ArmChairCivvy wrote:
- not saying we need all of those LIMs
I was initially confused about the LiM's too. I suspect it's not for the LSS role, more likely to be a requirement when the LSS vessel(s) join the Amphibious Task Group.
Still lots of questions, such as, will the remaining Points be dropping to two now? Or are we just making up for the two that have already been released?
Are we effectively now admitting that RN will from now on be a two tier navy? Meaning, is the CSG and T45's/T26's the Tier1 surface fleet and the LSG with the T31's/RB2's the Tier2 surface fleet? Normally both Tiers will work independently unless pulled together as part of a wider task force?
If so I like the strategy, it appears to be a clever use of resources that can be tailored to the perceived threat level in the area of deployment.
Are the Waves going to be retained to form part of the two LSG's? If we lose both Waves and 2 Points to enable the LSS strategy we are just cutting again.
Does the conversion of the commercially derived LSS vessels now mean that building the FSS vessels abroad is virtually guaranteed? UK shipbuilding capacity really will now be a problem with the T26, T31, SSN, SSBN, LSS and FSS programmes running concurrently. I suppose it's a good problem to have.
A bit more clarity on the LSS/LSG strategy would be nice but as we are just at the beginning of the concept stage, we will have to wait a while....