Britain is guarded.....by the French
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Britain is guarded.....by the French
I know this has been posted on the MRA4 thread, but I thought it deserved a wider audience.
Britain must now depend on the French to stave off naval attack | The Sun |News
Britain must now depend on the French to stave off naval attack | The Sun |News
AXING the RAF's Nimrod spy planes leaves Britain's defences so weak we will have to depend on the FRENCH to stave off a naval attack on us.
French Atlantique planes operating from UK bases will monitor and intercept unauthorised ships and submarines.
The humiliation comes exactly 205 years to the day after Nelson's fleet saw off Napoleon at Trafalgar.
And The Sun can reveal that just as Prime Minister David Cameron was announcing the axing, TWO Russian submarines were intercepted less than 70 miles off our shores.
They had to be tracked by American P3 Orion jets because our Nimrods were grounded and the French planes had NO FUEL.
The incident was an embarrassing reminder to politicians about the importance of having eyes in the skies around Britain.
The nine Nimrods, which cost £3billion, were designed for anti-sub warfare and marine patrols.
A source at RAF Kinloss, Scotland, said: "Axing them was very short-sighted.
"These planes offer vital cover around our shores and keep us safe from attack from the sea.
"Without them we will have to rely on the French to monitor the skies and look for rogue vessels."
Defence expert John Lake said the decision ended "65 years of world-leading anti-sub and maritime patrol capability".
An MoD spokesman said: "We routinely operate alongside our allies and will utilise a range of military assets to ensure the integrity of UK waters."
French Atlantique planes operating from UK bases will monitor and intercept unauthorised ships and submarines.
The humiliation comes exactly 205 years to the day after Nelson's fleet saw off Napoleon at Trafalgar.
And The Sun can reveal that just as Prime Minister David Cameron was announcing the axing, TWO Russian submarines were intercepted less than 70 miles off our shores.
They had to be tracked by American P3 Orion jets because our Nimrods were grounded and the French planes had NO FUEL.
The incident was an embarrassing reminder to politicians about the importance of having eyes in the skies around Britain.
The nine Nimrods, which cost £3billion, were designed for anti-sub warfare and marine patrols.
A source at RAF Kinloss, Scotland, said: "Axing them was very short-sighted.
"These planes offer vital cover around our shores and keep us safe from attack from the sea.
"Without them we will have to rely on the French to monitor the skies and look for rogue vessels."
Defence expert John Lake said the decision ended "65 years of world-leading anti-sub and maritime patrol capability".
An MoD spokesman said: "We routinely operate alongside our allies and will utilise a range of military assets to ensure the integrity of UK waters."
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The French Navy has a long history of working with the Royal Navy, for instance the Battle of Mers-el-Kébir or the Battle of Oran in Jul 1940.
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"... a hunt for a real life Red October"???
Has The Sun reporter ever actually seen the movie or read the book?
It is all quite ironic... However none of this is going to bring Nimrod back.
Has The Sun reporter ever actually seen the movie or read the book?
It is all quite ironic... However none of this is going to bring Nimrod back.
Did I read that bit in the paper right......
That would be a first. 
Sometimes carrying Nuclear Bombs designed to take out Russian Submarines
A source at Kinloss said: "The Yanks can't find the Russki.
"You've got to think the Nimrods, which are far better equipped for the job, would have pinpointed it in double quick time."
"You've got to think the Nimrods, which are far better equipped for the job, would have pinpointed it in double quick time."
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The Nimrod did carry nuclear depth bombs - up until about 1992 when they were withdrawn from service. As far as finding nuclear submarines goes, the Nimrod MR2 with its highly trained and experienced crews had a much better track record that our US allies at locating and successfully tracking Russian submarines. The airframe was old, but the kit on board wasn't. The gap in our defences and capabilities caused by the hasty cancellation of the MRA4 is yawning and humiliating.
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Historically, the RN generally held the threat status as (in descending order):
1) War Office
2) The French
3) Enemy of the day
Difficult to believe that we have reached this low point, irrespective of the activities of short-term political parasites.
1) War Office
2) The French
3) Enemy of the day
Difficult to believe that we have reached this low point, irrespective of the activities of short-term political parasites.
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At least there should be a promotion to capt in the RN coming up shortly
.
Siggie is just me or are you getting flashbacks too
. Where is the "Prince"these days I wonder
.
But the French desparate times, could be worse,could be relying on Matelots
Charlie sends
.Siggie is just me or are you getting flashbacks too
. Where is the "Prince"these days I wonder.But the French desparate times, could be worse,could be relying on Matelots
Charlie sends
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"... a hunt for a real life Red October"???
Has The Sun reporter ever actually seen the movie or read the book?
It is all quite ironic... However none of this is going to bring Nimrod back.
I'd guess not, as the real Red October was a surface ship, and not a sub! (not to mention it was 'hunted' by its own side)
Has The Sun reporter ever actually seen the movie or read the book?
It is all quite ironic... However none of this is going to bring Nimrod back.
I'd guess not, as the real Red October was a surface ship, and not a sub! (not to mention it was 'hunted' by its own side)
I was going to leave a decent amount of time after the SDSR announcement before asking if we could have the Fincastle trophies back to carry on the competition.
It would never be the same without the Poms, but we would look after them well until you return.
It would never be the same without the Poms, but we would look after them well until you return.
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Pious Pilot you are quite right............
it says that the Akula does not carry nuclear missiles
Akula class submarine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
They are obviously referring to the lack of ICBM, however these cruise missiles launched from a few hundred miles away would be almost impossible to detect (unlike ICBM) until it was too late. Best we don't fall out with our best mates the Russians 
RK-55 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3M-54 Klub - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
it says that the Akula does not carry nuclear missiles
Akula class submarine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Whereas the Russian Navy's Akula-II is equipped with 28 nuclear-capable cruise missiles with a striking range of 3,000 km (1,620 nmi; 1,864 mi), the Indian version was reportedly expected to be armed with the 300 km (162 nmi; 186 mi)-range 3M-54 Klub nuclear-capable missiles
RK-55 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3M-54 Klub - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia