Search found 1133 matches

by wargame_insomniac
05 Mar 2024, 19:34
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: General UK Defence Discussion
Replies: 1838
Views: 183260
United Kingdom

Re: General UK Defence Discussion

E.g. I gather we have contractually have to pay for all 5*E7 Wedgetail radar systems. If true it is even more short sighted that UK MOD is only going ahead with 3*E7 Wedgetails to save money. If The Idiot does win Republican nominations and then the 2024 US Presidency elections, and then goes ahead ...
by wargame_insomniac
05 Mar 2024, 19:13
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: General UK Defence Discussion
Replies: 1838
Views: 183260
United Kingdom

Re: General UK Defence Discussion

Whethet it ends up being UK SDR 24 or 25, the Armed Forces need to consider target audiences. If it was the Tory bunch of bankers (pun half intended) i.e. MOST UNLIKELY as of early March 2024 and current opinion polls, then it would need to be PowerPoint presentation with small packets of data in bi...
by wargame_insomniac
05 Mar 2024, 17:24
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: UK Shipbuilding
Replies: 236
Views: 29039
United Kingdom

Re: UK Shipbuilding

Another £120m to keep the lights on. https://www.insidermedia.com/news/ireland/harland-wolff-wins-preferred-bidder-status-for-falklands-project https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1764920946123481514 If H&W can keep on chipping away with small but profitable contracts, then it makes them les...
by wargame_insomniac
04 Mar 2024, 12:09
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5841
Views: 1495578
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

When I was younger I seem to recall in those days pre-interent and pre-mobile phone that would be waiting for news from either Vatican for election of new Pope or Kremlin for choice of new Soviet Preseident by analysis of smoke signals, in the former case literal and for the latter case somewhat mor...
by wargame_insomniac
01 Mar 2024, 21:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5841
Views: 1495578
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

I would like to re-arrange the superstructure a bit fatter and shorter. This will enable second heli-pad at the bow, and make the hangar capable of 2 Merlin (or 1 Merlin + 4-6 UAVs, or 4 Wildcats). What would be the advantage over a more traditional design such as a Vard 7 313 if a MALE STOL drone ...
by wargame_insomniac
01 Mar 2024, 20:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5841
Views: 1495578
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

Now - what was I saying about a UK Dokdo look-alike? These smaller assault ships share vehicle and aircraft storage space so total capacity is much lower. This makes a LCAC that can interface with strategic sea lift ships important to pick up the missing capacity in a SHTF situation. Given that the...
by wargame_insomniac
22 Feb 2024, 14:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7052995
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

3 weeks in hospital, whilst I tried to keep up reading threads with the briefest of replies when I had signal and/or battery and then a hurricane is directed at the Current & Future Escorts thread. And the cause at core of hurricane is OPV??!!
by wargame_insomniac
16 Feb 2024, 23:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)
Replies: 133
Views: 59467
United Kingdom

Re: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)

I think the latter must be the CIC itself, the longer endurance, higher speed, LCVP replacement. Agreed. If I had nt mentioned then my mistake, and that was only because I was trying to avoid repeating large chunks of text verbatim. A CIC feels well suited to Norwegian Fjords and Baltic and North S...
by wargame_insomniac
16 Feb 2024, 23:15
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7052995
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Yes the Maintenance and training would run alongside the 3 on 3 off Yes the 4 EoS would deploy out Oman As said I would have them fitted out with 40 mushroom CAMM and 8 x NSM in the first place I don't see this as light but it keeps them simple Would they be allowed to operate out of Oman to suppor...
by wargame_insomniac
16 Feb 2024, 21:26
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)
Replies: 133
Views: 59467
United Kingdom

Re: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)

An apparent candidate is, SEA class 15 boat (15m long and 21t weight) shall be a candidate. https://www.atlas-elektronik.com/fileadmin/user_upload/01_Images/Solutions/Workboats/SEA_Class_15_Officer_Training_Boat_Workboat_Data_Sheet.pdf I understand it can be "adopted" to be an USV, using ...
by wargame_insomniac
16 Feb 2024, 21:08
Forum: British Army
Topic: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)
Replies: 2788
Views: 712785
United Kingdom

Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

The German shill still at it I see. What is your suggestion M- Shorad for Boxer infantry Battalions? Don't mean that in a critical way, simple curiosity? If an UK Infantry Battalion is being depleyed, potentially by air to Poland or Estonia to rapidly deploy as deterrance, makes sense to me to incl...
by wargame_insomniac
15 Feb 2024, 21:37
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)
Replies: 133
Views: 59467
United Kingdom

Re: Archer Class Patrol & Training Vessel (PBR) (RN)

Don't be silly we all know how useful fast attack boats would be in the Baltic for inserting SF teams and hitting coastal targets Plus it is clear there is move by the RN in the direction as the Archer class have deployed into the Baltic for the last 4 years What will be their future role? Could th...
by wargame_insomniac
07 Feb 2024, 20:54
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15432
Views: 4405424
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

