RED SEA - Houthi attacks

[Ian Hall]

German press reports EU considering a Red Sea security mission (open and use Google translate for English version)
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/aus ... 46165.html

[Ian Hall]

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ ... ty-council

[Ian Hall]

From a 'ish journalist.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/01/12/ho ... y-is-back/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... ng-attacks

[Ian Hall]

An opinion.

https://thecritic.co.uk/necessary-force/

[Ian Hall]

https://ukandeu.ac.uk/maritime-security ... pproaches/

[Ian Hall]

https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium ... o-red-sea/

[SW1]

The impossible is possible after all.

[new guy]

The impossible is possible after all.

? everybody knew this was possible.

[wargame_insomniac]

The impossible is possible after all.

? everybody knew this was possible.

I think he’s responding to my comment that we are at the whim on Egypt / Saudi whether further ops are possible, seems they got away with one more, but I still question how much longer.

[mrclark303]

The impossible is possible after all.

? everybody knew this was possible.

I think he’s responding to my comment that we are at the whim on Egypt / Saudi whether further ops are possible, seems they got away with one more, but I still question how much longer.

We might be forced to deploy a Carrier, it would need to be kept well clear of targeting danger in the Indian Ocean, not a massive issue as the F3B has the legs with 450 mile ROA.

We absolutely need to get the gun fit sorted on the QE Class. We're going to need allied help with escorts and a USMC F35B squadron on board.

24 F35B's would give persistent strike capability, it would be wonderful if we had Mojave capability now wouldn't it.

Air strikes and persistent reconnaissance, it's the way to go.

All the Carrier Strike Naysayers who claim that they aren't needed, have been proved wrong yet again.

As said we are reliant on overflight rights being given, if they are withdrawn, no more Thypoon airstrikes.

[Jdam]

Surely Egypt are not going to object? The houthi attacks are on shipping that use the suez canal, if this effects shipping wont it effect Egypts income?

[SW1]

Surely Egypt are not going to object? The houthi attacks are on shipping that use the suez canal, if this effects shipping wont it effect Egypts income?

You don’t even need Egypt if it came to it. They can transit Israeli airspace as they have done for the past 3300 days for attacks in Syria and Iraq.

There are many options

US ISTAR assets supporting this transit Saudi airspace every day plus whatever else isn’t coming up on tracking sites

[Repulse]

Surely Egypt are not going to object? The houthi attacks are on shipping that use the suez canal, if this effects shipping wont it effect Egypts income?

You don’t even need Egypt if it came to it. They can transit Israeli airspace as they have done for the past 3300 days for attacks in Syria and Iraq.

There are many options

US ISTAR assets supporting this transit Saudi airspace every day plus whatever else isn’t coming up on tracking sites

There aren’t many options there are two - Eygpt or Isreal & Saudi Arabia. Each one is reliant on the sovereign nations agreeing, which I don’t think is as much of a given as others.

[SW1]

Surely Egypt are not going to object? The houthi attacks are on shipping that use the suez canal, if this effects shipping wont it effect Egypts income?

You don’t even need Egypt if it came to it. They can transit Israeli airspace as they have done for the past 3300 days for attacks in Syria and Iraq.

There are many options

US ISTAR assets supporting this transit Saudi airspace every day plus whatever else isn’t coming up on tracking sites

There aren’t many options there are two - Eygpt or Isreal & Saudi Arabia. Each one is reliant on the sovereign nations agreeing, which I don’t think is as much of a given as others.

There are many options including not doing anything at all!

[wargame_insomniac]

Surely Egypt are not going to object? The houthi attacks are on shipping that use the suez canal, if this effects shipping wont it effect Egypts income?

You don’t even need Egypt if it came to it. They can transit Israeli airspace as they have done for the past 3300 days for attacks in Syria and Iraq.

There are many options

US ISTAR assets supporting this transit Saudi airspace every day plus whatever else isn’t coming up on tracking sites

There aren’t many options there are two - Eygpt or Isreal & Saudi Arabia. Each one is reliant on the sovereign nations agreeing, which I don’t think is as much of a given as others.

I agree, we require permission.

Only Carrier Strike delivers true sovereign capability.
The Ideal situation would obviously have been to use Oman as base of operations, however I concede they are somewhat stuck in the middle...

We do need a consensus of option and international action though.

It shows us that yet again, the US and the UK step up, while the EU do what they always do, fu#k all, look the other way and fidget.

I'll guarantee not one single German frigate will get involved.

The clear message here that should inform the next SDSR is the vital importance of the RN, we need to accelerate Carrier Strike, i.e, buy sufficient F35B's to form four operational squadrons (90) get a fully operational Mojave derivative into service quickly and get an effective loyal wingman on to the QE class asap in the 2030's.

Hand in hand with that, ensure sufficient escorts and SSN's to carry out vital ongoing NATO tasks and form a deployable, sustainable and robust Carrier Strike group at short notice.

[Repulse]

Surely Egypt are not going to object? The houthi attacks are on shipping that use the suez canal, if this effects shipping wont it effect Egypts income?

You don’t even need Egypt if it came to it. They can transit Israeli airspace as they have done for the past 3300 days for attacks in Syria and Iraq.

There are many options

US ISTAR assets supporting this transit Saudi airspace every day plus whatever else isn’t coming up on tracking sites

There aren’t many options there are two - Eygpt or Isreal & Saudi Arabia. Each one is reliant on the sovereign nations agreeing, which I don’t think is as much of a given as others.

There are many options including not doing anything at all!

That’s fine, but to use Cyprus there are two. The fact that we are ok to drop a couple of bombs every 10 days makes sending a carrier overkill. Just a shame that the T45s can’t launch TLAMs as that would be way to show UK contributing by far.

[Ian Hall]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... nuary-2024

[Ian Hall]

https://www.dw.com/en/red-sea-crisis-ca ... a-68024566

[Ian Hall]

https://www.egmontinstitute.be/the-eu-a ... opolitics/

The EU and the Red Sea: Now This Is Geopolitics

[Ian Hall]

https://shows.acast.com/65b12b49ff5af10 ... 419?seek=0

[NickC]

CNN 1st Feb has reported a Burke destroyer USS Gravely had a close call and to use its last ditch defence system Phalanx, implies the Houthi missile penetrated Burkes missile defence system, ESSM and SM-2's (most likely with an Iranian knock-off of an old Chinese C801).

A reminder that missile defence systems e.g. Sea Ceptor / Aster, are not perfect and things can go wrong and fail, even the Israeli's do not claim Iron Dome is 100% successful.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/31/poli ... index.html

[SW1]

For a 3rd time RAF aircraft have struck targets in Yemen.

[new guy]

Known RAF anti-houti Operation so far:
tyhoon sorties: 12
Voyager sorties: 6
External fuel pod sorties: 24
Meteor sorties: 12
ASRAAM sorties: 24
Paveway 4's despenced: 48.

[Ian Hall]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stat ... ruary-2024