Originally Posted by
Asturias56
In 2012 the Chief of the UK Defence Staff stated in a lecture at Oxford "One of my biggest concerns is the number of frigates and destroyers the Nay has" - at that point it had 24-26 vessels - you now have 19
How odd! Frigate and destroyer numbers were cut from 23 to 19 as part of SDSR 10, and without the carriers Cameron would have wanted to cut another five frigates, I think you might must be thinking of the wrong year. Also why ignore the role the commitment to Iraq and Afghanistan had on defence budgets, and the financial crisis?
As for NATO strength, have been looking in more detail at the HSC paper:
Fire and Ice - A New Maritime Strategy for NATO's Northern Flank.
On page 39 the Cold War role of the
Invincible class (with Sea Kings and Sea Harriers) is discussed, along with the advantages of the larger
Queen Elizabeth class, regarding the Atlantic and GIUK gap.
On page 57 there is map of a UK carrier task group in the GIUK gap, with other NATO forces escorting shipping and moving forward towards the Russians. The description is on the following page:
By 2024, the UK will be well placed to take charge of this effort through acting as the lead nation of a rapid response ASW task group, potentially featuring:
•1 x Queen Elizabeth class carrier
•2 x Type 45 class AAW destroyers
•2 x Type 23 class ASW frigates
•5 x German/French/Dutch/Norwegian frigates and destroyers
• SSN and SSK support as required
This model would essentially represent a resurrection of the Royal Navy led ASW Striking Force of the 1980s.
Page 62 of the report discusses pushing (US) carrier groups and other forces North of the GIUK gap to engage missile platforms before they break out into the Atlantic.
Page 68 puts NATO carrier groups into the Barents Sea for offensive operations.
Page 71 mentions French and Italian carrier groups in the Mediterranean.