To quote your numbers from that thread

Type 23s:
13 ships. Of which:
4 active
3 in refit
2 in maintenance
3 in post refit work up
1 laid up

Type 45s
6 ships. Of which:
2 active
1 refit
1 maintenance
2 laid up!

So that's 19 vessels 6 of which are active - we seem to spend a lot of time in refit and training TBH - and 2 of our main surface fleet laid up .........................

On that basis we'll only have ONE Carrier available for 70% of the time and no carrier for 30%

For decades the RN has planned on 3 escorts to support a task line, i.e. one on patrol, one in refit, one in workup. Which would be 6 from 18. So congratulations, you've just described the RN's tasking cycle. You could probably get a job with the Telegraph...

At least 1 of the T45 is acting as a training ship before going into refit so it's actually helping relieve the manpower issues. But you don't need to know that for the Telegraph job.

So 3 per task line, 6 available. So we're saying the RN can manage 2 task lines at anyone time? That's nothing to shout about for an island nation with global ambitions and a former leader in maritime power projection, and very little operational depth. I say that not as RAF taking potshots, more in despair - we need a credible navy as much as we need credible air and land forces. And this really doesn't come across as being particularly credible.

No six, there are six FF/DD deployed at the moment. Hence the 4 active T23 and 2 active T45 in that list, the other ships are at some point in the regeneration cycle to replace them.

And who exactly is doing better than the RN in this field?

Can I ask, just what direct action the Chief of the Defence Force has taken, in order to stop the continued decline of the UK Armed Forces as a whole? This is of course assuming the CDS has actually taken any action at all.
I was very proud to have been in the military for a considerable number of years, just what sort of career, if any, could the Armed Forces provide for any entrant these days?

you clearly have nothing to do with EU funding bids..........

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/erdf-pro...d-achievements

Additionally, our own Govt estimates that membership of the EU brings in between £35Bn and £84Bn per year compared to our contribution of £7 - 8Bn after rebate.

Funny old thing, just yesterday I listened to a businessman who produces steel structures for export say that Brexit can't come soon enough for him.
Needless to say, his comments did not go down well with the usual audience in 'Any Questions?'

I bet if ACM Sir Stuart Peach hadn't been given the NATO appointment, Brexit would have been blamed - but he was :ok:

And dictated where it was spent...

That's good to hear, and I bet that all the steel structure export traders feel the same. Both of them. But for the rest of the economy...

Is that such a bad thing? Successive Governments have spent lavishly on London and the Home Counties, while generating nothing but hot air for the rest of the country (Northern Powerhouse anyone?). If the EU ensures that the North and West get some cash as well, that's fine by me!

Which to put it in context is about 5% at best of GDP. Wonder where the other 95% comes from....

If our membership costs are only £7-8 NN a year, how is the exit bill about £60-70 bn for the last 2 years, unless there's significant hidden costs.

TBH BREXIT has nothing to do with Defence cuts (other than the exchange rate) -

it's about lack of political will and leadership.................. which are both sadly lacking right now

Am I permitted to present this for the remainers?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVy7faNKEtM&t=252
Mods, Some of the language is robust so please don't shoot the messenger; just delete ;)

And, as interest rates rise, the £ may slowly drift back up.

Kaikohe 76 just in short answer to your question above, I think on recent evidence a military career offers a short and very dangerous path if you pick the wrong branch at the wrong time i.e. front line infantry.
Things quickly slide out of control. Politicians think they can control most things-but they cant.
I wouldn't join again. I would recommend anyone lurking here reading and thinking of committing themselves to a "career" in the UK military to really think again - avoid it like the plague.

Hangarshuffle,

You do realise that you sound like you are advocating subversion and sedition?

Well, following the TA in which I discovered that I didn't particularly like the mil for its own sake and the MN where I discovered that shore appointments for navs were few and far between, I didn't hesitate before saying "No, thank you, sir!" when asked, at Biggin Hill, if I'd accept nav training.

Leaving aside the points about the force generation/deployment/recovery cycle - and the fact that this is sustainable, you are aware that not everything can be at immediate readiness?

READINESS STATES

R0 Ready for task
R1 at two days' notice
R2 at five days' notice
R3 at 10 days' notice
R4 at 20 days' notice
R5 at 30 days' notice
R6 at 60 days' notice
R7 at 90 days' notice
R8 at 180 days' notice
R9 at 12 months' notice
R10 at 18 months' notice
R11 at 24 months' notice
R12 at beyond 24 months' notice

From this MOD memorandum.

As for the carriers, when we have both there will always be one at R2 (or maybe R3) if not deployed.

I never knew those readiness states, all the years I was in. Wasn't worthy of being told. We were simply always either R1 or R2 and it was obvious we were.
6 ships out of the 19 in total must be at R1 or R2 then... Plus the 3 in post refit work up would eventually come into play. That's it and sounds about right on what I can see.
Proone no I'm just saying I wouldn't join now, and I would advise young people starting out in life to avoid a career serving in the UK armed forces. Because its:
1. Poor pay relative to what you have to do.
2. Limited career prospects in that it is continually shrinking in size and workforce.
3. Operates under dubious and challenging motives for its expeditionary war-fighting.
4. Aftercare if you cop it are a bit limited.
5. You are always available for political/ legal barter up to about 60 or 70 years after you leave (see 3).
and more..
Time and distance from when I served opened my eyes and increased the viewpoint. Now that I see the whole picture my advice remains do not serve.
HS