French Navy in Direct Competition with the UK for most expensive Carrier

[sense1]

Originally Posted by Blacksheep

Thirty-odd years ago UK withdrew from East of Suez precisely because we could no longer afford to run an imaginary Empire. Meanwhile, the French withdrew even from Algeria. The idea was to cut back our armed forces to operate only in Europe and around our own shores.

Yep, that was for a little gig called the Cold War!! Our Navy was required in the North Atlantic to hunt Soviet subs. The Army was needed in Germany to meet the swarms of Soviet tanks, and the RAF was there to defend our airspace and help out the Army in Germany. Hence our armed forces operating PRIMARILY (not only) in Europe and around our own shores.
Doing the same today, however, would be a little dull and ultimately pointless.

Originally Posted by Blacksheep

Just wondering out loud why either the UK or the French need an aircraft carrier. Carriers are for global force projection.

You see, the Cold War has finished now and the wars of today are in places such as the Middle East and Kosovo. Therefore, we need platforms and weapon systems in order to project power beyond the shores of our counrty and further afield than the German plains. It is very unlikeky that our enemies will come to us now, unless its in the form of a hijacked airliner. We maintain QRA for this type of situation.
My point is that a defensive posture is not what is required these days. What is required is the ability to send our forces to where they may be needed - hence the reason to buy 2 CVFs, A400M, Tomahawks, C17, lighter armoured vehicles, new amphibious shipping, increase the size of our SF etc etc. This has been the way of things for quite a while now my dear chap - I do hope this enlightens you!

[scottishbeefer]

Sense1 - fully concur.

B'sheep - you're absolutely correct that we cut the Empire coz it was just too expensive a proposition in every sense. We're not expanding it anymore, merely ensuring we have the tools of the trade to influence events if the government of the day judge it necessary (so are the French).

The stated aim of the HM's Armed Forces is to be able to deploy and support wherever military capability is needed across the globe in support of national policy. Not quite the same as deciding to take over India again. (And - since we've always stated we're getting out of Iraq at the earliest opportunity, let's not branch off into that debate!).

SB