RAZOR61 et al
Chaps,
It may have escaped your notice but the Grey Merlin does actually have a role outside of short-sighted land component issues which are being addressed through very well publicised procurement routes - and the redeployment of some RN personnel to Benson.
If you bothered to check up on the strategic long term threats to both the UK, its allies and the 90% of trade that comes by sea, you would know that a very real ASW threat is out there and continuing to grow. Just how do you think we resupply or deploy our vehicles and kit to far away places - by air!!
A US or Israeli attack on Iran would create a very credible ASW threat in hours few to the 75% of world oil that flows through the straights of Hormuz. And by the way the Iranians are no amateurs in that regard.
You also forget that Mr Putin has sortied much Maritime Hardware - by sea and air - towards our country for which The Sun front page is the mere tip of an iceberg.
And just to be precise the tailcone of a Merlin can be taken off by undoing the 32 bolts.
Open your minds, think of the comprehensive approach and look further than the end of your nose and the messy COIN ops that our mate TB got us into.
Si Clik