Re-arming the UK: What equipment? and how much?

starviking said:
Grey Havoc said:
From three days ago:
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/05/21/brits-launch-logistics-ship-competition-again/
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They'd need to get their shoes on - Fort Victoria is the only ship in the RFA fleet capable of provisioning the QE Carriers at sea, so any problems with the Fort and Carrier Strike is severely limited.
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What was the reason for Fort George being scrapped in 2013 while the earlier Fort Austin was reactivated to replace her then put into extended readiness along with her sister ship.
 
I was going to say it was probably a cynical move to avoid the cost of a refit but actually she had only just completed a refit in 2008.
I suppose it was down to running costs and manpower savings?
 
Hood said:
I was going to say it was probably a cynical move to avoid the cost of a refit but actually she had only just completed a refit in 2008.
I suppose it was down to running costs and manpower savings?
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There doesn't seem to much saving in crew numbers, the older Forts look to be more crew intensive, its only when you add the RN detachment that they win out and that looks to be so different as to be suspect.
 
Fluff said:
JohnR said:
Grey Havoc said:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...modation-available-single-military-personnel/
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I thought this had all been brought up during the days of New Labour and was supposed to have been addressed? What does it take to provide a safe acceptable standard of accommodation for service personnel who are placing their backsides on the line. I bet it would cost a lot less than the money that has been spent over the past two decades or so refurbishing the offices of the civil service and would cost a lot less than the £5 billion or more to refurbish the House of Parliament.
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Basically yes, and please note serving personnel pay rent, for their accommodation.

Back in the day, I worked out for the price of 3 tornadoes they could put new roofs on all operational hangars - obviously this came up whilst sweeping up water and positioning bins to catch the drips.

They have spent a lot on the single accom, I think more issues are around the married quarters.
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Way back when I first arrived at my regiment, Op Humane was just starting. I spent the first year living in what had been the chapel. One bog and one sink for 36 of us. It was, interesting in an aromatic way. I heard that just after I left, the married quarters were given over to external management. That I believe is when the married quarters went south condition wise.
 
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Well that's another seriously embarrassing failure then...
Coming so soon after the Warrior Upgrade cancellation this must open up further questions.
Another question is how using the proven ASCOD chassis could lead to this?
 
Hood said:
Well that's another seriously embarrassing failure then...
Coming so soon after the Warrior Upgrade cancellation this must open up further questions.
Another question is how using the proven ASCOD chassis could lead to this?
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Well, the chassis was probably designed by a different team, and is being used in a significantly modified vehicle - so that probably made integrated simulations difficult.
 
My question is, hopefully not deviating too far off topic, why didn't the UK purchase the Warrior 2000? From what I understand, it would have given them the same capability on a proven chassis and would have come at least ten, if not fifteen years earlier.
 
The problem is having a company that wants to do the job. Middle east nations have done this sort of thing for decades so it's not exactly unproven.
 
Grey Havoc said:
Wyvern said:
My question is, hopefully not deviating too far off topic, why didn't the UK purchase the Warrior 2000?
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Basically stupidity and incompetence, with more than a bit of leavening of corruption thrown in, I'm afraid.
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Ah, so the usual with an added twist. Understood.
 
At the mercy of 40-year old Daggers and Mirages? Well that's why we have a flight of Typhoons down there....

Seriously the media needs to make it mind up.
A Compilation of Modern British Military News
"The government wasted billions on two carriers without aeroplanes [sic]. Farce. Waste!"
"The government didn't think to buy proper armoured vehicles before invading the Middle East. Farce. Murderers!"
"The government didn't buy enough helicopters, we have Chinooks that can't fly on cloudy days. Farce. Fools!"
"Our battleships [sic destroyers] can't sail in hot weather! Farce. Fools! (again)"
"We have a plastic mock-up fighter (we get the real ones in 20 years time). Hooray! The RAF is great again!"
"We have two aircraft carriers, our Navy is great again! We are sailing to China with a deckload of actual aeroplanes (plus Americans to make our F-35 air group look bigger). Escorted by our battleships [sic destroyers] now going to hot places. Hooray! Good ole' Nelson is Proud!"
"We don't need tanks, they are old school. Fools. Old Duffer Generals!"
"The government is scrapping Hercules to rely on those Chinooks we told you to buy before. Farce. Fools! (yet again)"
"The government is tarting up old tanks and has given them a new name. Hooray! Switched-on Generals."
"The government is buying tanks [sic IFVs] that can't go more than 20mph. Farce. Waste!"
"The government not defending the Falklands from the boogeymen of 40 years ago. Farce. Idiots!"
 
