Disband the Royal Air Force?
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n a letter to the Times today.....
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It's amazing what a google search throws up. Lester likes to review naval books on amazon and states he served in the navy from 1967-1989. Perhaps he's angry about losing Phantoms and Bucaneers.
He's also listed on a certain chat/meeting new 'friends' website.
(I was hoping to find any other letter he has written in the past...honest)
He's also listed on a certain chat/meeting new 'friends' website.
(I was hoping to find any other letter he has written in the past...honest)
Last edited by ajl146; 16th Dec 2007 at 12:55.
MM's linked post is bang on. Independent air forces were needed first of all because the other services could not agree as to whether an aeroplane was a large horse or a small ship, and it never occured to them that it was neither.
There is also a completely delusional argument that, by getting rid of an independent service, the costs associated with developing air and space systems and training their operators will disappear. They will (at best) be transferred to other services. So who now sponsors research into radar or AAMs or military aircraft engines? The Navy? The Army? The DoD/MoD? Who advocates for it?
Another completely empty argument is that air missions "support" the Navy or the Army. First, there are air missions that are air missions, like air defense, long-range strike and strategic ISR that support the entire war, not any specific service. Second, the argument can be turned on its head in the case of a carrier Navy - a Navy battle group is essentually devoted to the protection of an air base. But above all, air, sea, land and space operations are interdependent - at times one or the other leads, that's all.
The most important argument for maintaining separate services is the need for a culture that fosters the development of people. As has been pointed out, a huge flaw in the US Army's desire to acquire a large UAV force is that their operators will be neither aircrew nor ground-pounders, but Intel pukes, REMFs in a dead-end job, since the Army clearly believes that a trained ape can fly a 1.5 ton armed UAV in a dense battle environment. Are you going to see operational skills develop? New and better CONOPS being devised?
This might also be interesting...
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...entId=blogDest
There is also a completely delusional argument that, by getting rid of an independent service, the costs associated with developing air and space systems and training their operators will disappear. They will (at best) be transferred to other services. So who now sponsors research into radar or AAMs or military aircraft engines? The Navy? The Army? The DoD/MoD? Who advocates for it?
Another completely empty argument is that air missions "support" the Navy or the Army. First, there are air missions that are air missions, like air defense, long-range strike and strategic ISR that support the entire war, not any specific service. Second, the argument can be turned on its head in the case of a carrier Navy - a Navy battle group is essentually devoted to the protection of an air base. But above all, air, sea, land and space operations are interdependent - at times one or the other leads, that's all.
The most important argument for maintaining separate services is the need for a culture that fosters the development of people. As has been pointed out, a huge flaw in the US Army's desire to acquire a large UAV force is that their operators will be neither aircrew nor ground-pounders, but Intel pukes, REMFs in a dead-end job, since the Army clearly believes that a trained ape can fly a 1.5 ton armed UAV in a dense battle environment. Are you going to see operational skills develop? New and better CONOPS being devised?
This might also be interesting...
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...entId=blogDest
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
I think the only real change to serious Military opinion in 89 years is that anyone would pay attention to a Lardass two and half ringer Matelot with a chip where his parrot should be.
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My argument
I apologise in advance for any grammatical errors or if you disagree with my opinion but this is it:
The Royal Air Force at the moment controls forces on the ground and in the air.
The Royal Navy at the moment controls forces on the sea and in the air.
So far as I know. Basically the RN and RAF could compensate for the Army and successfully defend the United Kingdom against threats from the air, ground and sea.
And right now, according to certain information, our air force and navy are some of the best in the world. If the govt focuse all of its manpower and money into an Armed Service consisting of the RAF and RN. Which would make everything a lot easier. I appreciate that the dispandmen of an armed force would constitute uproar and that this is a highly controversial subject.
HH
P.S. I wrote this post primarily to state my opinion on the matter not as an english essay. Please don't reply to this post stating how many spelling mistakes or grammatical errors I have made.
Thank you
The Royal Air Force at the moment controls forces on the ground and in the air.
The Royal Navy at the moment controls forces on the sea and in the air.
So far as I know. Basically the RN and RAF could compensate for the Army and successfully defend the United Kingdom against threats from the air, ground and sea.
And right now, according to certain information, our air force and navy are some of the best in the world. If the govt focuse all of its manpower and money into an Armed Service consisting of the RAF and RN. Which would make everything a lot easier. I appreciate that the dispandmen of an armed force would constitute uproar and that this is a highly controversial subject.
HH
P.S. I wrote this post primarily to state my opinion on the matter not as an english essay. Please don't reply to this post stating how many spelling mistakes or grammatical errors I have made.
Thank you
The Royal Air Force at the moment controls forces on the ground and in the air.
So far as I know. Basically the RN and RAF could compensate for the Army and successfully defend the United Kingdom against threats from the air, ground and sea.
Tell you what Henry, in five years when things have dropped and voices deepened, you come back and tell me the same thing. I'll hand you a rifle and ask you to single handedly clear Musa Qala or the contemporary eqivolent.
You are no doubt well meaning, but hopelessly naive. I'd stick to youtube or facebook if I was you.
