Posted on 02/13/2005 5:28:59 PM PST by Eurotwit
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
They could pick up the Kennedy for a lot less than $3 billion. It's about 7 years newer than several of the carriers in the US fleet; the Navy had initially planned to use it through at least 2018.
They wouldn't have to worry about money for the battle groups if there wasn't such a welfare state. Maybe tighten the budget of the royals and privatize medicine a bit.
Super Carriers would be an absurd purchase for Britain. They took on a force that had 7 or 8 times as many combat planes as they did when they won the Falklands, and that was because they had the ability to generate carriers out of cargo ships. The STOVL capabilities of the Harriers proved to be unbeatable. There was even one air-to-air engagement of a Harrier vs. Mirage which came to a draw, and the Harrier pilot landed on some small supply ship while the Mirage pilot landed in the ocean and was shot by his own troups. It was the first air-to-air jet kill recorded by virtue of the ability to land vertically.
And “Tony Blair’s wars” are keeping the need for those carriers at bay.
There is an unspoken value to the RN having even just one supercarrier. If the Brits began to build one, the French would have to match it. And, with French arrogance, corruption, silliness and ineptitude, the project would break the country financially and still be a failure. The carrier they just build has had failure after failure, a great wine cellar but a lousy propulsion system. The French would turn a 3 to 10 billion dollar project into a 20 billion dollar project, make Chirac and his mistress even wealthier, but still wouldn't work on the high seas. So, go get 'em Brits, let's bankrupt the froggies!
While we're on this subject, did they ever find that propeller that fell off that French carrier?
Thanks, for posting this.
Try 23 years this coming May. Maybe Alzheimers is setting in early.
The USMC will be switching to the JSF.
Eventually but until then the Harrier II will remain in service for at least another decade.
Despite your handle, you don't sound like a "twit" or very much "Euro" to me.
Concerning carriers: I'm a retired soldier, that is, one who is not normally found on aircraft carriers. One time, however, I was Fort Monroe, Virginia on TDY (temorary duty). I looked out across what I believe is Hampton Roads (an apparent nautical term which I don't understand since there was no pavement that I could see) and saw the biggest ship I have ever seen. It was a carrier berthed several miles across the water. It was so far away it was just a grey silhouette (sp?). In any case, it was BIG, HUMONGOUS.
Ever since that time I have understood that there are ways other than pure airpower (B52s, etc) to project the power and intent of the Nation.
I can understand your desire to see an HMS Carrier on the horizon. When somebody on a foreign beach sees such a thing, he/she realizes that, depending on their attitude, either major help or a major disaster is on their horizon.
Also it would be nice if the Captain invited one aboard for a sundowner but what the hell, one can't have every thing, can one?
I don't care what any of the rest of the people who read this think, I say from this Texian to you, Thank God for the Brits.
Despite your handle, you don't sound like a "twit" or very much "Euro" to me.
Concerning carriers: I'm a retired soldier, that is, one who is not normally found on aircraft carriers. One time, however, I was Fort Monroe, Virginia on TDY (temorary duty). I looked out across what I believe is Hampton Roads (an apparent nautical term which I don't understand since there was no pavement that I could see) and saw the biggest ship I have ever seen. It was a carrier berthed several miles across the water. It was so far away it was just a grey silhouette (sp?). In any case, it was BIG, HUMONGOUS.
Ever since that time I have understood that there are ways other than pure airpower (B52s, etc) to project the power and intent of the Nation.
I can understand your desire to see an HMS Carrier on the horizon. When somebody on a foreign beach sees such a thing, he/she realizes that, depending on their attitude, either major help or a major disaster is on their horizon.
Also it would be nice if the Captain invited one aboard for a sundowner but what the hell, one can't have every thing, can one?
I don't care what any of the rest of the people who read this think, I say from this Texian to you, Thank God for the Brits.
Except that Big John is about 37 years old, now. That is a VERY long time for steel to be subjected to salt water.
(Big John Med Cruise, '86)
You don't want the Kennedy. It is in bad shape.
To all and sundry: sorry about the stutter, no excuse.
B14
As far as the Falklands go, if the Brits were doing so well why did they get so many small boys pasted while covering the landings? The answer is that they didn't feel safe moving their carrier close enough to establish air superiority over the islands.
As far as the love in with the Harrier, I always felt sorry for my friends flying Brit Harriers. When we were in the Gulf they would have to download most of their weapons due to the warm weather. They take off by running up their engines to 90%, wiping out the controls, releasing the brakes and going to full throttle. When they reach the ramp they slap the nozzles to 60 degrees and look at the EPR indicator. If they see less than 1.04, they eject. Not a great way to make a living. At least they have a beer waiting for them when they get back.
In early December 1941, literally on the eve of Pearl Harbor, the commander of the Prince of Wales task force, Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, met with his American counterparts in the Philippines. Informed of the strike on Pearl Harbor during the meeting, the American delegation urged Phillips to sail his battleship and battle cruiser to Pearl Harbor, to join the remnants of the U.S. fleet. With all of our PACFLT battleships sunk or damaged by the Japanese attack, the British capital ships would have been a welcome addition to the Allied naval effort, particularly Prince of Wales which had the speed to accompany carrier task forces. Phillips declined the American offer. Returning to Singapore, he sent Prince of Wales and Repulse up the Malaysian coast, in an effort to counter Japanese amphibious forces. Without fighter escort, the British ships were doomed. They were soon located by Japanese aircraft and sent to the bottom in less than three hours. Admiral Phillips went down with his command. In the end, it was Phillips decision to mount a suicide mission that resulted in the loss of two ships, and over 1,000 British sailors--not Churchill's decision to send the ships to SE Asia.
Please hold your comments down a little bit. I'm trying to unload some scrap metal here with some return for the taxpayers.
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