Hood said:
At the mercy of 40-year old Daggers and Mirages? Well that's why we have a flight of Typhoons down there....
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Those aren't even in service any more, and their Skyhawks have had their number reduced massively due to a shortage in spares.


On a completely different note, is there a dedicated thread to the Type 32 frigate?
 
Wyvern said:
Hood said:
At the mercy of 40-year old Daggers and Mirages? Well that's why we have a flight of Typhoons down there....
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Those aren't even in service any more, and their Skyhawks have had their number reduced massively due to a shortage in spares.


On a completely different note, is there a dedicated thread to the Type 32 frigate?
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My bad, I've not been keeping up with the latest FAA orbat.
Looks like around 6 A-4ARs are operational.

The MoD rebuttal made it into Portsmouth's local press: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/d...e-system-is-putting-falklands-at-risk-3265115
Not sure I would describe HMS Forth as an aerial defence asset, though she undertook exercises with Typhoons before she headed south so I'm guessing that she is used as a stand-off early warning platform cueing in fighters with her Terma Scanter 4100 2-D radar.

All the same its a media storm in a teacup, the tabloid defence correspondents certainly haven't been keeping up to date with Argentina's orbat since 1982.
Even if you believed the sensational headline, at best you have unserviceable Rapiers versus unserviceable Skyhawks, which tends to equalise itself as a 0-0 draw.


No I don't think we have a dedicated Type 32 thread, only the few mentions in this thread. Not sure anything concrete has yet come out about it from official sources.
 
The Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose has completed her refit at a new yard at Duqm, Oman.
The work involved replacing both of the main diesel generators, re-painting the hull, relaying the flight deck and forecastle, checking all the weapons systems and sensors and work on the masts and propellers. This was done by a combination of Babcock engineers, local workers and the ship's company.

Looks like much work refit work will be carried out locally to reduce the need to transit to and from the UK for refits.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-a...-T2Pc7DCRfSSetzH2q9Rgxf5C4_G1AxAtzYaaCLH6UvU8
 
Whats the title of this thread?
Politics and property?

No it's still:

Rearming the UK: What equipment? and how much?​

 
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6d67bf7e-d9e4-11eb-8f14-0bb645f59db0
Urgent talks are due to be held over the future of the army’s new light tanks as it emerged that more than 20 soldiers suffered hearing loss after trials.

A further 83 soldiers will need annual hearing tests to check for symptoms after spending prolonged periods inside the Ajax armoured vehicle.

Army officers have now been ordered to look at other options, in the first sign that the programme could be dropped and more than £3 billion wasted, sources told The Times.

Senior officers will hold talks with industry partners next week to discuss alternative vehicles if ministers pull the plug on the £5.5 billion deal.
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So what equipment to rearm the uk....
 
shin_getter said:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6d67bf7e-d9e4-11eb-8f14-0bb645f59db0
Urgent talks are due to be held over the future of the army’s new light tanks as it emerged that more than 20 soldiers suffered hearing loss after trials.

A further 83 soldiers will need annual hearing tests to check for symptoms after spending prolonged periods inside the Ajax armoured vehicle.

Army officers have now been ordered to look at other options, in the first sign that the programme could be dropped and more than £3 billion wasted, sources told The Times.

Senior officers will hold talks with industry partners next week to discuss alternative vehicles if ministers pull the plug on the £5.5 billion deal.
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So what equipment to rearm the uk....
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This is getting awful to read. How did we get to this state!!!!
 
This is just an utter, utter shambles. Its barely four months since they killed the Warrior 2000 upgrade.
It's not credible that the MoD was unaware of these problems with the Ajax when that decision was made. So that's a decade and £3bn wasted if its canned and what next? Another Warrior upgrade plan or another design competition for a new chassis and another ten year wait?

Would seem to be big questions marks on General Dynamics UK competency too. We've been out of the armoured vehicle field for too long it seems, unless the base ASCOD 2 is equally lame (only the Philippines have ordered any).
 

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