Britain's new 3 billion pound warship has a leak

[evadgib]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I grew up in an era that they might actually have used nukes in a real nuke war, unlike the rather overblown NoKo fussburger going on now. I don't remember anyone needing psychiatric attention to deal with the "stress" of it.

Was this the trigger of your subsequent dislike?

Edited January 19, 2018 by evadgib

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, evadgib said:

How did you avoid National Service, or was that what triggered your apparent dislike of all things MoD?

5555555555555555555555555

I avoided national service by joining the regulars. They still sent me my call up papers though!

When I joined it was very professional, but our war finished and by the time I left I don't think I knew a single person that had actually been in combat, so it was all a bit <deleted>. 

Too many tosspots with a <deleted> complex throwing their weight around, so I left and did something more useful.

However, when it was great, it was really great, and when it wasn't, it really sucked.

 

BTW, while the bureaucrats of the MoD ( unfortunately ) run the show, I don't consider them worth a tin of <deleted>, having observed their incompetence at first hand for too many years. Bureaucrats and politicians- two sides to the same coin.

[thaibeachlovers]

16 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Was this the trigger of your subsequent dislike?

Oh, that brings back memories! I'm getting all nostalgic now.

While I trained with the good old 303 in school cadets, in the real thing we had the excellent SLR.

Our battledress uniform was actually the same as in the photo, except berets instead of caps. Oh the memories of spit polishing the boots and cleaning those <deleted> anklets. Not my favourite occupation.

We had an excellent drill instructor. I can still remember his name, LOL.

[thaibeachlovers]

I stumbled on this article by chance. Very interesting, and for any that care about defence, frightening.

From 2016.

 

https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/the-decline-of-the-royal-navy#gs.XnPiOGs

 

 

[evadgib]

"...if you think old England's done"?

 

New navy warship accepted by Defence Minister

Defence Minister Guto Bebb today formally announced the acceptance of HMS Forth, the Royal Navy's new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), from manufacturer BAE Systems at the company's Scotstoun shipyard.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-navy-warship-accepted-by-defence-minister

Edited January 26, 2018 by evadgib

[evadgib]

UK fighter pilots fly F-35 for the first time following training

A pair of UK fighter pilots have become the first in their services to fly the F-35 Lightning straight from training.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-fighter-pilots-fly-f-35-for-the-first-time-following-training

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, evadgib said:

"...if you think old England's done"?

 

New navy warship accepted by Defence Minister

Defence Minister Guto Bebb today formally announced the acceptance of HMS Forth, the Royal Navy's new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), from manufacturer BAE Systems at the company's Scotstoun shipyard.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-navy-warship-accepted-by-defence-minister

From the article

prepare for counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and other maritime Defence operations.

Basically a customs enforcement vessel

 

Like her sister ships, HMS Forth will be equipped with a 30mm cannon and a flight deck capable of receiving a Merlin helicopter.

So, between the new OPVs they can provide 5 30mm cannon, and it remains to be seen if they can afford to put any helos on them, after paying for the F35s.

Good luck defending Britain with that lot.

 

If it weren't so tragic, it'd be laughable.

Edited January 26, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, evadgib said:

UK fighter pilots fly F-35 for the first time following training

A pair of UK fighter pilots have become the first in their services to fly the F-35 Lightning straight from training.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-fighter-pilots-fly-f-35-for-the-first-time-following-training

None of which changes the fact that they are overpriced, too hi tech, too vulnerable to computer problems, and can't be used to capacity because they have to use the ski jump. Not to forget that they aren't buying enough of them to be effective.

It's buying a lemon and using propaganda to try and convince the taxpayers that they bought strawberries with cream.

They haven't, to my knowledge, even told us what they are actually intended to do, and whatever it is, when they think of something, they will always be limited by the necessity to refuel the carriers, as they decided not to go nuclear, for some incomprehensible reason.

Also, they don't have enough manned support ships to escort both of them at the same time, and possibly even one of them, while doing all the other things navies are supposed to do.

 

Far better to have bought more built in Britain multi role frigates, and marine ships with helicopters that work. 

Oh, and making the navy a service people actually want to join might help resolve the shortfall in numbers, something that isn't going to happen if it's all spent on 2 white elephants, that would last as long as it takes a missile to reach them if it really happened.

 

I can see a similar fate for the two carriers as a carrier in a country we all know well.

Edited January 26, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[tifino]

 

[Scott]

An off-topic post removed.