Spaz & Eng - Thanks, I got it in the end.
All of it makes sense but I still think the timing was engineered.
This was interesting....
Could the RN have funded the Harrier alone though? Its often suggested that the RN should regain control of its fighter squadrons and use the money to fund its force directly. A great argument in theory, which ignores a salient fact. The RN over the last 14 years could have made sacrifices to find the funding – under older arrangements it could have put forward plans to sacrifice other capabilities directly to fund the Harrier. It chose not to do so, preferring instead to try to find savings through joint work.
Couldn't agree more
Glojo
Its Easy to out-think Career Seaman Officers.
I worked at Faslane as a Scumbag Civil Servant and had to deal with them. Always found the Non-Seaman Branches pretty good (Stand fast the Reg Officer
) But Seaman Officers - Well it amazes me that these guys get jobs outside the RN.