Just to add to Poiuytrewq's list. The A140 design has also been updated to comply with ANEP77 build standards (so it is to RN specifications) and the parent design, at least, allows for additional URN-reduction features, such as engine rafting, on a shock-tested hull that is already rated for NATO A...

Well - there does seem to be a move to include EMF and mission bays into most new surface combattants for the RN - perhaps more a reflection on the fact that we see SF type raids as more important in the future than for the reasons given in that article, but possibly borne out of the same realisatio...

Lord Jim wrote:it will be us who actually starts the fight

In order for us to take on their coastal missile batteries, they would have to have already started using them - so no, we wouldn't have started the fight.

Scotland is not Catalonia No, it isn't! Catalonia's independence was guaranteed by the Spanish Government in the Treaty of Utrecht (the same one that gave us Gibraltar). A year after signing that, the Spanish Crown reneged on the guarantee and took Catalonia by force. It has never allowed it to esc...

5000 tonnes was the minimum size quoted and that was just to meet the current accommodation standards, nothing else. ExLs are not in use by the RN, but Mk41 are and the 76mm has not been adopted either, with the 4.5" being dropped in favour of the 5". With increasing ASuW missile speeds, t...

andrew98 wrote:They'll just claim on insurance, then say UK Gov failed to protect them and its not their fault...

An insurance policy that covers force majeure? interesting concept!

Many of us have, @SW1, here and on TD. According to those who claim to know about these things, RN crews are so fat and pampered now that it would need to be at least 5000t to accommodate them, plus another 1000t to accommodate the Mk41 cells, 5" gun and CAMM cells, expanded beam to allow for t...

What planet is this guy on? Sounds like a Trumpster in a kilt

Lord Jim wrote:Typhoons would be vulnerable to the long range S-300 and S-400 SAMs systems

Isn't that what Storm Shadow and T-LAM are for? F35 as well. We have no interest in invading Iran, but we could certainly leave them regretting that they started a fight.

is about its to have a vessel that takes the T26s place in that role so me it’d have to be just as good at ASW with our question .... then it would likely cost the same as a T26. That last 10-15% is expensive. The major difference is likely to be that even if built to best standards achievable for ...

If so what we’d end up with is pretty much a T26 with 24 CAMM and 16 Mk41s odd and maybe only a merlins flight deck.! .... at 60-65% of the cost (and maybe 85-90% of the capability - wouldn't be as good at passive ASW as the T26, but still quite capable). The IH design can take 36 Mk41, so an A140 ...

Repulse wrote:If each CSG had 2 T45 + 3 T26 escorts, plus 3 for FRE/TAPS this would mean 12 T26s

I think we are one carrier short for that (and about 24 F35b)

SW1 wrote:Who knew all needed to keep those pesky Russians out of the channel was a handful of sunseekers with machine guns up front

We can't afford Sunseekers.

In my opinion this mini crisis in the Gulf has vindicated the T31 to some extent and increases the likelihood of a second batch to follow-on. Unfortunately it also makes any further T26's even less likely which is a great shame. I would agree with that. The sort of escort duty required in the Gulf ...

A Patrouille de France Alpha-jet has crashed during training. The pilot ejected and is said to be "injured, but alive"
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... edium=Feed

Frenchie, thanks for the info on the Griffon and the heads up to the longer post on the previous page. In its intended roles it looks like the Griffon will be very capable, especially so when supported by the Jaguar in operations like those underway in Africa. I am assuming that both platforms can ...

Hi, not my quote. You'll have to sort out the html tags to get it to quote correctly, or delete the post and re-post it

An Arrowhead A140 at £312m is a very tempting option but I think it will cost nearly that to build it So Babcock's don't know how to price or build a ship, but us interweb experts do? A 6000 tonne civilian hull costs around £15m. How much more expensive is the same hull built to military standards?...

If it turns out that an Arrowhead 140 can be built in the UK with 24 CAMM for £250m then I agree current planning may still be on the right track but I still struggle to see how it's possible. Especially considering of the four yards that initially made up Team31, Appledore is shut, Fergusons is go...

I disagree

Poiuytrewq wrote:if the Batch2 Rivers had of been fitted with Hangers the T31's would never have happened

.... and we would be looking at a Navy of 9 T26 and 6 OPVs

And how many Wildcats/Apaches will she carry? How many can be ready for take off at any time? FLSS is simply a cconverted merchant ship. You don't have to be very effective to harm her. And, considering that RN ships will probably not fire if Boghammers aren't really close, how many of them is enou...

Don't agree. FLSS can be just a floating target there. Hormuz isn't the Horn of Africa or Gulf of Guinea. Floating target for what, exactly? The IRG has nothing bigger than motor boats with manually operated guns and basic (usually unguided) missile systems. Sitting ducks for Wildcat (or even Apach...

Jumping before he's pushed

Number one priority must be getting the tanker crews home. Well, the only thing "British" about the tanker that was taken is it's registration. Hopefully Sweden and the other countries, whose nationals have been abducted, will put pressure on Iran to return the ship and crew, as well as p...

From the Sky piece above: Defence experts have warned for years that the moment when Britain finally acknowledges what some see as a self-inflicted act of national vandalism (in terms of cost-saving cuts to the military) will be when we suffer a defeat or catastrophic failure on the international st...