Max Hastings and his proposal in The Spectator to disband the Royal Air Force.
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Max Hastings and his proposal in The Spectator to disband the Royal Air Force.
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A Pongo-centric article from Max Hastings who'd have thunk it?
If were going to move from 3 services the only logical stopping point from an efficiency and poltical standpoint is 1.
Still I'm sure He'll enjoy writing about how great the British forces land component is!
If were going to move from 3 services the only logical stopping point from an efficiency and poltical standpoint is 1.
Still I'm sure He'll enjoy writing about how great the British forces land component is!
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He seems very fond of everything costing £20Bn.
It seems he has the solution to save this country some money and to fight this current war, but nothing else, ever.
Who am I to disagree.
It seems he has the solution to save this country some money and to fight this current war, but nothing else, ever.
Who am I to disagree.
Red On, Green On
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He doesn't really tackle the make-up of the land component in a future defence force.
Light, air-mobile forces for the global policeman role, MBTs and heavy arty for an invasion role, increased numbers of SF, SF support and Int for either role, plus ability to control the littoral/air in either role. None of it cheap, or do-able by halves. He carefully avoids the issue.
Light, air-mobile forces for the global policeman role, MBTs and heavy arty for an invasion role, increased numbers of SF, SF support and Int for either role, plus ability to control the littoral/air in either role. None of it cheap, or do-able by halves. He carefully avoids the issue.
Here we go again,
The decimation of the FJ fleet is underway, and with enough impetus (like this twaddle) should be complete just in time for the majority of crews/engineers to step into the civil sector as it starts to recover in about 18-24 months, meaning these skilled individuals are lost forever.
The Kipper fleet has been slashed to extinction. So all in all, a huge loss in capability without any real saving, unless you are cretinous to believe any real savings will be re-invested in the Army.
These people never really address what they will do with the AT or SH fleets.
This is the real pivotal bit of the RAF the Army, in particular, needs and can't afford to lose.
So, we can transfer the task to the AAC and RLC, and all the RAF personnel involved with these tasks just join the Army. Not a problem.
But there is a problem. Rough guess, but I reckon about 2/3 of the manpower involved don't want to transfer to the Army. It would involve a huge amount of administration, and possibly offering redundancy as an alternative, as I am fairly sure you can't force people to swap branches.
So, a run down AT/SH fleet losing 2/3 of its experienced manpower. And that helps the Army how exactly?
The decimation of the FJ fleet is underway, and with enough impetus (like this twaddle) should be complete just in time for the majority of crews/engineers to step into the civil sector as it starts to recover in about 18-24 months, meaning these skilled individuals are lost forever.
The Kipper fleet has been slashed to extinction. So all in all, a huge loss in capability without any real saving, unless you are cretinous to believe any real savings will be re-invested in the Army.
These people never really address what they will do with the AT or SH fleets.
This is the real pivotal bit of the RAF the Army, in particular, needs and can't afford to lose.
So, we can transfer the task to the AAC and RLC, and all the RAF personnel involved with these tasks just join the Army. Not a problem.
But there is a problem. Rough guess, but I reckon about 2/3 of the manpower involved don't want to transfer to the Army. It would involve a huge amount of administration, and possibly offering redundancy as an alternative, as I am fairly sure you can't force people to swap branches.
So, a run down AT/SH fleet losing 2/3 of its experienced manpower. And that helps the Army how exactly?
Red On, Green On
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MGD - a) there's a recession on, so lots of those who'd want to leave couldn't afford to. b) Google TUPE c) any half-decent lawyer could write/re-write the rules in such a way as to keep those in blue staying in blue, but appointed/posted to XX Regt AAC in the rank of YY. No need to offer redundancy just because their new boss is a Pongo.
All it would mean that, for example, no further AT/SH mates joined the light-blue, but joined the AAC.
I can't see it happening, though.
All it would mean that, for example, no further AT/SH mates joined the light-blue, but joined the AAC.
I can't see it happening, though.
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Make note of the line at the bottom, but it probably was not true then either. I for one would PVR if I did not like what was on the table in the event of an amalgamation.
If it were to be done forceably, 30-odd thousand Crabs suddeny become the biggest cap badge in the Army with a huge slice of the financial pie and good deal of veto.
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Old Sad Max, what a boy eh? Why does he hate the RAF so much - was he frightened by a nasty pilot when he was in his cradle or something? His attempts to big up the Army are getting a bit tedious these days. 
Whilst you may not be able to make people transfer to the Army or the RN, you can make them serve at sea (JFH) or have to wear camouflage & live in tents in combat zones (you do already, & many seem to prefer to wear Combat 95 clothing than light blue anyway)
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I recall Max Hastings visiting the FI just before the 20th anniversary of the conflict. He was an arrogant, self important pain in the neck tw@t then and doesn't appear to have improved....
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JJ - I have to agree. I met him when I was working in MB and a more pompous individual would have been hard to find. I remember wondering at the time whether he had a massive insecurity complex that made him so rude to everyone. Time he was put out to pasture. He became boring a long time ago and now he's not even a very good journalist.
Airborne Artist,
there is a recession in the UK at the moment......
It won't last forever, and Max isn't likely to get his way in the next 2 years. The formation of JHC was announced in the 1997 SDR, but didnt take effect until 2000.
So, chances of us still being in recession in 2013-2014? I doubt even cyclops could make it last that long [even if he survives the imminent cull].
there is a recession in the UK at the moment......
It won't last forever, and Max isn't likely to get his way in the next 2 years. The formation of JHC was announced in the 1997 SDR, but didnt take effect until 2000.
So, chances of us still being in recession in 2013-2014? I doubt even cyclops could make it last that long [even if he survives the imminent cull].
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Easy to be rude about the bloke but which part, specifically, of his article is flawed, incorrect, out-of-date, plain wrong.
Incidentally, its misleading to say his article is about disbanding the RAF, its far wider than that.
Incidentally, its misleading to say his article is about disbanding the RAF, its far wider than that.
Red On, Green On
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So, chances of us still being in recession in 2013-2014?
Don't bank (bad pun) on an economic upturn any time soon.
Avoid imitations
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When the Chinese or Russian Navy comes sailing past the Thames Barrier, no doubt he will be the first to fix bayonets.
I'd much rather see the disbandment of Max Hastings, take a pretty big can opener though....
ShyTorque,
"When the Chinese or Russian Navy comes sailing past the Thames Barrier, no doubt he will be the first to fix bayonets."
Why would they want to do that? Isn't that the sort of thing that Trident is supposed to stop anyway?
ShyTorque,
"When the Chinese or Russian Navy comes sailing past the Thames Barrier, no doubt he will be the first to fix bayonets."
Why would they want to do that? Isn't that the sort of thing that Trident is supposed to stop anyway?
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Can't see the Chinese Navy sailing up the Thames. Why try to win a war against us, they're already winning the peace! As for the Russians, are they that hungry yet?
None of this talk is necssary as the answer is quite simple really. Just give the MoD a descent budget, that's all. If the will was there the politicians would do it. It's they who should be in the dock with all of us questioning them.
None of this talk is necssary as the answer is quite simple really. Just give the MoD a descent budget, that's all. If the will was there the politicians would do it. It's they who should be in the dock with all of us questioning them.