We should have words with their head of state. He won’t be for long - there’s a referendum in the off-ing. Perhaps a Commonwealth Development fund to give countries options for investment should be at the top of the list - play China at their own game. There is BII but it seems too bust making mone...

It is good that defence is a central issue but whoever wins is going to have a massive tab to pay. Defence isn't a central issue for people. Current YOUGOV polling does show an increase in importance up to 19% of adults in uk now putting it as 1 of three top concerns compared to about 10% through l...

Poiuytrewq wrote: ↑20 Apr 2024, 23:39 If the U.K. needs a £10bn Iron Done system with ABM capability the 6x missing Type 45 should the main component of it.

Why not ground based?

It’s alright we will throw a cocktail party next time we visit… That’s right diplomacy is the answer - sending a warship because China is investing money seems rather overdoing it don’t you think. I would have thought an economic, trade and investment plan might have been more appropriate. Fair - d...

Also, you are completely ignoring the threat today, let alone the future. Even with some of the unfunded bells and whistles people want to add to the GP T31 it will not be enough. These ships have been designed to run away gracefully, nothing more. I believe the correct term is "bravely run aw...

To be clearer I meant the new long ranged SMART-L-EWC (Early Warning Capability) Radar in addition to Artisan. Adding Sampson is an option I guess but suspect the addition of the two will increase top weight too much, plus the fact it will not be able to be positioned high like the T45 means it’s n...

I guess you are proposing to use CEC to control SM-6? In other words, using T31 only as a Mk41 arsenal and SMART-L radar picket? In that case, there is a US destroyer there. In a theater as small as Red Sea, why not the US Destroyer just do the job? "The Americans will do it" is an old mi...

I assume you meant “isn’t the best answer” - in which case the RN is saying. Given the PIP upgrades the RN wouldn’t be sending their only active AAW destroyer without good cause. Sorry you've lost me now you were busy knocking down a strawman that nobody was suggesting. I was just stating the facts...

Martlet refers to the Wildcat/LMM capability according the Navy...i.e. the system as a whole. A Wildcat armed with LMM becomes Martlet...obviously the names hark back to the Grumman F4F fighter names in RN service in WW2... First time I've seen that claim anywhere. The manufacturer seems to think t...

But, HMS Endurance was not hit. Task for River B2 there is to be an OPV, not as an escort. Contribute to day-by-day presence. More similar to River B1/B2 "escorting" Russian cruisers in the Channel. Of course, even if it is T23 frigate escorting the Russian cruiser, T23 will NOT survive t...

Argentina is in no fit state to attempt another invasion. The military is severely curtailed compared to 1982 and the country is in economic dire straits. Current inflation rate is 287%. They introduced a new 2,000 peso bank note which is worth £1.86.

It’s alright we will throw a cocktail party next time we visit… That’s right diplomacy is the answer - sending a warship because China is investing money seems rather overdoing it don’t you think. I would have thought an economic, trade and investment plan might have been more appropriate. Fair - d...

new guy wrote: ↑20 Apr 2024, 09:34

tomuk wrote: ↑20 Apr 2024, 01:05

Montserrat Pop. 4300 GDP £150m
Anguilla Pop. 16,000 GDP £250m

And?

Just pointing out how small and largely irrelevant lots of the remaining BOTS are.

serge750 wrote: ↑20 Apr 2024, 19:37 I'm pleasantly surprised by them commiting (?) to 6 ships ! as said Argos should be replaced first but after that ???? bays are newer, but, Albions require more crew ......

Bays are currently in use, Albions are laid up unusable. Surely you replace the out of use ships first.

Despite your panicked introduction of a bunch of red herrings, the basic point was that the WR-21 was not adequately tested because of Hoon's decision to close Pyestock. That lack of testing lead directly to the failures of the ships when in service. I know you will respond with more nonsense as yo...

new guy wrote: ↑19 Apr 2024, 23:36
A stones through away from the BOTS of Montserrat and Anguilla.

Montserrat Pop. 4300 GDP £150m
Anguilla Pop. 16,000 GDP £250m

• Captas 4 for T31s and Captas 2 for the RB2s. What would the point of a towed array on the RB2s be? T31 can either carry weapons it self or an armed helicopter to prosecute the sub, what is a River meant to do? Scare it way just by pinging away on its sonar? A valid tactic I suppose. If they were ...

What have we seen in the Red Sea a massive use of cheap and not so cheap drones. This doesn't appear to be an odd occurrence going forward. To have ships capable of dealing with it at non budget blowing price would seem to me to be a very strategic choice. What we have seen in the Red Sea is the va...

NHS funding isn't in disarray it is higher than it has ever been, and that includes billions added by the Tories. Most cuts in government spending in the 14 years have been LAs, who are responsible for social care and the roads. That's such a false representation. The NHS is under increasing pressu...

Also, you are completely ignoring the threat today, let alone the future. Even with some of the unfunded bells and whistles people want to add to the GP T31 it will not be enough. These ships have been designed to run away gracefully, nothing more. I believe the correct term is "bravely run aw...

Two or three T31 for the same £1bn depending on how they are configured would add a lot more. Such a cheap T31, 330 GBP a pop, cannot do any good AAW. I am half a way between you two. I agree there is a clear need for 5 cheap GP frigates. But do not think 10 will be needed. If such money is there f...

Let’s not forget the inflation. Significant it is, especially from late 2022. If comparing cost figures, we need to “correct” them. It's extremely hard to calculate the inflation in defense procurement. Using the governments inflation rate that's calculated by tracking the cost of a basket of domes...

NHS funding isn't in disarray it is higher than it has ever been, and that includes billions added by the Tories. Most cuts in government spending in the 14 years have been LAs, who are responsible for social care and the roads. That's such a false representation. The NHS is under increasing pressu...

Repulse wrote: ↑18 Apr 2024, 22:40 No need to make up classes just for the sake of it.

Why accept this position as given? Other yards building modules, hell with support could even build complete T26s under licence. Equally T83s can be built by multiple yards. What yards could build a complete T26 under license in the UK? Babcock - Possible. In theory but would two direct competitors...