"The RAFs comtribution was a very expensive Pantomime."

Interesting - I was at the CAS airpower day last week (cracking day by the way fellas) and found that seeing the whole gambit of capabilities demonstrated, along with some very good explanations of the art of the possible and what was able to be done by the GR4 / Typhoon contribution extremely compelling.

I have a dark blue Commissioned background, and strongly feel that the RN did great work in Libya, and the actions of many of the ships companies were in the finest traditions of the Service. I am particularly thinking of the TLAM shooters, the MCMVs doing clearance operations and also HMS LIVERPOOL who repeatedly came under fire and responded. They should all be very proud of their efforts.

I am though getting increasingly embarrased at the footstamping, petulant toddler like tantrums of some elements of the naval supporters community, who seem to wilfully ignore the exceptionally capable airpower assets we still posess, and the wide range of ways in which it has helped in Libya. Having spoken with aircrew engaged in ops over Libya, and having seen the effects they delivered, I firmly believe that the GR4/Typhoon delivered a capability that the GR9 / SHAR could not have done.

Bluntly, to denigrate the efforts of some phenomenally brave people who risked their lives repeatedly over Libya, and also to view the work of those deployed away from home, placing ever greater strain on marriages and personal lives as a pantomine is, to me at least, very offensive and beyond my own view of acceptable inter service banter & rivalry. I truly hope Navaleye is not serving, as if he is, then in my own view at least, he is a disgrace to the Service.

Jimlad,

Outstanding response, doubt you will find a single currently serving soldier/sailor/airman who delights in what is currently happening around us but like you I am appalled by some of the stuff posted on here at the mo.

Well Jimlad,

I just happened to be on a US SSN on its final deployment before being retired and just sailed from Gib. It also had a an RN Navigating officer on board . No land based assset could complete the required tasking and said sub completeted the tasking in under one hour with TLAM.

Your arugment lack credibility because you were not there..

Lets do some deconstruction shall we?

"I just happened to be on a US SSN on its final deployment before being retired and just sailed from Gib."
Thats jolly nice, well done you.


"It also had a an RN Navigating officer on board ."
Thats jolly nice too, but I'm not quite sure of the relevance to your story, except to show that we seem to get on and play nicely with the US.

"No land based assset could complete the required tasking and said sub completeted the tasking in under one hour with TLAM"

So what you're essentially saying is you were on an SSN that happened to be tasked to fire a TLAM against a suitable target for TLAMs (a missle which is incredibly useful, but not the answer to every targeering problem). Thats delightful to know - next time I, or any other Pruner need to launch a TLAM strike, then I'll know who to PM to make use of your extensive contacts list.

"Your arugment lack credibility because you were not there.. "

Not where exactly? In the SSN alongside you and admiring your chiselled godlike adonis features as your peered through the periscope to admire hordes of SHARS flying overhead in a co-ordinated airstrike led by the glorious St Sharkey of Ward, while your finger was poised on the big red button marked 'only to be pushed by WEO - if WEO is not present, check his pit'?

Is there an emoticon for 'speechless' by any chance, or shall I just settle for :ugh:?

So using your logic between the US SSN, our own Sub fleet who we already know did a fantastic job and the outstanding contribution of all the land based Air Assets we are getting the job done :ok:

Just this Once

Well done, they got two airborne.

Two out of how many, remind me?

Two out of the two deployed.

That's what its all about isn't it, this military thing? Making assets count when it counts?

I'm perplexed as to what the issue is. The RAF said they could'nt do the job so some else did. seems easy to me

Surely it's a team thing :ok:

Jimlad1

"Not where exactly? In the SSN alongside you and admiring your chiselled godlike adonis features as your peered through the periscope to admire hordes of SHARS flying overhead in a co-ordinated airstrike led by the glorious St Sharkey of Ward, while your finger was poised on the big red button marked 'only to be pushed by WEO - if WEO is not present, check his pit'?"

Haven't had a laugh like that for ages, very good.

I now need a new keyboard and a fresh cup of coffee. :O

.

Navaleye,

So when exactly did you retire...?

...We've been doing some testing...
 

Buster

That testing was a long time ago, ANSETT went bust on approx 10/11/2001.

Obviously the testing doesn't always go well.
747 Aircraft Carrier Landing Flight Simulator - YouTube

.

Only just been declassified you see... :ooh:

Willard,

"Herc'll do just about anything. USMC uses the EC-130V (awacs)"

You mean the Semper Paratus crew :)

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...W-USCG-1-S.jpg

Not sure why I typed USMC instead of USCG, but yes that's the frame I meant to refer to.

More info:

Federation of American Scientists :: Lockheed EC-130V Hercules

Biggus, given the current state of things, I'm not sure I will ever retire. I left the service in 94 but just happened to be in Gib and got know some of her officers who sneaked me aboard. it was USS Providence on her final trip. It confirmed my belief that subs are awful things and I can't imagine why anyone would want to spend 3 month on one. Mrs Navaleye unfortunately went suicide shopping because they would not let her on. At least I didn't take my best man with me.

Navaleye,

Thanks for that, the idea that the USN is already retiring LA class SSNs makes me feel really old - it doesn't seem that long ago that they were state of the art boats.

You were brave. Not for going on a submarine, but for leaving your wife to go shopping alone with just her/your credit cards for company....... :)

They've been retiring 688s for nigh on ten years now........

Biggus, I know what you mean. She was the 32nd Los Angeles class boat and is now 30 years old and her reactor is running out of puff. Her attack on Libya was against airforce targets. Particularly one airbase out of Tripoli and an arms.

I also got confirmation of what happened to the Kursk, but I'm keeping that to myself!