Search found 241 matches

by rec
18 Aug 2016, 20:48
Forum: UK Defence & Aerospace Industry
Topic: National Shipbuilding Strategy
Replies: 225
Views: 15118

Re: National Shipbuilding Strategy

Maybe its time to bid for US military aid, like Israel gets!
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 19:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Replies: 957
Views: 311637

Re: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)

and as i've stated the MCMV role and Hydrography Role will be put on the back burner as their lordships (Most of whom will be from a frigate/destroyer background) want to generate more escorts! By having different classes you reduce this risk to the future of MCMV/Hydrography as people from those b...
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 19:11
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

It isn't. Already committed to BAE on the clyde. I am not totally convinced by that, the deal with BAE is about complex warships only and the Type 31 may not be classed as a complex warship. While some T31s could be built on the Clyde, not all have to be. The Gov could argue because of the prohibit...
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 16:38
Forum: UK Defence & Aerospace Industry
Topic: Babcock Shipbuilders
Replies: 47
Views: 4940

Re: Babcock Shipbuilders LE Samuel Beckett

Too well armed, and competively priced to be either used by the Royal Navy or bought by MOD.
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 16:37
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

Also I still think Type 31 is a way the government can challenge BAE's monopoply, and all the VFM discussions re Type 26 are part of that too.
So I wouldn't be supirsed to see the Venator design accpeted as the basis for T31 and MHPC, buily by a colalition of Babcock and Camil Laird.
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 16:36
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Replies: 957
Views: 311637

Re: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)

Yes econd largest, but if Governments had invested properly, we wouldn't be buying airbuses, but Vickers
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 16:33
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

Even though i'm concerned that all these surface ships are yesterday's stuff, not tomorrow's. I'm seriously concerned about their ability to keep up with the changing world over the next few decades. Even Type 26 itself. The Type 45 disaster has generated a retrograde push that i really dislike. Ha...
by rec
18 Aug 2016, 16:27
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Replies: 957
Views: 311637

Re: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)

Hunts were built as joint sweepers/Hunters and designed to operate in a minefield. I guess that's my worry with a mothership that isn't built to those specifications. You dont always know where the mine field is. I just wonder is this (like building nuclear powere stations, civil and millitary aviat...
by rec
13 Aug 2016, 15:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

The Venator has much to commend it, as an escort. 8 of these would be good. As I have mentioned before along with 10 wildcat modified to take dipping sonar. We would have a reasonable escort.
by rec
12 Aug 2016, 11:27
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

We have been down the two tier escourt route before: 1st rate (leanders and Rothseays) second rate (Tribals and Amazons). We have had less capable replacements before Invicibles for Ark Royal !V and Eagle If there is any chance of a sizeable (6+)light frigate programme, then tying the shipbuilding s...
by rec
12 Aug 2016, 10:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

I am not sure that this is the first time that replacement kit was less capable than current. After all The Invincible was less capable than Ark Royal IV. The type 22 batch 1 less capable as ships than the batch 2a or modified batch 3 Leander's. I think Venator is the best of the batch, especially i...
by rec
11 Aug 2016, 20:33
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

No idea what babcock are propsoing, maybe a forgein design under licesne or an extened Samuel Beckett. No idea, I do think the BMT Venator is better than either BAE offering.
by rec
11 Aug 2016, 19:16
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

Back to Type 31, which is th best option BAE's Cutlass, BMTs Venator, or a modified Absalon builyt under licence by UK yards?
by rec
11 Aug 2016, 13:23
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

http://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/the-decline-of-the-royal-navy This article underlines the issues facing the RN and the need for a comprehensive shipbuilding startegy that includes T31, T26 and I would add SSK. The morale and manpower issues are growing problems which have to be addresse...
by rec
10 Aug 2016, 15:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Royal Navy SSK?
Replies: 474
Views: 121038

Re: Royal Navy SSK?

The only way to get a mixed fleet is to make a bid for one, with a more interventionist government, who have made the right noises about a national industrial strategy, it's worth a go. especially as the jobs created will be in the the north of England, and maybe rosyth.,
by rec
10 Aug 2016, 13:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Royal Navy SSK?
Replies: 474
Views: 121038

Re: Royal Navy SSK?

An RN Submarine force of 6 SSKS and & 7SSNS would be an effective conventional deterrent and worth lobbying for. (add 8XT26 and 8XT31, plus the 6XT45, would give a useful surface fleet) And how would you finance this fleet and get the increase in manpower required, you forgot the two carriers i...
by rec
10 Aug 2016, 11:46
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

shark bait wrote:Won't work, 5 frigates are not enough to sustain industry, plus they've already been promised to the Clyde yards.
The proposal from David Cameron which hasn't changed was at least 5, so fully possible to giuve 5 to the clyde
by rec
10 Aug 2016, 11:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Royal Navy SSK?
Replies: 474
Views: 121038

Re: Royal Navy SSK?

There are so many arguments in favor of SSKs as well as SSNS, and to have a build of SSKs in a national shipbuilding strategy. 1) Greater numbers of Submarines avaialble 2) Better career and tainigng opportunites for Submariners 3) An oppotunity for Submariners not always to be on 9 months deploymen...
by rec
10 Aug 2016, 10:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

All the more reason to have a National Shipbuilding Strategy that includes a non BAE shipbuilder to be given the Type 31 frigate:
Either License builkd the Danish Absalon (buying the design rights) at Camil laird + Babcock
or Venators 110
by rec
10 Aug 2016, 09:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Royal Navy SSK?
Replies: 474
Views: 121038

Re: Royal Navy SSK?

I think that SSKs are more than nice to have for the following reason's. Given that we only have 7 SSNs ,that are large and not at their best in shallow waters. Only having 7 SSNs limits training and command opportunities. A fleet of 6-7 SSKs would supplement the SSN fleet well, freeing them for wha...
by rec
08 Aug 2016, 17:43
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Sea King Helicopter (RN & RAF)
Replies: 52
Views: 33731

Re: Sea King Helicopter (RN & RAF)

With only 32 Merlin HM2 that's going to prove quite an achievement for that small number of heliocpters to provide both ASW and AEW for the carriers and T23s. Is there any chanvce the 8 Merlin HM1s in storage will be comverted????
by rec
08 Aug 2016, 17:43
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Sea King Helicopter (RN & RAF)
Replies: 52
Views: 33731

Re: Sea King Helicopter (RN & RAF)

With only 32 Merlin HM2 that's going to prove quite an achievement for that small number of heliocpters to provide both ASW and AEW for the carriers and T23s. Is there any chanvce the 8 Merlin HM1s in storage will be comverted????
by rec
17 Jul 2016, 17:22
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

The trouble is too long has the Uk gone for wholey expensive bespoke solutions such as Nimrod, and we can't argue that our equipment is so much better than anyone elses, and numbers don't matter. Look at the the following in cash terms between 3 countries with similar economies and costs. UK spends ...
by rec
17 Jul 2016, 15:04
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

Given the cost of the T26, there is nothing wrong in a lower cost escourt, which will bring an in crease in escourt numbers, after all terer is quality in quanity. One frigate can only be in one place at a time. So in my opinion there is nothing wrong with 8 T26s (providing they all have TAS, land a...
by rec
16 Jul 2016, 21:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8469
Views: 2142444

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate

seaspear wrote:That sized ship could be equiped with captas2 for asw which is not expensive and provides a reasonable capability

And reasonable is all we can realistically afford, given the cost of the T26s, 8 is all we can afford on the current budget.
The best reasonable best would be 8 Type 31s.