tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post6214715481228427261..comments2024-02-29T11:45:01.870+01:00Comments on UK Armed Forces Commentary: The sad farcical pre-Integrated Review: amphibious without shipsGabrielehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-85670571884119100062020-11-23T23:31:48.995+01:002020-11-23T23:31:48.995+01:00Let's wait a bit longer on the future of MCM. ...Let's wait a bit longer on the future of MCM. There will be new ships to carry the drones, at some point; let's see what emerges. <br />As for the DDX, it should be built a lot earlier than the time when Type 45 needs replacing, but in theory sure, it could work as replacement. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-31163648159390033752020-11-23T20:41:20.113+01:002020-11-23T20:41:20.113+01:00Hello there,
Just seen the long term italian navy ...Hello there,<br />Just seen the long term italian navy plan, new ships etc, looks really impressive, looking at the new mcm vessels, looks like we will be the only navy in europe not to have dedicated mcm vessels in the future, could the new destroyers your building replace the type 45?<br />Many thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-77209572175869839962020-09-18T17:40:47.481+02:002020-09-18T17:40:47.481+02:00In Australia they are intercepted in International...In Australia they are intercepted in International waters, which means you have no obligation whatsoever to take the people into your country. The boats are then towed back to the edge of the 12 mile limit of the country they came from and left with just enough fuel to return. Operation Sovereign Borders, organised by former PM Tony Abbott.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14166860324688817657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-54498566723986691472020-08-17T19:35:40.144+02:002020-08-17T19:35:40.144+02:00Once you pluck them out of the water you don't...Once you pluck them out of the water you don't have many options. Unless France takes them back on its shores, you are screwed. Which is why Italy sought agreements with Libya. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-13237228734810686672020-08-17T19:34:28.294+02:002020-08-17T19:34:28.294+02:00The AMX fleet will leave service soon enough, but ...The AMX fleet will leave service soon enough, but i'm not sure anyone will bother doing much with them. As HAWK replacement it would be great, sure, but probably too expensive. Might as well have kept JAGUARs, at that point...Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-25309557575644578112020-08-17T19:33:07.623+02:002020-08-17T19:33:07.623+02:00Not sure if they had a specific reason for calling...Not sure if they had a specific reason for calling up the AN124; for sure it can carry a lot more stuff per flight than even C-17, though. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-73378453669032313142020-08-17T17:52:41.321+02:002020-08-17T17:52:41.321+02:00Hi Gabi,
Seen pictures of AN124 taking fo...Hi Gabi,<br /> Seen pictures of AN124 taking foxhounds to Bosnia, any idea why not C17 or even the A400. It's not that long away is it?<br />Many thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-62805227763255810622020-08-12T00:48:29.962+02:002020-08-12T00:48:29.962+02:00Hi Gabi,
I am a big fan of the AMX fight...Hi Gabi, <br /> I am a big fan of the AMX fighter you have in the Italian Airforce, would it not make a great replacement for the Hawk in the aggressor role, does not Italy have plenty of used AMX available for a good priceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-46604974320630047752020-08-10T19:30:05.491+02:002020-08-10T19:30:05.491+02:00Hello Gabi,
Current affairs question,...Hello Gabi, <br /> Current affairs question, do you or anybody else reading this know how other countries deal with illegal sea crossings like were seeing here off the UK. By force?, not allowing any body through?, effectively blocking them or other methods?<br />Many thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-17269176060922437452020-08-05T22:09:19.530+02:002020-08-05T22:09:19.530+02:00In November 2019 Parliament was asked to give the ...In November 2019 Parliament was asked to give the go ahead to the acquisition of 17 HH139 to be added to the existing 13 ones for the SAR, CSAR and Slow Mover Interceptor. <br /><br />The other big programme is the Lightweight Utility Helicopter based on the AW169. The Army has ordered the first batch (out of a requirement for 50), and more are expected to go to the Navy and Air Force, eventually. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-48658313697969629612020-08-05T21:04:14.084+02:002020-08-05T21:04:14.084+02:00Hi Gabriele,
