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"Close down RAF' says Naval whippersnapper

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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 13:31
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"Close down RAF' says Naval whippersnapper

I can't believe that nobody has yet responded to the suggestion set out in today's 'Daily Torygraph' letters page - it's just made for a pprune inter-service barney!

Basically a Lt Ernest Coleman RN suggests that the RAF should be disbanded forthwith.

"A massive, single-weapon organisation draining defence resources at the expense of the Army and,particularly, the Royal Navy is patently absurd." The existence of a separate service solely for aircraft is "a dangerous nonsense" continues young Coleman.

With a sweeping flourish he moves into his finale;

"Air capability should be returned to the Army and the Royal Navy before the defence of this country is finally rendered impossible by the current unbalanced arrangement."

I imagine that there may be some alternative views on this interesting suggestion?



:
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 13:46
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Hahah...are we certain that the gent's name is not an anagram of "obvious and blatantly a windup"?
 
Old 3rd Apr 2002, 17:49
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His name is an anagram of Crane Sneelto, which in any mans language is the type of Hyacinth Bucket name some of our AAC chums sport.

So Crane is this a cunning ploy to pit true aviators against the Senior Service at the expense of everyones favourite Amateur Air Corp. Are you really one of Mummys Flying "SoldiersFirst" ... unmask yourself....
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 18:30
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Cool

Sounds like a great way to save HMGs cash being wasted on so many "professional aviators" as they like to see themselves. With their 21/7 + ALA policy, they can only actually work about 8 months in a year anyway?!
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 18:37
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Obviously a monkey, getting paid peanuts.
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 18:51
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I would have started a thread but I was in the middle of the Irish Sea at the time.

To be honest, even though he is a matelot, he might have a point. Too much spread too thin these days. Not saying that an amalgamation is the answer, but has anyone really ever scoped it?
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 19:36
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Lt Ernest Coleman

Otherwise revealed as :

LT N MENTEL ARSE - CO

Probably a future captain of HMS Ocean.....
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 19:45
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Im sort of getting a rep as a flamer on this forum but you have to agree with a few things.

The RAF absorb's the largest amount of money from the 3 forces I belive. Yet we couldn't even invade Ireland with the equipment that we have. Its very depressing when you think about it.
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Old 3rd Apr 2002, 19:55
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Ever thought that the RAF is operating technologically advanced weapons platforms not totally, but largely, in advance of the other 2 Services? Ever wondered why the Army was trying to poach RAF techies to support Apache? Big leap, going to something like that.

PS - believe the RAF/Fleet Air Arm/Army Air Corps was 'de-scoped' around 1918??

I don't question your professional ability to sit in the sea in large grey metallic targets - let us do the same from the 5-star patio!
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 03:09
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Aeroplanes are the favourite weapon choice for Commanders-in-Chief reluctant to take casualties - the US answer to most military situations seems to be 'send in the B52s'. Meanwhile, the primary purpose of those floating grey targets is for launching aircraft when there isn't a friendly runway handy. UK doesn't have any carrier groups, presumably because there are plenty of friendly runways now we are no longer a "superpower"*

So whats the argument against the aeroplane as a single weapon? Its a damned effective weapon after all!

* superpower: a nation that checks the mesh size of other nations fishing nets while wearing its underpants on the outside.

**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 07:13
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I actually read this in the Telegraph yesterday, the sailor-boy does actually make some reference to the RAF almagamation was discussed in the 2001 Defence Review.

BS or True?
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 11:55
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Letter to the editor in today's Torygraph from Air Marshall Sir John Sutton recounts aStaff college lecture being given by a senior Naval officer who said it was obvious that a majority of the defence budget should go to the Navy as two thirds of the globe was covered by sea. At which point, some wag then asked 'Could you please remind us how much of it is covered by air?'
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 17:37
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I believe the retort to the wag was " A lot more air than the Air Force seems capable or willing to use, especially at weekends."
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 19:38
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JS,
Open you eyes laddie to the obvious! The demise of the SHAR to be replaced by proper machines piloted by a light blue/dark blue mix! The increased use of real heli's - rotary palm trees - on boats instead of the ailing underpowered SK, normally seen in pairs of course, with one carrying the press

The Navy and the Army are not capable of manning or maintaining the vast array of technical equipment currently in use at the RAF coalface - RAF techies req'd for Apache!! However us "Crabs" could swallow up the meagre assests you guys have in a single gulp. And I am sure we would have no trouble what so ever "poaching" a few of your support guys - we already have plenty of aircrew to go around - over to much nicer and greener pastures, so it's only a matter of time time before sense is seen, FJ crews for Apache maybe? and all aviation is given to it's rightful owner, her majesties finest....The Royal Air Force.



all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced.
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 19:48
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The Navy and the Army are not capable of manning or maintaining the vast array of technical equipment currently in use at the RAF coalface.

CRAP.

I suppose you don't consider a Type 23 frigate to be "technical"??
What about a Trident Submarine? No technology there.....
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 20:10
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WE B-F,
Sounds like our wiltshire colleague has caught you hook line and sinker, safeguard 12 clips..... As an aside, I think the p**sing contest over who could do whose job is a very old arguement in these purple times and Lt Coleman is sadly out of date(if not out of his mind). If only the UK forces had the US budget instead....
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 20:10
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You get a Type 23 or a Trident airborne and you deserve the Royal Air Force.
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 20:48
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Abolish the RAF...now there is and idea
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Old 4th Apr 2002, 20:54
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Thumbs up

Army Air Corps gets ground attack, heavy lift helicopters and troop transport. Fleet Air Arm gets medium support helicopters, airborne early warning, air defence, maritime patrol, SAR and tankers. Sounds like a reasonable idea to me.

Change the names to the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service and we're back in business!

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Old 4th Apr 2002, 21:07
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High Spirits......got it in one

Cheap seats.....I nearly pis@@d myself...great retort

Snafu........infrastructure......infrastructure......attenti on to detail young man.


all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
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