Search found 2784 matches

by Caribbean
14 Mar 2017, 11:45
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1011
Views: 397818
United Kingdom

Re: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]

Gabriele wrote:"late 2017", whatever that means. Jane's says November.
Thanks, Gabriele. The article is positive about it, so hopefully that indicates that they might retain it, or something like it once the contract finishes.
by Caribbean
13 Mar 2017, 23:22
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1011
Views: 397818
United Kingdom

Re: Type 23 Frigate (Duke Class) (RN) [News Only]

Interesting to note that Scan Eagle is still there. I thought the contract had finished
by Caribbean
13 Feb 2017, 13:16
Forum: Political Discussions
Topic: Paying for it all
Replies: 8
Views: 211
United Kingdom

Re: Paying for it all

Talking as someone who has been involved in banking on a "tax haven" island (on the IT side), there have been major changes over the last 5 years. Talking for this particular BOT, we report the balances of all foreign-held accounts (or groups of associated accounts) to the local government...
by Caribbean
12 Feb 2017, 18:32
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)
Replies: 846
Views: 301165
United Kingdom

Re: Astute Class Attack Submarine (SSN) (RN)

Yup - disinformation troll.
Russian sounding name - check.
Dodgy location - check.
Articles full of cod science and groundless speculation - check.
Conspiracy theory - check
Recently signed up - check
Ignore/ ban - check
by Caribbean
12 Feb 2017, 18:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion
Replies: 5981
Views: 1500615
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Amphibious Capability - General Discussion

Though we may not need to land C2s across the beach very often, I see no reason to spend good money on deliberately removing our ability to do so. The Bays are a proven multi-role platform, the logical approach is to improve and enlarge on that base. If we do get an Argus replacement, it would also ...
by Caribbean
12 Feb 2017, 00:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464990
United Kingdom

Re: Type 26 Global Combat Ship [News Only]

Wasn't the 8000 tonnes figure including the estimated margin for growth?
by Caribbean
10 Feb 2017, 16:02
Forum: UK Defence & Aerospace Industry
Topic: National Shipbuilding Strategy
Replies: 225
Views: 15138
United Kingdom

Re: National Shipbuilding Strategy

Yes, that was the plan. From memory, one of the GP T23's ( the oldest? ) was to go out of service without any upgrade. I guess that may have changed now that we are only getting the 8 ASW hulls.
by Caribbean
01 Feb 2017, 21:24
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Ron, I think that the ferry that you are looking for is the one to the Scilly Isles
by Caribbean
29 Jan 2017, 20:19
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456393
United Kingdom

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

15% of every F35 sold globally is made in the UK https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-f-35/ how many US jobs could be created if that figure was cut or eliminated? Probably closer to 30% when you include electronics, software etc. I wonder who owns all the IP for that 30%? I doubt it's all owned...
by Caribbean
29 Jan 2017, 19:56
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)
Replies: 488
Views: 211264
United Kingdom

Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

you saying Wildcat along with its crews is a sacrifical aircraft That's a bit of a leap from what I actually said. If you use helicopters against a surface ship, then it's going to be a risky business if the ship has any half-way decent AD system, which is why I suggested the target set that I did....
by Caribbean
29 Jan 2017, 17:24
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)
Replies: 488
Views: 211264
United Kingdom

Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Merlin is a better ASW platform And we barely have enough of them for that role. Let's keep them focussed on that. Running a helicopter attack against a surface ship is going to be a dangerous job - why risk one of your premier ASW assets in that role? Far better to use a cheaper, more agile platfo...
by Caribbean
29 Jan 2017, 16:51
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456393
United Kingdom

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

I doubt that he will, in the end, play around too much with previously agreed defence programs, though he might try to make it look as if he is "taking executive action" without hurting the substance of the programs too much. It also suits him to assist the UK at the moment and hitting the...
by Caribbean
29 Jan 2017, 16:33
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456393
United Kingdom

