HMS Queen Elizabeth

[WILF 50,335]

3 hours ago, Born Hunter said:

I agree, like I said it's due to years of budget cuts leading to prioritising weapons for the wars in the desert. There are several instances of such but all are being fixed gradually.

Using the Falklands as a relevant case study I'd agree with the threat that Exocet type weapons represent but I'd point out that Conqueror essentially neutralised the Argentine navy on it's own early doors. I'm not sure if the Sea Harriers had their own anti ship missiles at that point (I know the attack helicopters did) but they would likely have not been significant in the outcome due to Conqueror's actions. Our modern equivalent, the Astute's, are utterly f***ing lethal!

The other two big lessons from the Falklands was the competence of the air defence systems on the destroyers and airborne early warning. The Type-45 destroyer is the Navy's answer to air defence, of which there will be two in the strike group. I'll save further detail on those. They'll also be joined by a yank and Dutch equivalent.

There was NO airborne early warning aircraft available to the fleet during the Falklands. The fleet was dependant on the radars of the ships themselves, which having limited altitude meant their radar horizon was like 20 miles or something like that. The Argentine fighters could get close with gutsy flying before the fleet knew they were being attacked. There were tactics the fleet employed to try to make up for this but ultimately they needed an airborne radar that would extend their radar horizon to hundreds of miles and because they didn't have one they suffered. The loss of Atlantic Conveyor made 3 Cdo really earn their rations, as you point out.

Learning from this three dedicated AEW Merlins have been fast tracked for this role and are aboard the carrier. I'd also add that the Lightening fighters have vastly greater situation awareness than the Harriers, or any other modern fighter. They contribute to this role significantly. 

The strike group will be well defended and for a fairly benign deployment they have plenty of strike options if needed. But for a modern war with a peer enemy then there is definitely areas of concern that need/are being addressed... 

Your knowledge of the whole subject is way above my pay grade mate, very interesting stuff and a subject you obviously have a keen interest in.

I always just use the basic rule of thumb that says “If we British are doing something then we are probably being two bob about it somewhere in the mix!” Lol  

[steve66 3,756]

Thought tanks where been done away with , although it looks like there been scaled back 

British Army to get 148 Challenger 3 tanks in £800m deal - BBC News

[Born Hunter 17,910]

56 minutes ago, steve66 said:

Thought tanks where been done away with , although it looks like there been scaled back 

British Army to get 148 Challenger 3 tanks in £800m deal - BBC News

Id be interested to hear other peoples opinions but I get the impression we’re at a tipping point where no one is quite brave enough to say outright that tanks are obsolete. It’s probably the smartest move to retain a minimum force at the moment.

Ive looked for the proponents of heavy armour and their arguments just seem thin. Main ones being the political clout having heavy armour gives and the other being that tanks give enduring firepower to infantry on the battlefield whereas Air support is usually temporary.

I just think that will no longer be true with drones that can loiter and even actual missiles capable of loitering. But it’s a gamble currently and so nations are modernising their tanks.

Edited May 18, 2021 by Born Hunter

[Born Hunter 17,910]

Looking mean as

Pretty sure this is the largest naval 5th generation air wing ever deployed by any nation.

And a great series of photos from the recent exercises,

Photo essay – exercise Strike Warrior | Navy Lookout

WWW.NAVYLOOKOUT.COM

 

Edited May 20, 2021 by Born Hunter

[Gypsydog94 4,708]

Set sail last night. Not my pictures a friend on fb uploaded them 

[WILF 50,335]

Let’s hope it’s never faced with 10 Africans in a £10 Argos inflatable dinghy......that’s a force that can’t be stopped !