Originally Posted by
skua
So we have sent one P-8 to the Eastern Med, which represents more than 10% of the fleet. Meanwhile the Faroes Gap, UK waters, the Baltic and the Black Seas still need monitoring. Another example that the UK is now an asset-light military. (Did we hear much about defence at the two major party conferences in the last month?)
Mission is stated to be "....
track threats to regional stability such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups". Does that mean if the P8 detects suspicious shipping they will inform the IDF who will investigate or will that be down to the Merlin and Marines ?
Sending two Royal Navy ships which"
....are.not warships, but "
ships that can assist with hospital facilities". seems a better idea.