Alpha, wot an a-hole!
First I will state that I agree with you that the SHAR should not be scrapped. The RN needs an independent force fighter protection. The GR7/9 is also required in mud-moving role. Both aircraft have their particular role and both aircraft are needed.
However you speak out of your ar$e when it comes to the Nimrod (and probably when it comes to the other RAF aircraft you seem so quick to put down). "My basic criticism comes from an occasion in the mid-eighties" which was written about the Nimrod and its capabilities in the early 80's.
The Nimrod in the early 80's was a completely different machine to the one flying today, let alone the MRA4 (which incidentally stands for Maritime Reconnaissance and ATTACK - not Aircraft). The MR2 was just coming into service, and since that time has seen several major systems upgrades.
I will not comment on the role of the Nimrod during the Falklands Campaign, except to say that we were there flying far more operational sorties than is commonly publicised.
The Nimrod, as has already been mentioned, is not only an ASW platform. Neither is it concerned purely with "SAR (and perhaps, local fisheries protection)", but has many roles, several of which can not be mentioned. So get your facts straight.
Yes, the RN has ASW helos in the screen, but you have obviously never looked at the way the ASW screen operates. If you really do wear dark blue try popping along and having a chat with the PWO or ASWAC.
Your earlier quotes from SDR and the DP2001 Statement whilst accurate are also misleading. Yes the "agreed submarine threat against the UK mainland is now low" as is the current air threat to the RN in UK waters, but like you we also deploy OOA. Yes, "The Nimrod is a land based aircraft with limited range and can not therefore support Fleet/JTF operations away from the UK base “without prepositioning”", like the SHAR is also land based and also has to preposition to the carriers, otherwise it's range is even less than ours ;-) We do prepossition, and operate very effectively when we do.
"But we never see you guys around the Fleet when we are deployed – en route to or at a trouble spot – so much for the ease of deployability". Oh dear, showing your lack of awareness again. Try looking at the air picture and you will probably see us. Just because we aren't buzzing your boats, doesn't mean we are not there ;-) (And yes I do know what a boat is, just looking for the usual RN bites <bg>)
Finally, before posting utter $#!t about something you obviously know gnats cock about, try getting your facts right. It is so obvious that you know sweet FA about what the Nimrod MR2 does and where. By the majority of the other posts it appears your vastly substandard knowledge extends to other aircraft types too. The fight to save the SHAR is an extremely important one, but you are doing it no favours at all. All aircraft types from the Grob up to the Tornado, Jag, GR7/9, SHAR, Nimrod, helicopters, etc, etc have their role to play and their place in our Armed Forces, so wind your neck in will you!
Mad Mark!!
