If you have a requirement to deploy an Escort (Frigate) to an Ocean (or a part of it) then you have a requirement to do so . The fact that you then (separately) suffer a reduction in the number of Escorts (Frigates) available (due to cuts in HMG defence funding) does not remove that requirement. . T...

Poluytrewq Wrote:- A T31 is OTT for APT(N) IMO. The West Indies Guard-ship duties may not require a T31. For APT (N) however, a T31 on its own, would (as currently specified) almost certainly be insufficient (T26 required). In a similar way, The FI Guard-ship (RB2) is not APT (S), which (if it were ...

The Lightning Force and its Predecessor The Harrier Force, from its formation should always have been FAA (Navy) owned and led.

Donald_of_Tokyo wrote:-

T31 is NOT too lightly armed compared to its size. It just adopted too large hull for the required equipment

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Just insert the word “Initial” between the words “the” and “required” and we can agree Donald-san.

Flexibility should perhaps be the key, with 6 (later) typhoons operating out of Mt. Pleasant and a further 6 (also with Tanker support) from Ascension. In the event of raised tension etc., the Ascension Aircraft could provide the necessary re-enforcement, with 6 additional aircraft moving out to Asc...

In a war time effort there would likely have been some “unserviceable” AND they would be needed for Maritime Patrol AND they would have to provide themselves with return trip (to Ascension) fuel ………. Remember, according to your scenario, you have lost the use of the runway at Mt. Pleasant. “Wartime ...

Apologies all, as we seem to have inadvertently strayed off-topic here as a cross-over with escorts in the South Atlantic. Probably belongs in F35B, Falkland Islands, QEC Aircraft Carriers equally (as well).

Tempest414 Wrote:- Plus they don't need to go by carrier they can go using Tankers Have a read to see how many tankers were needed to get 1 x Vulcan to Stanley from Ascension in 1982 ……… How many Tankers do you think we have got ? You really think that would be practical for a whole squadron. I do r...

Tempest414 Wrote:- to counter the F-16 threat if it comes we could deploy a Sqn of F-35 which would not need a full runway if things start to heat up Unfortunately, if you do this, you will not have enough F35’s to put on one carrier, let alone two. AND you will have to transport them there on a car...

Exactly! 4 x Fleet Ready Escorts are better than 1. At least four FRE should be the minimum that the RN should have available.

HMS QE going on CSG21 ??? What on earth is this?

Poiuytrewq Wrote:- Given the huge percentage increase in cost from RB2 to T31 what will the practical difference actually be when operating in the Indo Pacific? This is the wrong equation. More correct would have been “Given the huge percentage reduction in cost from T23 to T31 what will the practic...

Regarding the recent “Anti-Composite” comments:- So, in a similar vein, the Spitfire would have been rejected due to the specialist repairs required to rectify battle damage and we would then have relied on the more resilient Hurricane! ………. A good job that those who made that decision were not of s...

Do you really mean an Initial Operational capability 4-5 years AFTER his Out of Service date ! Well I guess that would be an improvement on the BAE “Nimrod” ….. Boeing “Poseidon” replacement. Perhaps the Secretary of State for Defence will also be “gapped” until 2029.

Goodness knows how many extra they will need to defend their North “coast”.

When will governments realise that if they fail to adequately provide for their primary responsibility, they will inevitably deserve NOT to be re-elected.

Whatever the background, this does represent a potential 50% increase in previous (Merlin) RM airlift capacity, or greater redundancy, or range. “Just what the (FCF) doctor would have prescribed”.

Left active service as HER MAJESTY’s SHIP and re-joining active service as HIS MAJESTY’s SHIP. “Fair Winds and Smooth Running”.

Repulse wrote If the “get there first” requirement is real, combined with lower level reserve and forward limited stability forces then something like the following makes more sense: - Small Airborne Division made up of 3 “light brigades” Absolutely not ! ….. Something that is far too suggestive of ...

new guy wrote:-

also the moving forward of the planed very big maintance thingy.

I knew she was fast, but I did not realise that she could reach “planing speed” with “Pompey Revs”;on.

If BAE ownership is true, perhaps the Aeralis, being smaller would be known as Kestrel ! It seems about time that the name was re-used.

3181, to fully crew all 11 x T23 and all 6 x T45 (single crew). How do you make that equate to 7,500 - 10,000 sailors, even if “double crewing” EVERY escort. That 3181 (single crew) requirement should reduce by around 120 when the T23s are replaced by T26 and T31, even after allowing for the hoped f...

There is (today) nearly another month, before “early August”, and the (photo) evidence shown is almost 13 days old. Taken together, plenty of time to “Paint Bottom” !

Obviously not even considering the current FCF possibilities then are you ? Even though we do not yet know exactly what they may in time become.

Take up too mush room.