Good luck for the future.
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In response
I am afraid good man that when you mentioned things "dropping" and voices deepening. If you were referring to puberty you are a little late. I wholeheartedly accept your comment but I think you should note:
1. During my post I said I apologise in advance because I knew it was a controversial subject.
2. I did not meaningfully doubt the Army in any way and did not mean to incite that any of its members were incompetent. I mearly stated my opinion on a website designed for that purpose. I'm sorry for offending you but I would like to note now:
I have no quarrels with any of the armed forces. My dad was in the navy, my granddad the army and my uncle the R.A.F.
1. During my post I said I apologise in advance because I knew it was a controversial subject.
2. I did not meaningfully doubt the Army in any way and did not mean to incite that any of its members were incompetent. I mearly stated my opinion on a website designed for that purpose. I'm sorry for offending you but I would like to note now:
I have no quarrels with any of the armed forces. My dad was in the navy, my granddad the army and my uncle the R.A.F.
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ACM Branson, AVM McDonald
Come on chaps & chapettes,
Privatise the RAF.
With sponsorship and charging for airshows, fly pasts, humanitarian work, troop carrying etc the Mc Virgin Air Force may even become profitable.
The new owners would, no doubt want to outsource as much as possible to 3rd world...
EGQK : “The APU won’t start”
Delhi : “Try turning it off then on again ”
“Did that work?”
EGQK : “Splendid, thanks”
Privatise the RAF.
With sponsorship and charging for airshows, fly pasts, humanitarian work, troop carrying etc the Mc Virgin Air Force may even become profitable.
The new owners would, no doubt want to outsource as much as possible to 3rd world...
EGQK : “The APU won’t start”
Delhi : “Try turning it off then on again ”
“Did that work?”
EGQK : “Splendid, thanks”
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Disband? Starve and Neglect!!!!
Well there you go another gem from a RN Officer. 
I suggest he reads a bit of history before making such comments unless his intent really was to wind up the light blue. My view on this is that we are at the mercy of the MOD, the treasury and a Government that likes to grandstand with the 'troops' of all three services whilst not wanting to fund it! To conduct arguments such as these in the press only plays into the hands of politicians and civil servants and justifies their inappropriate actions and inactions. I for one feel that the all three services have more than proven themselves along with their capabilities in various theatres and that they are poorly supported by the Government and the civil service.
The fact is, the military is the first funding priority for a country to ensure its sovereignty and the protection of it's interests combined with its international commitments and as such should be considered an 'insurance policy'. Whereas, in the past we have had almost fully comprehensive insurance we now seem to be at 'third party only' stage and trying to find the cheapest deal from the dodgy broker Gordon Brown.
It seems evident to me that as in the title we will be starved and neglected until it all breaks and then we can look forward to joining the European military - Hurrah!
It is sad to reflect that the lions are still led by donkeys whether they be the airships or the politicians!!!
As for that lapdog Darling, 'more coffee Darling?' Baldrick will see to it!
I suggest he reads a bit of history before making such comments unless his intent really was to wind up the light blue. My view on this is that we are at the mercy of the MOD, the treasury and a Government that likes to grandstand with the 'troops' of all three services whilst not wanting to fund it! To conduct arguments such as these in the press only plays into the hands of politicians and civil servants and justifies their inappropriate actions and inactions. I for one feel that the all three services have more than proven themselves along with their capabilities in various theatres and that they are poorly supported by the Government and the civil service.The fact is, the military is the first funding priority for a country to ensure its sovereignty and the protection of it's interests combined with its international commitments and as such should be considered an 'insurance policy'. Whereas, in the past we have had almost fully comprehensive insurance we now seem to be at 'third party only' stage and trying to find the cheapest deal from the dodgy broker Gordon Brown.
It seems evident to me that as in the title we will be starved and neglected until it all breaks and then we can look forward to joining the European military - Hurrah!
It is sad to reflect that the lions are still led by donkeys whether they be the airships or the politicians!!!
As for that lapdog Darling, 'more coffee Darling?' Baldrick will see to it!
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I seem to remember a claim lately that the RN actually won the Battle of Britain and the RAF were just a bunch of half trained kids swanning about having fun with the Luftwaffe.
Nothing new then that the senior service want rid of those upstarts in light blue.
Privatising might be more likely. BBAF anyone? Blackwater British Air Force, manned entirely by Americans of course. Besides everyone knows that the days of the manned combat aircraft are numbered It will be all drones. All the rest of the flying can be done by civvies.
Nothing new then that the senior service want rid of those upstarts in light blue.
Privatising might be more likely. BBAF anyone? Blackwater British Air Force, manned entirely by Americans of course. Besides everyone knows that the days of the manned combat aircraft are numbered
It will be all drones. All the rest of the flying can be done by civvies.
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yeah why not get rid of the Navy, they have no use its been proven as there admirals would rather have the RAF lads on board than there own. Everyone knows the RAF is the best trained do the most important and that gain air superiority before any service can do there bit so less of this tosh. We are the most educated of the 3 services and Im sure pilots would rather have brainy people to fix there aircraft rather than some fishboy