Slightly different subje...Hi Gabriele,<br /> Slightly different subject, has the italian government brought more HH139's for the air force, to help industry in italy through covid 19, as well as other aircraft, thought id seen it some where.<br />Best RegardsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-73467531960495846622020-07-19T20:56:15.824+02:002020-07-19T20:56:15.824+02:00Those are interesting thoughts Grzegorz. The RN h...Those are interesting thoughts Grzegorz. The RN has more requirements than "the big three", but is the big 3 a good way to look at the RN? I think not.<br /><br />Amphibious landing (avoiding assault of defended localities) should really have the capabilities of a carrier group. A carrier carries a company with air lift and air cover. An LPD lands a couple more companies with medium or heavy vehicles. I don't think amphibious is a separate big three capability.<br /><br />Anti-submarine is needed in a carrier group, but is also used elsewhere. Type 26 is the future ASW capability and maybe they should be one of the big three.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-89373032671030267922020-07-18T15:10:35.053+02:002020-07-18T15:10:35.053+02:00"carrier strike, CASD, amphibious assaulting...."carrier strike, CASD, amphibious assaulting. Obviously RN can't afford all"<br /><br />The first problem is that there are many more requirements than these three mentioned. Patrols, minesweeping, anti-submarine work, etc. While individually it might be not so costly, combined it sums to a quite big number.<br />The second problem is that need to land heavy vehicles implies some kind of more or less symmetrical scenario and the UK increasingly is more and more incapable of mustering forces for fighting a capable land adversary. <br />Let imagine an intervention in Syria that has around a thousand tanks (mostly T-72, with sth like a hundred of T-90) in actual service, manned by experienced crews. Grzegorz Bogdanowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02285102490830782636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-36549754522185651462020-07-11T00:15:30.680+02:002020-07-11T00:15:30.680+02:00Yes, an MEU is a battlegroup and that is the most ...Yes, an MEU is a battlegroup and that is the most the UK can do. I would like light guns and hope the RM could take that on - naval guns ashore is a tradition.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-5260407776561754242020-07-10T23:49:09.793+02:002020-07-10T23:49:09.793+02:00How do you battlegroup anything without logistic, ...How do you battlegroup anything without logistic, engineer and artillery units to pick from...? There is nothing wrong with current ships. You can embark a more than decent battlegroup with VIKING mobility and artillery. It's not that far from a USMC MEU(SOC) if the amphibious ships concentrate together. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-10394859111259399162020-07-10T23:13:35.354+02:002020-07-10T23:13:35.354+02:00Amphibious units without ships is farcical as Gabr...Amphibious units without ships is farcical as Gabriele has comprehesively described. I have briefly suggested that even with the current ships, the current Brigade and units have no role. The press reports suggest littoral response groups not Commandos. So what is the future commando force?<br /><br />40 Commando in SW England could be dispersed between the other RM units in the area. 45 could be linked on rotation with 43. So, the cut is 40 and some detail adjustments.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-86076771718158955232020-07-10T15:58:24.698+02:002020-07-10T15:58:24.698+02:00On line I follow you and Nicholas Drummond for Bri...On line I follow you and Nicholas Drummond for British military affairs. Ironically you two are having polarization opinions regarding the direction of force development. Strike, F-35A, just to new a few things. It's good to get the perspective from both sides. Joe123https://www.blogger.com/profile/10128982137368716954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-82063831118295972182020-07-10T15:51:43.676+02:002020-07-10T15:51:43.676+02:00Gab in your article you mentioned USMC potentially...Gab in your article you mentioned USMC potentially going beyond short range air defense for its own A2/AD bubble. It does have a Mid Range Intercept Capability requirement designed mainly for cruise missile defense. The material solution is based on Israeli Iron Dome system integrated with its own GATOR radar, something comparable to Sky Sabre/Land Ceptor.Joe123https://www.blogger.com/profile/10128982137368716954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-27187042420497223242020-07-09T18:28:24.759+02:002020-07-09T18:28:24.759+02:00Keep the LPD's, break up the Cdo Bde. An Albi...Keep the LPD's, break up the Cdo Bde. An Albion class LPD can normally carry up to 305 marines. With another 356 on a Bay, a single Commando operation is possible, an amphibious Brigade is not.<br /><br />The RM should be providing a task group, smaller than a Commando, for an LPD. A QEC can carry a company sized group, smaller than an LPD group. So a Commando does not operate as a unit but generates different sized task groups.<br /><br />The Brigade supporting Artillery, Engineers, and Logistics elements will have to go back to the Army. A main role of a command task group is to secure (not storm) a landing area. That would include moving inland to secure against opposing rapid response forces, or to achieve limited objectives. If something stronger is required then the Army is brought in, just as the USMC expects the US Army to bring the tanks if required.