4 x 30mm mounts…. Thats not enough anymore. It’s needs to be 40mm or 57mm now. If QE was Italian it would be covered in 76mm OTO Melara’s and rightly so. Unfortunately the chronic underarming to save cash is coming back to bite in a big way now. It was always just a matter of time. The key thing fo...
by wargame_insomniac
07 Feb 2024, 15:57
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)
Replies: 4029
Views: 947279
United Kingdom

Re: Future UK Combat Aircraft (Project Tempest)

I was hopeful that firstly Australia developed their globaĺ MQ28 Ghost Bat UAV and that secondly happy to do deal on Project Tempest.
by wargame_insomniac
02 Feb 2024, 18:21
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8467
Views: 2140255
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]

MK 41 vertical launch system along with ExLS (Exstensible Launching System) https://apple.news/A2eA4cRzqSeCDcY7bh_u8ug Great info. As RN has not ordered Mk41 in any sense by now, this means the T31 of RN will be (at least) at the first step be delivered WITHOUT Mk.41 VLS (which is clear from schedu...
by wargame_insomniac
29 Jan 2024, 22:08
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7052995
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

SW1 wrote: 29 Jan 2024, 21:15 They’ve been there 2 months and used probably 8 missiles and been to port at least once. They’ve at least 40 left if they haven’t reloaded. They’ve a few other ships with them how much
I wanted more resilience than clearly you do. But thats ok - these are just are respective opinions, not facts.
by wargame_insomniac
29 Jan 2024, 19:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7052995
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

That’s probably sadly fair, but for a project that should be low risk for a ship FFBNW the country needs to do better - if we are really so close to war, we need a new mindset. TLAM on ships maybe new for the RN but is not new with our closest ally. Thanks, I am NOT AGAINST adding Mk 41 to T45. But...
by wargame_insomniac
29 Jan 2024, 19:20
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1987
Views: 553554
United Kingdom

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]

An AAW variant of the T26 is a no brainer and costs can be shared with the RAN and RCN. Given the new frigate factory, another six AAW variants could be achieved without Gaps with the T45s. However given the threat, there is no logical reason not to repurpose the five T31s also to become AAW ships,...
by wargame_insomniac
29 Jan 2024, 18:40
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5841
Views: 1495578
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

The simple fact is we had the perfect balance of flight deck and dock space with Ocean , 1 x LPD and 3 LSD's and we let it go When all things are considered a completely conventional Amphibious force may still be the way to go. Before even beginning on the MRSS design or considering an Enforcer LPD...
by wargame_insomniac
28 Jan 2024, 18:59
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7052995
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

That’s probably sadly fair, but for a project that should be low risk for a ship FFBNW the country needs to do better - if we are really so close to war, we need a new mindset. TLAM on ships maybe new for the RN but is not new with our closest ally. Thanks, I am NOT AGAINST adding Mk 41 to T45. But...
by wargame_insomniac
28 Jan 2024, 17:20
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19146
Views: 7052995
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Just go steadily with NSM. Many to be blamed in the past, many options in future, but what should be done now is clear. But these things need to be done in parallel, simultaneously rather than consecutively. For example the T45's have the following upgrades due: *5 to go through PIP (*3 to start &a...
by wargame_insomniac
27 Jan 2024, 23:21
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Turkish Armed Forces
Replies: 333
Views: 32202
United Kingdom

Re: Turkish Armed Forces

serge750 wrote: 27 Jan 2024, 17:09 Hope they are getting a lot of support etc for $23bn..... just seems like a lot of wonga !!!
They have some 243 F16 older variants, with apparently 157*F16C and 86*F16D.

So the 40 new aircraft might be rougly just one fifth of the total F16 covered by this contract.
by wargame_insomniac
27 Jan 2024, 23:02
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)
Replies: 957
Views: 311152
United Kingdom

Re: Mine countermeasures and Hydrographic capability (MHC) (MHPC)

I think the RN ishoing to want to trial deoying MCM USV and USuV from a variety of platforms to see what works best in practice in a variety of locations i a variety of Sea States. Ininitialy they were being triialled in Persian Gulf of Lyme Bay, they are shortly be about to be trialled in UK Home W...
by wargame_insomniac
25 Jan 2024, 21:28
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5841
Views: 1495578
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1750455509465882941 Worst of all outcomes, no clear direction for the FCF, wasting money and kicking the can another decade down the road. I doubt it will be 2030's. I fully expect them to be rotated between active service annually (as per current) and then re...
by wargame_insomniac
25 Jan 2024, 16:50
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5409
Views: 1418363
United Kingdom

Re: River Class (OPV) (RN)

... I have said for sometime now that the RB2's due to there overseas takings need upgrading with the same NS50 radar plus a UAV and a 40mm with 3P rounds for all round better eyes and ears plus self defence I agree some of the River B2 needs it, but some do not. What is a realistic OSD for the RB2...