I do love it when the gullible fall for the lighthouse story. I guess when you want so dearly for it to be true, it makes it easier to be fooled.

Likely the same lot who heard about McDonalds funding IRA's and thought it was about northern Ireland.

"Quantity vs Quality"

Of which the UK has neither as related to large deck aircraft carriers.

Westie Dear Lad,

It is easy to be fooled when one wishes it to be true. :=

No need for a carrier young'un....they got nothing to land on them but helicopters.

Having wandered amongst the ghettos on the US Carriers, had senior officers admit that they believe there are people on the ship who serve no function outwith an "unofficial" below decks structure (ie gangs), and been present when Americans in bars cheer for "freedom fighters", and dig deep for funds when Paddy O'Toole came begging with his bowl - how did it feel to have the "freedom fighters" come knocking?

As you say, when you want it to be true that you are the best fighting force the world has ever seen, it's that little bit easier to be fooled by the illiterate leader of the country when he proffers his "hell yeahs".

Come on then, own up, whose been windin the septic's up:E

Can't believe you two twits fall for it every time:p

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

Like I said.

Sore subject := Not taken in by that one, no need to be when funding was so openly given for so many years. 'nuf said.

Someone in good faith posted an aviation related picture featuring 3 CVNs, a B2 and a load of F18s. It was a nice photo. I liked it. But unfortunately this brought the post-imperial penis envy of several UK posters to the surface and the thread turned into Yank-bashing session.

It's funny, the US posters generally take this in good heart but whenever they have a go back, the UK posters get really offended and serious. Have a read back over the thread and you'll see what I mean.

Really quite pathetic, guys. Especially you, PompeySailor.

Thank you. I am flattered. However, you might want to read the thread again and see at which point I entered the fray. Not 1st in by quite some way.

I hope you are not complaining about my lack of taste, when I cannot challenge your http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...53#post2549953

I say dear boy, are you admitting you become rude and boorish when you drink to excess? Calling someone a "twit" seems a bit ungentlemanly somehow. Perhaps you found yourself in an Officers Mess by accident and brought your working man style of behaviour with you. Must be the lowering of standards we have had to suffer of late. Do be the good chap and try to raise the standard of the banter here please, roguishness is so crass.

I wholly endorse that Pompey.

I enjoy banter, it's no different to the rivalries between our own forces or individual units. What a lot of folks don't always appreciate about our secret weapon (humour) is that we mostly direct it at ourselves. I can recall a night when I had a choice between laughing at some dark humour exopressed in response to the news that a colleague had been killed, or crying. We laughed and got on with the job. However, the comment about McDonalds fund raisding will have reminded people here of bounteous funds flowing across the pond for P.I.R.A : Too close to home, not funny. Particularly in the light of how a certain country has decided to be the leader in the global fight against terrorism, some of us here were already engaged in the war on terrorism 10, 20 & 30 years ago.

I have no probs with our colonial cousins, not so sure about their politicians but that goes for Blighty as well. I live right next to an old airfield with a memorial to the many brave crews of USAAF Liberators who never came back. I also fly from an ex USAAF airfield. I have nothing but respect, gratitude and admiration for those men.

My comment about McDonalds and IRA funding wasn't meant to be funny. It was meant to show how some will use any info to Yank bash. To the point of being gullible enough to believe from the title of a news article a burger joint gives to the Irish Repub Army. A simple read of the articles contents would show it spoke of Independent Retirement Accounts, quickly becoming the primary means in which Americans fund their retirement.

Back on topic
 

The photo looks fake to me...

I like this one better: Three CVNs with a near 300 a/c capacity. Hang on that's bigger than most airforces :*
http://www.navy.mil/management/photo...-8492C-299.jpg

Front line combat aircraft in combat squadrons....how's that compare to the RAF lineup?

Back on topic
 

Sitting ducks spring to mind Aegis or not..
SBD

I think this looks like the real deal, though. What force, what projection. Could be positioned anywhere in the world by FedEx within 24 hours :ok:

http://www.witham-sv.com/Lot-picture/lot203.jpg

Ah - you found our entry for the Europride march then. Imagine, if you will, a pair of matelot-adonis-types, sprayed gold, adorning the plane-thingies at the front, whilst Lt Cdr Craig Jones MBE parades his credentials up and down the flight deck. A gaggle of nicely-toned stokers strategically positioned around the flatbed, throwing RN-zaps to the adoring crowd, and some field gun Jenny Wrens pulling the whole kit and caboodle at 5 mph with their teeth.

Gay is the new ethnic....

The photo at the start of this thread was taken during exercise Valiant Shield 2006.
See here for more piccies.
http://www.pacom.mil/exercises/vs2006/index.shtml

Westie is entirely correct - some very stupid rumours concerning MacD's supporting PIRA did indeed circulate many years ago. Whereas the truth was as he says - independent retirement accounts! I think that the UK equivalent was Additional Voluntary Contributions....

Mind you, we did find ourselves in a certain bar in Boston some years ago. All sorts of Irish Republican stuff was painted on the walls - heroes of the Easter rising etc - so, as Ascoteers do, we stuffed ourselves for free on the Happy Hour food and cheap beer, then legged it before the begging bowl came round!