High Spirits,
You were right, it was a tad unfair and I know that CHF and the Junglies must be feel very vulnerable at the moment.
But, Something Witty does nothing but rant - there is no solid evidence or well argued case that both he in his post or any of his brethren can do to save CHF. They should have seen the writing on the wall with the Newton Study (where they thought incorrectly as it transpires that a load of waffle about FAA deck hands and executive air appointments would save their Harrier/Fixed WIng community). As we can see RWS is still on paper, with virtually no quantifiable CHF input to any transition that is meant to start next year. Quite simply they missed the boat (forgive pun) with Harrier, and they are now staring at each other in disbelief as they realise that they have done the same with CHF.
As everyone recognises the CHF aircrew are probably one of the most well trained and broadly operationally experienced rotary crews that Defence/JHC has (hence why I suggested that the Freaks would benefit from a few of them 'jumping ship; (forgive the pun again). Sadly though, when we are in so much debt, lets get this fact clear - do the Treasury (or Land Budgeteers) care 2 hoots who flies the Merlin, they just want the cheapest option.
In the current economic climate (forecast out until at least 2020) the cheapest option by far to deliver amphibious rotary lift to the Royal Marines is RAF SH. based at Odiham and Benson.
Now, if Navy Command and/or CHF can forward a reasoned and rational argument for them to justly (and efficiently) take over our Merlins, then I am all ears, but Something Witty's post relying on the conceptual esoterics of 'jungly ethos' and nostalgia does not a well balanced or robust argument make.
All very sad - but lets now stop deceiving ourselves and do something with this elephant in the room before morale and more wasted effort is made. Lets acknowledge the drawdown of CHF and let JHC conduct a well balanced and well timed RWS transition ensuring that where possible those CHF crews, engineers and staff that add value are absorbed into the RAF to deliver defence an RAF SH lift capability across all environments.