Originally Posted by
4Greens
As an ex RN man I was appalled to see the sale of HMS Ocean to Brazil. A very valuable asset in a very run down Fleet Air Arm.
At the moment it has two large carriers with no aircraft and not enough money to provide sufficient escorts. A Baddy with a missile can sink one from a speed boat.
'Sic transit gloria'.
Que?
A very valuable asset in a very run down Fleet Air Arm.
Not as valuable as a ship with a larger deck, more hangar space, and improved stability due to size, surely?
At the moment it has two large carriers with no aircraft and not enough money to provide sufficient escorts.
I presume you missed the rotary wing trials and are unaware of the F-35B trials coming up soon? Or of the fact modern frigates/destroyers are more capable than in the old days.
A Baddy with a missile can sink one from a speed boat.
You keep saying this - but seriously, do you really think a large missile can be fired from a speedboat?
Originally Posted by thunderbird7
Underfunded because they wasted the money on the carriers, greedily pushing for them in the belief that it would force the hand of government to eventually fund planes for them even at the expense of other services.... having ideologically never forgiven the RAF for the demise of the carrier force previously.
I suppose you are unaware that the UK is purchasing F-35B..
Originally Posted by thunderbird7
While 'nice to have', its difficult to see how we could more effectively use a crrier in the world today, with our dwindling influence, or should I say desire to influence. A far more sensible option would have been 4(?) state of the art helicopter/assault style platforms that would cover small scale intervention, humanitarian (which is not the primary aim for a warship but a useful one and probably better
PR value home and abroad than the perennially moaned about 'overseas aid budget' [which I happen to think is 'strategically' a good thing]).
Publications such as ATP-01(G) seem to think naval doctrine is still centred around task group operations...
As for the
state of the art helicopter/assault style platforms - I presume you would want a larger vessel than
Ocean? The US
Wasp class is 40 000 tonnes or so, the
America class is about 45 000. The construction and manning costs are about the same, for a lot less capability.
Would you be expecting to operate a few jets from the deck, or have you given up on the idea of operating anywhere the opposition has aircraft, or troops need close air support?