UK Defence Forum

In the first photo, there is an apparent extension (added float?) of hull. What is it? It was there from the beginning?

I believe that was added later as the landing craft when lowered were riding under the hull.

Tempest414 wrote:looking at the pictures above maybe we should have given her a 150/200 million pound refit with new engines - gen sets and so on and kept her going for another 25 years and sold one of the Albions

Well, maybe not 25, but about 10 years definitly...

yes its been a cracking ship and I bet all those who served on her are gutted she going as a lot on here are ,myself included .brazil going to do her proud im sure of it and we will hopefully see here again in our ports sometime in the future for a visit

inch wrote:yes its been a cracking ship and I bet all those who served on her are gutted she going as a lot on here are ,myself included .brazil going to do her proud im sure of it and we will hopefully see here again in our ports sometime in the future for a visit

About HMS Ocean, she reminds me on my old Ford Fiesta and reasons why I haven't sell her after I have bought a new Focus. I couldn't get any decent amount of money for her ( for that amount I can't buy a decent bike or Chinese scooter ) and while I still have operational costs ( insurance and registration, repairs etc. ), but I have a car that's still in good working order, that I can use for anything without thinking much what will happen to it, not to mention that I have allways ready replacement car if anything happens to Focus. Yes, it's expensive, but it would be even more expensive without that car.

As if the Wave news wasn't bad enough, now the UK is losing an Artisan radar and four more LCVPs when it already has an unclear future for its landing craft.

It never ends.

RetroSicotte wrote:As if the Wave news wasn't bad enough, now the UK is losing an Artisan radar and four more LCVPs when it already has an unclear future for its landing craft.

It never ends.

I hope some people are beginning to realise that the Conservatives have never been strong on defence. That's not to say Labour under Corbyn would be any better. We need a new political party or 2 to replace the 2 we have at the moment...its the only way they'll learn.

I guess it is the 4 LCVP already announced to decommission, I guess. If so, that's it. I do not know what LCVP PoW is going to carry, but I guess the number is "enough". Anyway, boat-based amphibious capability has been reduced, it is clear because only 1 Albion is active, and there is not enough crew for the 2nd one, which means, even in war time, the 2nd LPD will not be re-activated, to my understanding.

Surely this must be in addition to the £80m selling price?

Poiuytrewq wrote:Surely this must be in addition to the £80m selling price?

I'm sure I read somewhere that the £80milliom price was inclusive of the refit/upgrade work being undertaken? So that the MoD/RN wouldn't be seeing the full amount (if any, unless this sum gets added to the total 2% budget?). Does anyone have any info on this?

The MOD gets 55 million, the rest covers the refit and kit.

Thanks, I don't suppose it is clear if this (or indeed, more broadly, any kit sold by the MoD) comes in on top of the 2% budget or if it contributes towards the 2%?

donald_of_tokyo wrote:I guess it is the 4 LCVP already announced to decommission, I guess. If so, that's it. I do not know what LCVP PoW is going to carry, but I guess the number is "enough".

The answer is "none", I'm sorry to say man. QE class ships cannot carry LCVP, I'm afraid.

Gabriele wrote:The MOD gets 55 million, the rest covers the refit and kit.

So the actual sale price was 55m and 25m for re-fit, not a bad deal in the end for the Brazilians

Manning issues aside, what a ridiculous decision. A carrier for £55M. A bit like Leicester signing Jonny Evans for £3.5M!
As part of further Education options, bring back a none Combatant version of National service (to stop the conciencious objections) as an alternative to further education or a job, this would positively promote a career in the Military and plug the manning hole (funds permitting) with some deciding to go into the Military full time.

So National Service is reintroduced and the Armed Forces end up with those people who can't get a job or a place in further education...

...and these 'special' people enlist for 1 year, or 2 years?

The manning holes are mostly in areas where it takes many years to be come suitably qualified and experienced. Not sure National Service is the answer.

Opening up standard recruitment to take in people from NATO countries could help. Could attract lots of bright and qualified eastern Europeans willing to stay 5-8 years+, who could then take UK military skills and methods back into their own country.

Brexit'ers might not like the idea much...

im suprized Australia didn't snap ocean up at that price r686 ,im sure you could have found good use for her somehow

the Australians already have the 2 Canberra class ships so no need for Ocean but I am sure a lot of Navies would have wanted her at that price

The inclusion of Artisan could be a very clever move from a future exports point of view.

Very true, the indeginous frigate prgrm managed to push tru one vessel (with a massive delay), nothing much heard from the frigate deal announced with the French about 5 yrs ago (were the vessels BAE built for T&T, but which ended up in Brazil a stop-gap, dictated by finances?) and good old British frigates being used for target practice
- there must be a deal in the offing, may be buying "oceans and fleet oilers" is a matter of putting the savings into the "kitty"?
- or for them to build the nuclear sub (in which case "no deal" for the twenty years that that will take)

Some new photo's of "Atlantico" taken by Seb Haggart (@sebh1981) on board RFA Lyme Bay in Devonport:
(Sourced from NavyLookout)

Do the Brazilian Cougars/Super Pumas have folding rotors & tails? If not they'll surely be a tight fit in Ocean/Atlanticos lifts & hangers.

No phalanx and it looks like a new mcg.