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[dodes]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/navy-reveals-vital-new-mine-hunting-ship-to-detect-undersea-threats/ar-AA16V7xb?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=0965e5027a974fe5887f29490c55057c

[Circlip]

" Minimal conversion work " - - - BIG tin of Grey Paint.


  Regards   Ian.

[dodes]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/vital-new-royal-navy-mine-hunting-mother-ship-will-protect-uk-waters/ar-AA16TUPD?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b4648fbb23d646168649962b1da8e113.   
Some more info on the vessel from Microsoft Edge.

[Colin Bishop]

All very well, but just how many of these vessels do you need to protect the huge network of communication cables?

No doubt the Russians are monitoring the ship's position and just one torpedo would take it out. It's mot much use just having one of everything.

UK defence forces have been 'hollowed out' in recent years and lack the capacity to fight a sustained war. It saved money but won't save the Realm!

Colin

[dodes]

Thats the name of the game Colin, has been for many years, my old brother who was in the Andrew used to say with naval stores and equipment, "must sound good, look good but most importantly be cheapest". He used to tell me when the through deck cruisers were built, that the Andrew should build at least 16 of them and scrap all the frigates and destroyers because apart from showing the flag they were no good for convoy escort or most things, plus then the RN was short of money to buy decent stuff.

[Colin Bishop]

Quite right Dodes. As someone who spent a career in another area of public service, the temptation to buy cheap for short term benefits at the expense of long term problems occurred over and over again. The problem was always that those who made the poor decisions had moved on before the fallout becme apparent so there was no accountability. And, as you say, it's the name of the game and has been happening since time immemorial!

Another problem we experienced was the willingness to pay over the odds for a 'quick fix' which usually resulted in a long term financial and operational disaster. External Consultant advice was always preferred over internal advice and warnings, presumably because it was being paid for at eye watering rates! Local commonsense was not valued as it wasn't what the powers that be wanted to hear.

Yet another issue was to refuse to recognise that a supposed solution had not worked in the past and to throw good money after bad repeating it in the hope of a different result. What goes around comes around!

Unfortunately these valuable insights from experienced veterans tend to be disregarded by those who replace them. It has always been thus!

Colin

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone



Going back on to the subject of the new ship, I was under the impression that the current vessels that have been bought, including the ‘new‘ RFA Proteus, were supposed to be short term solutions until purpose built ships were designed and built by British companies to plug the gap.

[Colin Bishop]

Yes, that's right Nick. However they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions!

Will the money be found, will they find a shipyard capable of building the ships and how long will it take? All a bit uncertain really. It is just kicking the can down the road when the international situation suggests that we really, really, do need to beef up our military capability without delay.

Nearer to your area of interest, I've just been reading that the premature retirement of the Hercules fleet will leave a two year capability gap and that the Atlas replacements will not have the short landing/takeoff capabilities of the Hercules. Plus the cost of the extra Atlas aircraft has been assessed by the National Audit Office as being unaffordable. So the eventual ourtcome could be less aircraft with more limited capability. And all on cost rather than operational requirements basis.

All a bit depressing really.

Colin

[raflaunches]

Hi Colin


We have had many briefs and chats regarding the Herc fleet and despite our concerns over the A400 not being ready the MoD and RAF seniors will not budge from their decision. Too much money has been spent on the A400 programme to stop it. Considering that the A400 doesn’t meet expectations and can only carry two pallets more than a Herc we would have been better spending the money on new Hercs which would not only be cheaper in buying them, but the infrastructure and crews would be current on type to fly and maintain.
There are many other things I could say but not allowed to for obvious reasons. The military isn’t what it used to be because of senior officers and idiotic politicians carrying out Strategic Defence Reviews and in most people’s opinions come to wrong conclusions.
I truly hope that better decisions are going to be made on March 10 when the new SDR is made public.


The new two ships being added to the fleets are at least seaworthy and easily converted so at least they should entering service quickly to cover the gaps but as said previously it’s always seems to be putting a sticking plaster over the problem.

[kinmel]

As Buzz Aldrin once said about the Apollo programme   " every item on this project was bought from the lowest bidder."


The Shuttle was the clearest example with a 40% failure rate.

[Colin Bishop]

Hi Nick,

Yes agree 100% with all you have said. I have had experience in other areas of the wrong decisions being made for all the wrong reasons but in this case the Defence of the Realm is at stake. The politicians and maybe the top service officers seem to have difficulties in recognising the priorities. Everything seems to be reduced to a book keeping exercise. We could be sliding into a war situation on the back of the Ukraine developments but the powers that be seem oblivious to this. Nobody seems to read history these days.

Colin

[kinmel]

But they have nearly finished writing the Iraq war plan.

[raflaunches]

There is a traditional British military saying:

We are the unwilling, led by the unqualified, doing the unnecessary for the ungrateful.
We have spent so long now doing the impossible with so little, that we can anything with nothing!
Living the dream!

Unfortunately it’s so true

[tonyH]

Please never, never, never forget that "The Peter Principle" applies in all hierarchies and not just business
PS For those few who've not heard of it.......you need it to explain just how the world works!

[Colin Bishop]

The Peter Principle is the real argument against all the conspiracy stories about an elite taking over the world!

Colin