Depends what the MRSS turns out to be. Who knows, they could even be the amphibious. equivalent of “through-deck cruisers”! :mrgreen: More like the following (plus a small hanger) :mrgreen: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bZ0EXYkFyyQ/UY9LvdgRoiI/AAAAAAAAZHI/K9N3YvTXaiw/s1600/ADIK_Landing_Ship_Tank.jpg

Maybe the way forward is to reduce 16 AA to 2 x Para Battalion Battle groups and move the Gurkha Battalion out 16AA to form a BBG of its own new Light Motorized BBG ending up something like this I think to remain effective the Paras need to consider a FCF type model, perhaps looking to utilise fast...

Looking at Ukraina, I'm getting more concerned about how to get the landing ship out of horizon. IMO Ukraine has reminded us on how difficult an opposed landing is to make and how easy it is for defenders to inflict significant damage. With the increase in A2D capabilities this is also not just lim...

Let’s see, but there is zero chance the RN is going to get 6 KDs. The stated aim is 4 to 6 ships, probably half the size of the KDs maybe even smaller.

It did look a lot of exhaust heat, but at the time the challenge was that it would be for a very short period of time. My view is that there is more space at the front of a B2 River so no issues there…

Jake1992 wrote: ↑10 Apr 2022, 14:32 If the budget for MRSS is to be £3bn plus…

I don’t know what it will be, but I am willing to bet it’s nearer £600mn than £3bn. And if it’s close to the latter then unless the RN budget overall is 5x larger then the bulk of the money should be spent on more T26s/SSNs first.

Each Cdo will have 4 Strike Companies in FCF - 2 “deployed” at any time each operating from a LPD/LSD or other platform. Whilst in overload I’m sure all 4 could deploy its not a standard way of operating. My view is that with a Company each on a LPD and a CVF, then that would be a solid core for LRG...

Bang on and at this time we have the ability to conduct such operations just and having a mix of 2 x LHD's 4 x LSD's 6 x Absalon's 5 x Point class You do realise that the landing at San Carlos was performed using 11 ships? 2 LPDs, 5 x LSLs, 1 RFA Stores Ship, a STUFT Ferry, a small Aviation Support...

We really need to start getting the Martlet and Starstreak ship mounted.

Putting a large force ashore in a secured port or in a relatively uncontested landing area like San Carlos Bay should be the limit of our aspirations. If that is not possible we should go home until we build the capabilities required - it is not just landing craft, there is a whole raft of capabilit...

One thing we are seeing in this war is that any idea that we can unload a army brigade through a port uncontested by missile strikes has now gone and there is a real need to be able to put kit across a beech or fishing port Disagree that the Ukraine conflict has proved that you need to deploy over ...

Lord Jim , I agree with a lot of what you say. The future role of the RMs is different from the one it’s had since D-Day. For me it’s the right move that makes the force relevant, avoids duplication and makes it an important long term part of the UK armed forces. Comparison with the Parachute Regim...

Spoiler alert they’ve already built the 2 aviation ships! And spent so much on them they won’t be building 4 lpds Yes and no. I said 3-4, 4 aviation ships is a dream, but given recent comments by the CDS on the value of Argus, I think a reasonable hope is to keep it in the short term, and look for ...

I would love a third CVF/LHD but it’s not going to happen, nor should it based on the current force structure where any new cash should be focused on filling gaps to ensure a balanced force. The RM role will evolve, as it should, but we should not pretend how it should, nor straddle it with expensiv...

I have no problem with the LPDs having a hanger for a Merlin or two, but let’s not kid ourselves that there is any extra money to do any of this. Flexible ship designs within limits is of course best practice, but the fantasy of multiple large LPDs or LHDs are just that, fantasy. The danger is if th...

Given an Albion can already carry the troops and equipment for a LSU part of an LSG by itself, only lacking the aviation capability and capacity, a single Enforcer type LPD with its six helicopters would do the job. But the RN doesn't want one big ship for its LSGS but rather a greater number of sm...

If your LPDs have hangers for 6 odd merlins like San Antonio or KD then why would you really need a number of Argus style vessels ? Because with a distributed FCF strategy I believe the platforms that they are operating from need to be distributed also. This means more ships, keeping their focus to...

Given the broader economic/post pandemic environment, and waste in the current defence spending, it’s difficult to raise defence spending. However, I would say that some limited UOR spending should be pushed by MOD, and politically astute for the government to fill some of the bigger gaps or daft sh...

With us being on the cusp of moving into the world of unmanned surface and subsurface systems a well dock will become more important going fwd not less and no one would know what was is in it. An LHD would not of been trying to be a poor man’s aircraft carrier but a smart man’s ability to control h...

Given the tension over Chinese influence over the Solomon Islands, another good demonstration on the value of the B2 Rivers. Personally I think it’s a better match than deploying a frigate.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/roya ... on-islands

If the FCF is based around distributed operations, then a large Cdo Aviation Platform makes little sense. A couple of platforms to carry 4-6 helicopters capable of moving a Cdo Company makes more sense. This is why a replacement Argus type replacement platform for me makes most sense. Also, there is...

Or as the US would say to conduct such missions the LHD, not what we ended up with attempting division plus level offensive air operations from a single ship. If we need a carrier an lpd and 2 lsds to support a single combined arms battle group then that is the scale for naval operations. A LHD wil...

Don’t think it did, It showed the importance of air defence, the Falklands demonstrated above all else the importance of logistics, particularly having forces with light logistical requirements especially when it’s contested. It also showed the importance of mobility in complex terrain to allow com...

Such a shame then the RN refused to listen and sacrificed the RM on the alter of carrier strike. I see it differently. The RMs (and Paras) remain the entry light forces. What the RM isn’t anymore is a fully equipped brigade force, the shame is that the Army hasn’t realised that this is now their ro...

I agree with a lot of what has been said, though for me the Future Amphibious Capability is really the same things as the UK’s Expeditionary Capability. I see the Gulf wars as the last major offensive Western Land operations, the world has moved on and the appetite is not there from the US (nor othe...