Only 6 qualified fighter pilots in the South African Air Force
Capetonian, I wholeheartedly agree that HH's very likely lack of practical knowledge of the situation makes his comment a daft one! It is usually the way. 
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Jan Smuts must be spinning in his grave.
If the South Americans decide to gang up against us (OK, Chavez is dead), our only friend in the South Atlantic is likely to be South Africa. If anything nasty happens to the Suez Canal or the Gulf, the Cape of Good Hope becomes rather important. A weak South Africa isn't in our best interests. There again, neither is a corrupt one but there's bugger all we can do about that. De Klerk and Botha weren't angels but they never sought parity with Zim.
If the South Americans decide to gang up against us (OK, Chavez is dead), our only friend in the South Atlantic is likely to be South Africa. If anything nasty happens to the Suez Canal or the Gulf, the Cape of Good Hope becomes rather important. A weak South Africa isn't in our best interests. There again, neither is a corrupt one but there's bugger all we can do about that. De Klerk and Botha weren't angels but they never sought parity with Zim.
Last edited by GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU; 19th Apr 2013 at 19:19.
If anything nasty happens to the Suez Canal or the Gulf, the Cape of Good Hope becomes rather important. A weak South Africa isn't in our best interests.
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Well, if you counted the number of ships flying the Red Duster, it wouldn't take very long. Counting the ships that are British owned would take somewhat longer, though. If you then extend the count to ships that are insured in Britain, the numbers should start to stack up.
Regardless of the size of the British Merchant Fleet, it is the effect that disruption would have on us that would be the salient point. Disruption to a bulk carrier, say, under any flag would affect us if it was destined for a British port. Additionally, we probably need to view it as the effect it could have on Europe as a whole. A strength in South Africa is a strength that "we" don't have to provide. Just my view, for what it's worth.
Regardless of the size of the British Merchant Fleet, it is the effect that disruption would have on us that would be the salient point. Disruption to a bulk carrier, say, under any flag would affect us if it was destined for a British port. Additionally, we probably need to view it as the effect it could have on Europe as a whole. A strength in South Africa is a strength that "we" don't have to provide. Just my view, for what it's worth.
I think it's a bit simpler. If the Brazilians are agin us, we're screwed. If they're not, nae bother.
Unless the Government of the day is prepared to take the handcuffs off the RN subs, in which case nae bother for the next 5 years, but I doubt they will.
Unless the Government of the day is prepared to take the handcuffs off the RN subs, in which case nae bother for the next 5 years, but I doubt they will.
