Search found 30 matches

by Happyslapper
01 Nov 2016, 14:49
Forum: British Army
Topic: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (British Army)
Replies: 114
Views: 53056

Re: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (Army)

Right now it's difficult, but that will have to change. Rules and procedures will be developed for drones in the UK and both civilian and military operators will benefit. It will, but it's wishful thinking to believe it will do so in a common-sense minded way. The CAA is a naturally conservative bo...
by Happyslapper
01 Nov 2016, 14:42
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Russian Armed Forces
Replies: 1022
Views: 64211

Re: Russian Armed Forces

Some interesting articles in the mainstream media today about 3rd party and direct threats to the UK from Russia. Personally I think the brazen steaming of the Kuznetsov TG (tug or no tgug) through the channel last week can only be good news for the RN's budget forecasts. Those P8's and carriers can...
by Happyslapper
01 Nov 2016, 14:28
Forum: British Army
Topic: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (British Army)
Replies: 114
Views: 53056

Re: Thales Watchkeeper WK450 (Army)

I wonder is domestic patrol a role we could see watch keeper used for? We certainly have plenty of them. Not on the CAA's watch, unfortunately. Drones of any flavour have a abysmal reputation among professional aviators. Even watchkeepers, DH3's and the like are limited to a small area of Salisbury...
by Happyslapper
03 Dec 2015, 14:48
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143182

Re: Future Light Frigate

The RN is not moving towards American style carrier ops. Do you actually believe that? Massive American sized carriers, based in the Americans old stomping grounds, launching American made jets, dropping bombs on Americas enemy's, possibly even with America personnel. The entire SDSR was trying to ...
by Happyslapper
03 Dec 2015, 10:54
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143182

Re: Future Light Frigate

I worry using our European cousins to corroborate the light frigate concept is wrong. Their navy's haven't demonstrated much, and I am not sure they are demonstrating anything relevant to the royal navy which is taking a massive shift towards large, american style, carrier ops. Also I believe the s...
by Happyslapper
02 Dec 2015, 19:39
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143182

Re: Future Light Frigate

That's one theory. Not a very good one though given that your Prime Minister got on his hind legs in Parliament and said no, and his goverment published a document that says no, his CoE says no and the 1st Sea Lord says no. But if your ex-RN mate says different, I'm sure we'll be duly attentive. I ...
by Happyslapper
01 Dec 2015, 12:03
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2143182

Re: Future Light Frigate

Sharkbait. Untiwst your knickers for a minute. The SDSR is proposing lighter frigates, as in, lighter than the ASW variant T26 (the variant most urgently needed to replace the increasingly shagged T23 fleet). Nobody has mentioned a 3000-4000 tonne frigate. Your assumptions on the capability of light...
by Happyslapper
23 Nov 2015, 22:53
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
Replies: 632
Views: 27656

Re: SDSR 2015 / "Defence Cuts" General News & Discussion

On the live BBC news feed it said that the Vanguard OSD had been pushed right into "the early 2030's".
Given existing safety concerns among deeps, that must be raising a few eyebrows
by Happyslapper
23 Nov 2015, 16:48
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
Replies: 632
Views: 27656

Re: SDSR 2015 / "Defence Cuts" General News & Discussion

Pains me to say so, but the best questions to the PM have come from the SNP. What desperate times for Labour, that on the issue of defence at least, the SNP genuinely are the "effective opposition". ---- Overall it's a good news day for the armed forces. Can't remember the last time that w...
by Happyslapper
23 Nov 2015, 15:40
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
Replies: 632
Views: 27656

Re: SDSR 2015 / "Defence Cuts" General News & Discussion

A new class of light frigates at more affordable prices than the T26, starting with an initial 5 to complement 8 T26....
Interesting.
by Happyslapper
12 Nov 2015, 09:33
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15445
Views: 4410372

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Very sad to hear of Mike's passing. He had some fantastic anecdotes and was a formidable contributor, not to mention his lifetime of service at sea.

Rest in Peace, Mike.
by Happyslapper
13 May 2015, 20:27
Forum: Deployments
Topic: HMS Bulwark in the Mediterranean
Replies: 8
Views: 448

Re: HMS Bulwark in the Mediterranean

All over the news today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32723573

BZ!

