I would rather hope that the UK GDP grows by 2-300% by 2030! (if only).

To paraphrase the following saying “I was to learn later in life that the attraction of a cheap price (fewer ships) over a more sensible purchase (more ships, of every class) with the passage of time and in the light of experience (of the purchase) was, nothing but an illusion. Another example of th...

Preparing the ground for an Australian SSBN?

How do you imagine that they will achieve that, when the new build hall is likely to already be occupied with 2 x T26 (or T83)? If BAE&S were to win a T32 build contract, it would be more likely that it would be sub-contracted to another yard. I suppose that (in theory) it could still be built i...

A Fleet may be balanced, but it can still be of insufficient size. The RN of today (and tomorrow) needs to be both balanced AND of sufficient size.

Unfortunately your reply did not answer the question posed!
In your earlier post, you had raised the scenario of illegal artificial island creation and inferred that the RB2 was the correct vessel to deal with it. HOW?

The building of Artificial Islands is, IMHO akin to piracy on the high seas. Just what you propose a River B2 could do about that (apart from possibly monitoring the event) I cannot see.

Rather: In today’s world (and that of tomorrow) it is looking ever more likely that BMD for our CSGs will be an essential component. If we had it on the T45s from today, it would not be a day too soon.

Or Russia preparing a retreat from Crimea?

But risk analysis would probably dictate that simultaneous launch and recovery evolutions would not be considered safe, when SRVL are likely to be part of a mission.

Not enough Range AND Not enough fuel capacity AND Insufficient “Marinisation” AND Lack of Power Folding Rotor Heads (Necessary for use on a “Strike” Carrier if they were not to have detrimental effects on Flight Deck (and Hangar) Operations and Movements.

As I have long forseen and have warned for some time, if we are not prepared’ to confront them in the Indo-Pacific, THEY will grow, to a point where they confront us here in the N. Atlantic!

All it needs now, is a Gun Shield!

Dobbo Wrote:-

I agree on numbers - but if the fleet is to expand I think the number of T83 and SSN(R) needs to exceed the numbers of T45 and Astute.

It would need to be a c. 70% increase in numbers of both for me!

But can only be in one location at a time!

“Bots”, “Poo Pooing”! If it sounds like S****e, then you know what ……….. it probably is S****e.

If they truly believe the tripe that they write or print, they really ought to leave voluntarily, or be exiled! After all the UK is famously an “unsinkable aircraft carrier”.

Tempest414 HMS Glorious (when sunk) was in fact a “COURAGEOUS CLASS” Aircraft Carrier. If you had paid sufficient attention to my post, you would have realised that at no point did I state HMS Courageous. Yes, I would dearly like to see the RN have a Second CSG, but:- We do not currently have suffic...

Is Monmouth to be the target ?

Yes, however USS America is not a “Strike Carrier” and did not cost £3.5bn, either! A “Littoral Manoeuvre” package would also preclude space being available for “Carrier Strike” assets and Personnel. A brave proposal? Perhaps, but the line between being COURAGEOUS and foolhardy, when operating in No...

Too valuable to use as an LHA, as I think has now been widely accepted, compared with the earlier mistaken impression that she should be used as one. As an LHA, she would not have F35’s either.

Waste of investment for small number of (limited operational capability) aircraft. If it was carrier capable then potentially a larger number of aircraft would be ordered, with far greater operational capability. Who knows what the future may hold? But if you design and make something incompatible, ...

So what do you think that the installation of 3 x “Phalanx” was for then?

topman Wrote:-
I don't know if this has been posted. He seems to get it though which is good to see for a change
(Referring to B Wallace MP)
We could do with about 250 of his sort, on the government benches AND also on the Opposition benches!

Only doing what all L** D**s do then! They even have the conceit to think that they are above criticism.