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

American Jobs for American workers I think the main focus of that policy is actually "American" companies that have moved production of goods intended for sale into the US market overseas and countries like China, which he accuses (with some justification) of currency market manipulation ...
by Caribbean
28 Jan 2017, 01:23
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
Replies: 632
Views: 27652
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

OK - with you now - that's what happens when you come late to a conversation. :oops:
by Caribbean
28 Jan 2017, 01:10
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)
Replies: 488
Views: 211264
United Kingdom

Re: AW159 Wildcat Helicopter (RN & AAC)

Ron5 wrote:Here we go again: put a 12" gun on the Isle of White ferry and it becomes a battleship.
Gunboat, I would have thought, you would need at least 8 to make it a battleship ;)
by Caribbean
28 Jan 2017, 01:08
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: SDSR 2015 General News & Discussion
Replies: 632
Views: 27652
United Kingdom

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

I think you need to check those figures. A quick survey of the interweb shows that the Indian, Russian and Brazilian figures are all waaaaay too high. The Indian by a factor of 4, the other two are around half the figures you give. The US GDP is also c. $18.5 tr vs China's $11.4 tr
by Caribbean
26 Jan 2017, 17:53
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

... not without an RN crew, it can't.
by Caribbean
26 Jan 2017, 13:01
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142856
United Kingdom

Re: Type 31 General Purpose Frigate [News Only]

So - replacing 5 GP frigates with "more than 5" slightly smaller GP frigate. Apparently, according to other threads, 6 T45 and 8 T26 are sufficient escorts for a CVBG, so why do we need more?
by Caribbean
24 Jan 2017, 13:02
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

As to a second tier AD vessel the vessel I would suggest should be dual capable IE a proper GP frigate one with the capability to protect itself and project some protection to other units. Maybe a smaller vessel that can be produced as either a 2nd tier AAW variant, or a 2nd tier ASW variant, by ch...
by Caribbean
23 Jan 2017, 17:31
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Sorry donald-san - should have been clearer. I was commenting specifically on SB's comment but that is not a sustainable solution, only for use in a SHTF situation If we were genuinely planning for wartime operations, then SHTF situations would be sustainable. It may have just been loose phrasing on...
by Caribbean
23 Jan 2017, 16:47
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: English Electric Lightning (1959-1988) (RAF)
Replies: 28
Views: 23111
United Kingdom

Re: English Electric Lightning (1959-1988) (RAF)

swoop wrote:One of the first "supercruise" capable aircraft (supersonic without afterburners being needed) and also had a phenomenal climb rate, which would then empty the fuel tank and more go-juice would be necessary.
A slightly less insane version of the ME 163 Komet!
by Caribbean
23 Jan 2017, 14:37
Forum: British Army
Topic: Section Infantry Weapons
Replies: 1476
Views: 432087
United Kingdom

Re: Section infantry weapons

One of the reasons USA have stayed with the 9mm, is that it is easier to train recruits to shoot with From my rather limited civilian target-shooting experience, 9mm is definitely easier than heavier calibres to sustain accuracy with. Heavier recoil is more wearing (important over a full day compet...
by Caribbean
23 Jan 2017, 14:03
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

So rather than basing the design of our low-end ships around "peace-time" roles, we're effectively basing our entire fleet structure around peacetime deployments
by Caribbean
22 Jan 2017, 20:55
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I would have said that, realistically, once the separation between the CTF and ARG exceeds 50% of the AD radius (in order to provide a realistic chance of intercept of shore-launched AS missiles against the ARG and ship/ air-launched threats against the CTF) then you would be looking to provide an i...
by Caribbean
22 Jan 2017, 18:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7057410
United Kingdom

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

What other formations? A single carrier group is the the maximum force the RN can generate, that is the only thing that requires area air defence. And what happens when the ARG has to do one thing, the CBG another and the logistics train a third, all over widely separated areas? (Just thinking of 8...