----

Can't quite work out what the ECBA is about
by Happyslapper
13 May 2015, 20:24
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options
Replies: 1217
Views: 456950

Re: Future UK Maritime Patrol Options

downsizer wrote:Nope. Not to the military.
Out of interest, why do you think that? I've no particular opinion, other than thinking it looks ally ;)
by Happyslapper
11 May 2015, 18:03
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
Replies: 1195
Views: 366925

Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)

Ok I get what you mean now. I definitely don't agree though. You just can't deliver a broad capability, especially one as complex as amphib ops, without the sort of capability that a proper flat-top offers. Ocean was definitely good value for money, though I doubt we'd ever get a replacement for a r...
by Happyslapper
11 May 2015, 17:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
Replies: 1195
Views: 366925

Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)

We don't need power projection, it's only got us into trouble every time we've tried it. Worked pretty damn well over the last couple of hundred years, so much so that we were able to build and sustain an empire it's back. The actual employment of sea-based power projection continues to be a specta...
by Happyslapper
11 May 2015, 17:19
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
Replies: 632
Views: 27656

Re: SDSR 2015

The pesky back benchers could well be our saviour in the next 5 years.

On Daily Politics this morning, there was some concensus that the MoD is the department most likely to get hammered in the coming few months.
by Happyslapper
11 May 2015, 17:16
Forum: Political Discussions
Topic: General Election 2015 thread
Replies: 109
Views: 3583

Re: General Election 2015 thread

Navy reservist Penny Mordaunt is the first female Armed Forces Minister in the Tory cabinet reshuffle. I'm more pleased with the fact that she actually has some current/recent military experience, than her gender (not suggesting you think differently, SDL). There's been far too many bean-counters i...
by Happyslapper
09 May 2015, 11:26
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Replies: 239
Views: 27291

Re: The Falkland Islands

There was a massive cock-up in the case of Sheffield. Several actually. Starting with the fact that the air search radar was foolishly switched off (albeit only briefly to establish comms), a relatively lacklustre approach to pre-emptive damage control, and poor response once the exocet was identif...
by Happyslapper
08 May 2015, 21:49
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Replies: 239
Views: 27291

Re: The Falkland Islands

Possibly so, although I believe the extensive use of aluminium in RN Vessels was a big issue in respect of fire management...I'd guess there will be someone hereabouts who knows more about that than I do? I think lessons were probably learned right across NATO and beyond from those events. Sheffiel...
by Happyslapper
08 May 2015, 19:54
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Replies: 239
Views: 27291

Re: The Falkland Islands

Were the Kiwis really going to send warships? Why exactly? At the time New Zealand was led by a conservative government with Rob Muldoon as PM. He and Thatcher were sort of cut from the same cloth. Plus at that time New Zealanders themselves strongly identified with the idea of being British post-c...
by Happyslapper
06 May 2015, 09:05
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Replies: 239
Views: 27291

Re: The Falkland Islands

Btw wasn't the Dutch Marines attached to the RM at the time. why did they not deploy with them to the Falklands? IIRC, they were disappointed that they didn't, but the Falklands wasn't a NATO deployment. do you have a link? So was their amphibious force strictly only for NATO purposes? They just we...
by Happyslapper
05 May 2015, 11:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: AW101 Merlin Helicopter (RN)
Replies: 513
Views: 273180

Re: Merlin helicopters

Overflown 10 mins ago by a Mk3, resplendant in RN markings. Couldn't have been more than a couple of hundred feet, heading for Odiham.

Here's an article about the return of 847 to Yeovilton a few days back:
https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/12695
by Happyslapper
04 May 2015, 17:20
Forum: British Army
Topic: Foxhound Protected Vehicle
Replies: 290
Views: 110946

Re: Foxhound Protected Vehicle

This one is from a top cover view
by Happyslapper
04 May 2015, 17:16
Forum: British Army
Topic: Foxhound Protected Vehicle
Replies: 290
Views: 110946

Re: Foxhound Protected Vehicle

400 Foxhounds are listed as in service as a final order and have seen deployment to Afghanistan. Just spent 6 months working with them in Kabul. Generally they're very good, but not without fault. It goes without saying that they're a VAST improvement over Snatch, but they can be a bit temperamenta...
by Happyslapper
04 May 2015, 12:16
Forum: Off-Topic
Topic: UK DEFENCE MEMBERS OWN PICTURE THREAD
Replies: 16
Views: 853

Re: UK DEFENCE MEMBERS OWN PICTURE THREAD

Getting on one of the last (of thousands) of Strat flights out of Bastion a few months ago. I think it was less than a week later BSN was off limits to Voyagers and such.