Article

2004-07-19 Britain

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Bulldog 2004-07-19 5:06:13 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 They will be replaced with two supercarriers and the most up-to-date fighting systems.

ie.

Two rubber dinghys and an air-rifle.

Posted by Howard UK 2004-07-19 5:14:22 AM|| 2004-07-19 5:14:22 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Howard - I hope you sell/donate the minesweepers to Spain or some other 2nd teamers. Lack of minesweeping can be pretty hazardous to the economy of martiine nations.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-07-19 12:09:53 PM|| 2004-07-19 12:09:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 This is a recipe for disaster. Build two new "supercarriers" and reduce your ASW and other defensive capabilities and you will always be afraid to deploy your fleet against a third tier navy.

Posted by Formerly Dan 2004-07-19 1:19:20 PM|| 2004-07-19 1:19:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 With all due respect to Howard (#1), the planned carriers should be pretty impressive. They will displace about 41,000 tons and will carry about 40 Joint Strike Fighters, which will make them about half the size of a Nimitz-class carrier and allow them to carry about half as many jets. Compared to the UK's current carriers, that will be a massive improvement. (HMS Ark Royal displaces about 18,000 tons and carries 8 Harriers.)

I have been concerned about reports that the UK has decided to partner with France on these carriers, however. It isn't clear what that may mean, but one report was that they'd be built in French shipyards. Given that the French Carrier De Gaulle had one of its propellers fall off when at sea one time, that doesn't bode well.

Posted by Steven Den Beste 2004-07-19 4:23:14 PM|| [http://denbeste.nu] 2004-07-19 4:23:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 The Ark Royale

Posted by Howard UK 2004-07-19 4:38:24 PM|| 2004-07-19 4:38:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Howard, to jusge whether Hoon and his Ministry has made a good decision, look to see whether the ships that are being decommissioned are compatible with carrier ops. Today, the surface ships that comprise a carrier battle need to be dead quiet, link capable, fast, not too thirsty... Tin cans tend to become obsolete due to age and change of mission.

Posted by Super Hose 2004-07-19 4:52:06 PM|| 2004-07-19 4:52:06 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I second Steve's concern about the French building the new carriers for the Royal Navy. Perhaps something could be worked out to build them here in the U.S....

Posted by DanM 2004-07-19 8:23:24 PM|| 2004-07-19 8:23:24 PM|| Front Page Top

00:55 Anonymous8833
00:48 Anonymous1126
01:57 TanyaFromVegas
16:36 Frank G
16:09 Anonymous5876
16:03 Anonymous5876
11:37 Lucky
10:51 danking70
08:37 Aris Katsaris
08:17 Frank G
01:41 Super Hose
01:23 Lucky
01:22 Bomb-a-rama
01:20 Edward Yee
00:40 trailing wife
00:26 trailing wife
00:14 Super Hose
00:02 .com
00:00 .com
23:58 Bomb-a-rama
23:56 Super Hose
23:54 Rafael
23:53 Stephen
23:53 John