recently. :) Far from being critical of the F35 project, huge praise needs to be lavished on Uncle Sam fo...

I know the costs went crazy, but these things were finished and we scrapped them. Nothing to show for it, we could have improved them while in service, or if the issue was their annual running bill, why not put them in storage?. Still I'm sure they will have fun spending billions more ordering P9's...

But can I also point out that there is a little less fuel in the tanks this week than last ;) Really, you should be filling up your car at a petrol station. :) Perhaps. But its diesel that is down ;) Thanks for taking the time to post E. Is there a date when QE is expected to be 'finished'. Are you...

Unbelievable!! Thanks for posting that SKB. Although I must sit down to ensure my blood pressure stays low ish. Its very disappointing. Such a shame but I can understand the desicion, the costs we're horrendous I know the costs went crazy, but these things were finished and we scrapped them. Nothin...

SKB wrote:

Unbelievable!! Thanks for posting that SKB. Although I must sit down to ensure my blood pressure stays low ish.

one of many in the Nimrod 2000 program! the biggest one getting BaE to do the work I can't help but feel that the Government of the day was somewhat let off the hook by the opposition when the decision to scrap the practically completed fleet was made, probably due to the huge overspend they had sa...

one of many in the Nimrod 2000 program! the biggest one getting BaE to do the work I can't help but feel that the Government of the day was somewhat let off the hook by the opposition when the decision to scrap the practically completed fleet was made, probably due to the huge overspend they had sa...

SKB wrote:

SKB wrote:QE is expected to arrive in Portsmouth on Thursday 1st December 2016 around 12:51 PM (high tide)

*COUGH* ^

Double COUGH, doesn't answer my question i'm afraid. http://ukdefenceforum.net/posting.php?m ... =41&p=2895#

I'm sure Enigmatically himself said on a previous forum, that to convert QE to catobar would mean retrofitting over 200 compartments and that's without the fitting of the angled deck, round down, cats and traps. The cheapest solution may be a new build QE and sell off one to some aspiring nation. D...