The problem with Wildcat based in Oman is there range and time to area... What you need is a platform with a good sized flight deck able to provide forward support for helicopters, no need for a hangar as the maintenance can done more cheaply / effectively on land. If only we had such a platform...

<On OPV> Submarine is very expensive and complicated weapon. If all OPVs are required to handle it in some sense, why not all OPV need to handle super-sonic ASM with Aster30?... For me we are talking about a number of CAPTAS-1 PODs that can be rotated between OPV and future MCSLVs, along with train...

Caribbean wrote: ↑21 Dec 2021, 12:45 I think it would not be unreasonable to expect all RN vessels to carry at least basic ASW/ mine avoidance sonar, alongside SSTD

Would agree on this - maybe ASW could be modular for OPVs, but mine avoidance and some level of SSTD wouldn’t go a miss.

I think you both over estimate the ASW abilities of the type 23 GP in the busy shipping lanes of the gulf and it is the job of the MPA's the locate identify and track subs in the gulf it will more than likely be a MPA that first see a swam attack building Maybe, but there is no mistaking the ASW ca...

It would make a fine target for one of the Iranian mini subs however…

Just a thought. A number of folk commenting on the need for more air defence & BMD. What if the T32 was to be straight up UK spec Iver Huitfeldt AD frigate? As opposed to the watered down GP T31. You get my vote on upgrading the T32, but would want it to be more of a ASW ship than AAW/BMD as th...

Let’s get those 57mms on the OPVs and rollout the LMMs onto UAVs and 30mm mounts. Add in the Wildcats brimming with Martlets then I think the RN has a good counter to this.

Got to be careful here if we start to class the Amazonas class as corvettes then we need to do the same for the much improved B2's L also feel we are more likely to get a pair of phalanx's strapped on than a 57mm Fair point on the classification, but the majority of the press I read refers to them ...

In short, why not T31? Because it is better used in a different way. Sure in a world of endless resources, why not a T31, in fact why not a fast Cruiser Squadron? Fact is that by filling in gaps in frigate numbers with cheap vessels and then forward basing them just undermines the things that will ...

"Iranian fanatics" will require a T31 or even T26/45. To do what? I wouldn't try blowing IRGCN fanatics out the water unless I had some serious firepower on standby. If we are referring the frequent skirmishes, I'd say a River B2 kitted out as discussed with onboard RMs and fast boats plu...

bobp wrote: ↑16 Dec 2021, 12:30 it would be nice to see another 24 for UK but I guess elephants may fly before then.

Would agree, along with more F35s... I wonder though if any money from selling the Tranche 1 Tiffies goes back into RFA coffers?

What would be the cost of adding the following three upgrades to be usable (i.e including power supply / deck rinforcements etc) on existing River B2's: -Upgrade main 30mm gun to say 57mm -Add secondary guns e.g. 2*30mm or 2*Phalanx CIWS -Adding LMM launcher (either on 30mm mount or in POD) These u...

OPVs would be more likely to be able to operate safely, in any area of the world, provided that we had sufficient “Big Stick” assets either visibly within reach, or an actual or even possible covert presence in those areas (SSN). It must however be a credible possibility, too few of these assets re...

That would require scrapping of the two yard policy closure of Govan and investment in a Frigate Factory at Scotstoun or elsewhere. Amen to that, and BAE in partnership with HMG should be doing that now. The purists were trying to play the competition card to force BAE into investing without commit...

Thing is, the report basically recommended three things for the surface escorts (not including getting a move on with T45 PIP) which were: 1 - across the board they need an offensive missile capability (land attack and ASuW) 2 - the T45 (and by extension the T83) needs an ABM capability. 3 - we nee...

But, when someone think it is to fight against Iranian fast-boats or Hoiti-rebels suicide-drones or even SSMs, better armaments like, 57mm/40mm 3P guns and/or Phalanx CIWS comes into my mind. (If it carries CAMM or RAM, it is already a light frigate and here comes "T31 as of now". Not an ...

This struck a cord with me: 195. Professor Till recommended that the Navy consider acquiring vessels like a corvette or light frigate equipped with heavy weaponry If you want to play in the Littoral's then I'm really not clear how a small number of larger / lightly armed ships is going to win the day.

Classically, this is exactly what frigates did. Patrol, convoy escort, presence, engagement, surveillance and all aspects of maritime policing, with sloops being the coastal equivalents. Fast, nimble and lightly armed. I guess it's all part of the general growth in platform size, but I think we nee...

So let those friendly nations do the locking in there own back yard, offer them any political support and access to or develop technology with them as requested. There is nothing we can deploy that makes a material difference to what they have already and so we use our assets to ensure our area is ...

There is plenty of threats closer to home that require countering including Chinese ones. Yes, but to ignore the global picture is a folly of the highest degree. Even if we decided to go back to a West of Suez only strategy, we are naive to think that events east of it will not have a significant i...

As the government has left no stone unturned in their quest to destroy the aviation industry in this country they may go for this but it’s a pathetic offer. Absolutely - the UK needs to have an "independent" core defence manufacturing industry for all key assets. Doesn't mean it needs to ...

Note that I do "like" the idea of River B3. But, not yet convinced it is a better use of resource than those "improving hi-end assets". Its a very good challenge - my view is one of balance and efficiency, and the underlying need with the force structure described to replace the...

The only difference is that I was assuming most of the T31's would be forward deployed too. You are correct that on this the main difference is the type of units deployed, but overall I feel I have a different view on the required Strategy to implement "Global Britain", compared with most...

So what sort of Frigate and/or OPV presence do you think we need to cover each of the 7 following regions: -Home waters and eastern North Atlantic -Caribbean and western North Atlantic -South Atlantic including both Falklands/South Georgia and Ascencion/St Helena/Tristan de Cunha -Mediterranean inc...

I thought you meant that the F35B was exclusively for carrier ops - let’s leave the FAA vs RAF discussion to the past where it belongs IMO.