<br /><br />So far what I propose looks like cuts. However to be effective, I think we need the 2nd LPD back in service - not 2 LPD's at sea at the same time but alternating in the same way as the carriers. Then, we really could use new fast LCU's like the BMT Caimen 90.PaulSergeanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04668398532455852427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-60381563210630486742020-07-08T14:57:17.162+02:002020-07-08T14:57:17.162+02:00I can go even further. Personally I won't mind...I can go even further. Personally I won't mind seen British Army transforming into all light force i.e. no heavy formations no Strike etc. I would then reinvest the Navy and RAF with free up resources. It's a pipe dream though. Politics dictates defense budget being evenly spread among the services. That being said, Navy's share of pie will not go up at the expense of her sister services. What can you do then, accept cross the board slicing or prioritization?Joe123https://www.blogger.com/profile/10128982137368716954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-53610937427389778812020-07-08T00:12:48.898+02:002020-07-08T00:12:48.898+02:00From Anonymous 2
Joe123, what Anonymous 1 is sayi...From Anonymous 2<br /><br />Joe123, what Anonymous 1 is saying holds a lot of truth. UK defence is not going to get more money so we have to make choices. To me that means following a maritime doctrine and cutting back on land forces. Leave it to the likes of Germany and Poland to concentrate on this.<br /><br />Realistically, the British Army is no longer a serious continental force and it has been that way for decades. The RN however is still a top tier player and this must be preserved, nurtured and properly funded. Better to be world-class in one area than mediocre in all. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-10546841063553978032020-07-07T20:36:25.887+02:002020-07-07T20:36:25.887+02:00I think june is not showing because i must have po...I think june is not showing because i must have posted nothing during that period. I'm no longer able to write on here very often... and since it is all too often about depressing news, i don't really feel like it a lot of the time, honestly. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-75854600391325152132020-07-07T19:26:21.218+02:002020-07-07T19:26:21.218+02:00We can debate all days regarding affordability. At...We can debate all days regarding affordability. At the end of day, RN (and UK Armed Forces as whole) facing a bleak future with diminishing budget is a certainty. I am a realist. I prefer trade off over cross board salami cut on any given day. Joe123https://www.blogger.com/profile/10128982137368716954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-58758930516103397192020-07-07T19:20:27.078+02:002020-07-07T19:20:27.078+02:00Weird indeed. The previous post I can view is date...Weird indeed. The previous post I can view is dated on May 31 "A Different Angle for Difficult Choice". I no longer able to view your June posts.Joe123https://www.blogger.com/profile/10128982137368716954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-90598712032102571052020-07-07T17:37:48.164+02:002020-07-07T17:37:48.164+02:00From MikeW again:
[sorry, whole post couldn'...From MikeW again: <br /><br />[sorry, whole post couldn't fit] <br /><br />I said, “The US Marine Corps, generally acknowledged to possess the world’s most powerful amphibious forces, has recently been bringing a new type of amphibious landing ship into service, the “America”-class LHA (or Landing Ship Assault). At first it was thought that because the Marine Corps wanted to keep the amphibious ships farther offshore, the emphasis in the design of the class should be based on sending Marines ashore in long-ranged MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft. However, before he became Under-Secretary of the Navy, Robert O. Work, started to question the usefulness of an amphibious warfare ship without a well deck. Apparently, the concept of the Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) had proven unsatisfactory when their helicopters encountered enemy anti-aircraft systems off Lebanon “USS Bougainville”, will therefore be the first in its class with a well deck for deploying amphibious vehicles!”<br /><br />And there is another addition planned. <br /><br />As Gabriele says, “Some of the funds will go towards one of the greatest priorities so far identified, which is the purchase of 30 more amphibious ships. Much smaller, simpler and “attritable” than current large amphibs, but, interestingly, actually able to beach themselves like the LSTs of old, and thus able to disgorge a significant load of vehicles or stores, all the way up to MBT size.”<br /><br /> Gabriele has also comprehensively dismissed the idea of the LSS being an LPD replacement: “You are much better served by doing nothing and keeping the LPDs you have.”<br /><br />Ignoring heavy lift? Try telling that to the (U.S.) Marines!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com