Carrier Borne VC10 & Sentry anyone?
 

Article in the Sunday times notes a leaked email about the possible closure of Trapiani (apparently home to VC10 & Sentry) for RAF units taking part in ELLAMY, followed up with a quote from a 'defence source' noting that if we had carriers then this wouldnt be an issue as we wouldnt be dependent on host nation support.

Ignoring that the RN was very dependent on HNS during ELLAMY, could someone tell me when the RN Carrier capable VC10 & Sentry variants entered service again? Not quite sure that I remember seeing them flying from the decks of ARK ROYAL...

Had 'em for years, but so secret even the pilots flying them didn't know.

I believe WEBF has started a new job recently .... he might be working at the desk next to you!!!;)

It's not a rumour reference Trapani, it's unfortunately true....

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

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...S_sPI9kA0y_CxC

No need for a '10 or E-3.

If we had a carrier on station, it would have had its own AEW and not needed AAR and got the job done much cheaper. Despite all. the BS, light Blue have contributed less than 10% of the sorties. We need 4 carrier capable F35 sqns to be truly effective. Most can see facts.

As much as this is getting very boring I don't think many people would disagree. But you can't bring a capability to the party if it doesn't yet exist. And two tiny GR9 squadrons are not the same as 4 F35 squadrons! And to buy part of what you wish for both the RAF and RN have taken significant hits. Can we move on from the historical Harrier/Carrier/GR4 point scoring and look forward to the future capabilities that will shortly arrive (assuming all the funding isn't diverted to pay for FRES....;))

Of course, given that most of Libya is now in "friendly" hands (and assuming air support is still required) the question that should be asked is why aren't the RAF and AH deployed into Libya (or have I missed something)? Whilst the RAF Regt may be 'stretched' to provide FP I'm sure the Army would jump at the opportunity to get boots on the ground if recent media rumours are to be believed about the proposed future size of the Army post-Afg. I'm sure there are some old'n'bold still around who can point the young blades as to the airfields they should be going to. And hopefully then there will be no tanker support required!

"If we had a carrier on station, it would have had its own AEW"

Sentry does a lot more than just AEW.

" not needed AAR"

VC10 is about tanking other nations assets too, and not just our own. Its a very useful coalition capability.

"light Blue have contributed less than 10% of the sorties"

Its effect on the target and not statistics that matters. Overall sortie numbers compared to Kosovo are (IIRC) roughly the same, despite there being 30% less aircraft. But as 101% of statistics are made up, its not an issue is it :E

"We need 4 carrier capable F35 sqns to be truly effective"

Given the RN was struggling to fill 1 enhanced Sqn (and by all accounts I've heard spent nearly 25 years struggling to sustain the 2 front line / 1 training harrier squadron), I'm looking forward to seeing where these squadrons will come from. Have we adopted Imperial Cloning Vats yet?

Jim

I think the last point re 800/801/899 is stretching it a bit. Don't seem to recall there being a problem pre JFH and the QFI shenanigans. However, standing by to be corrected by those who were in the SHAR force.

"I think the last point re 800/801/899 is stretching it a bit. Don't seem to recall there being a problem pre JFH and the QFI shenanigans. However, standing by to be corrected by those who were in the SHAR force"

Very happy to be corrected as well - I am concious there were post JHF shenannigans, but I always had the impression from people I spoke to that the SHAR force struggled to keep sufficient pilots in the force. Again, very happy to be corrected, in which case I'll amend my posts.

If Trapani is to close, are there rumours as to where the NATO FOB will move?

Perhaps to the other NATO FOB that is well used to hosting E-3s.

Has good access to the beach too:

http://www.aewa.org/gallery2/main.ph...serialNumber=1

Corsica, Malta, Cyprus, its not difficult!

"Sentry does a lot more than just AEW"

And so does a bagger cab, and of course even the baggers can get more of their cabs airborne serviceable than the E3s.

Remind me of the E3 serviceability?

Irrespective of it's serviceability rates it's bringing more to the party that the RN Carrier/Harrier force combined :=

Some of you guys really do need to start to let go :ok:

Yet again a complete failure to acknowledge facts. SSNs and TLAMs for precision strike. CVS and Harriers for CAS and Apache for local. No other assets would be needed and the whole thing could have been done at a fraction of the price.

The RAFs comtribution was a very expensive Pantomime.

E-3 serviceability???

Tourist you are having a giraffe. With 2 ac away for months they have flown each and every day!

Can't get any better than that.

Muppet.:rolleyes:

But, in the absense of any Carrier/ Harrier it was all there was, is or going to be for quite some time. Blame the politicos but no dark blue whinging or crying is going to make a difference, nor can you blame the RAF.

What, like the fact that at the time the conflict in Libya started there were no

Getting very boring now.:ugh:

Never quite sure what grates most with folk who write in this petulant manner, the fact that the RN were powerless do to do **** all or the fact that the RAF did and still are doing so well :=