Shrewd marketing move by the Chinese state drive the price so low that it reduces the suppliers. Then when you dominate the supply market hike the price up because no other large supplier . And the short term gains from cheep steel barging's will ensure they get no real rebuke as steel users maximis...

When did the kipper fleet fire a harpoon or torpedo in anger? I was on a Russian merchant ship in 2005 after a football match between crews it turned out the First mate was ex soviet submarine crew. One of my crew mates said I was ex British air force. He said the only thing that scared the Soviet ...

But like I previously said if the need arose we would get the from the USA, UOR The problem develops when you need the capability now. A prudent M.O.D would procure a minimal holding of the anti ship weapon for the aircraft so you have some operational capability. The anti submarine weapon requirem...

Doubt the duel refueling probe receptor duplication could be used on other receptor only R.A.F. assist especially the future M.P.A perquirement. . Some forward thinking used for once. As our stupid air to air P.F.I precludes boom refueling or refueling the tankers.

The Generating requirement for the destroyers should have been meet by the diesel sets for normal running. with the gas turbine being used for higher speed running. The bespoke system fitted on the type 45s has many of the dead hand of the treasury cost reduction saving stamped all over it . No sepa...

The lack of dedicated storage caused fire fighting problems in S.T.U.F.T. vessels The marine sprinkler/ misting was not even mandatory on large open deck spaces. 1982 then the poor combat construction of the L.S;T did not help especially the use of salt water resistant alloys was a glass jaw. Had th...

If M.O.D. were ruthless with commonality for the type 31 frigates. Go with the same power plant and standardise as much of the equipment so that the supply chain is not duplicated form the type26 the G P frigates could be procured in parallel to the later type 26 negating the expensive future refits...

If the navy could put a case for up gunning the patrol craft the 57mm gun with two 30 mm chain guns art of the bridge would make the rivers fit for standing tasks. I am aware that the deck penetration of the 57mm could be an issue. The present weapons fit is only good for a U.K. waters patrolling . ...

The elephant in the room that causes the R.F.A. the most problems is the pay rates paid to the crews in comparison to the U.K.crewed merchant marine / off shore industry.The exit of U.K. crewed vessels and reflagging by shipping companies has caused the demise of trained personnel . The merchant cre...

I had a look round the Peacock class under construction at Halls Aberdeen. The main gun was that calibre because the then Ton class patrol boats ex minesweepers were conceded woefully under armed with two 40mms. As well as being slow to deal with smugglers and pirates. That were expected to be armed...

Serious thought was given in the 1980s to the establishment of a coast guard service incorporating customs craft, the military S.A.R. (including Royal air force vessels). some R m a s seagoing vessels & elements of the fishery protection squadron. But the inter departmental bickering protecting ...

If the treasury and its astute political master was to think strategically about the trident system procurement. They could use hybrid funding structure for the submarine replacement with a 60-40 split. With the Treasury funding 40% of the replacement submarines . This would mitigate the adverse eff...

I hate to say it but Emily Thornberry is going to make the labour party review of nuclear deterrent a predetermined policy to her leaders views and not the needs of the Nation. Using every conceivable manipulation. This will be by consulting members, unions, policy groups and outside political press...

I doubt the 4.5 Gun will be replaced until the type 26 frigates are entering service. Then I expect the additional mk 41 silos will also be fitted.

The stone in the shoe can cause a lot of problems as Isaac commentated. The duplicity of the Spanish civil guard vessels is nothing new one night in the early hours we had one tied up along side H.M.A.F.V Sunderland. In 1102 Marie craft unit. Two weeks later I was of the eastern end of the runway ch...

I had a friend who lived in La Linea sadly no longer with us. He always referred Gibraltar as the stone in the shoe. Its been there that long it warn smooth that the foot does not notice it until its interfered with. I would describe him as a Spanish nationalist who suffered for his views during the...

I thought the point was 'The poor submarine crew would have to open the sealed orders and do the unimaginable'. With the thoughts of what there families and friends are having to endure. The fact that we have this capability is the rational. That no politician elected or otherwise would want to invi...

I suspect that our Scottish political fish will publically campaign for us to remain in the European Union while secretly whishing for a no vote to engineer a push for independence. I would not put it for the die hard separatists in the S.N.P. to vote tactilely. That is semi unofficially organised. ...

If the U.S. T11 parachute is used for the Atlas we could use it for the C 17 as it cleared on U. S. A.F. aircraft I presume our C 17s have the side door wind deflectors fitted. They may have to fit them to the side doors on the Atlas?

The total diesel installed generating power of the carriers would provide normal cruising power, defence systems and hotel loading. The type 45 destroyers could not run on diesel generating power alone. So the carriers should not suffer from the problem. The system installed has surfactant capacity ...

The prevailing thoughts on the F.L.F.is that our political leaders will revisit the procurement practices of the 1970s with warships cut down on equipment. to make up numbers. With the crews paying the cost if they are used in anger. The occupant of no 11 wants to micro manage the S.S.N.B. replaceme...

B.A.E has in the producing the two aircraft carriers provided the M.O.D. with value for money on there part. The cost over runs were due to political decisions beyond there control. I am aware that the cost of U.K. specification is higher than other countries. The differences in hulls between Invinc...

When the government reverted to two separate frigates from the 8 plus 5 not so well equipped type 26 plan. I actually thought that the M.O.D. had finally taken Nelsons historic call for more frigates to hart. The type 26 has evolved to be a light cruiser hull armed as a frigate with all the expensiv...

The purchase of a small squadron of Ospreys would be militarily sensible for C.O.D and Air refuelling. Co located with the F35s they could effectively be serviced as part of the U.S.A.F. airframes stationed locally. That's a big ask from the defence blind politicians to find a little extra funding( ...

I doubt that our senior staff officers want to go down the Harris bombing route. The reason interventions controlled recent C D S have not been resounding successes is easily explained . It was because of the lack of vision of there political masters to provide equipment, personnel and most damaging...