France offers to join forces with UK's nuclear submarine fleet

The Guardian.co.uk ^ | 3/18/2010 | The Guardian.co.uk

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

France has offered to create a joint UK-French nuclear deterrent by sharing submarine patrols, the Guardian has learned.

Officials from both countries have discussed how a deterrence-sharing scheme might work but Britain has so far opposed the idea on the grounds that such pooling of sovereignty would be politically unacceptable.

Britain and France each maintain "continuous at-sea deterrence", which involves running at least one nuclear-armed submarine submerged and undetected at any given time. It is a hugely expensive undertaking, and its usefulness in a post-cold war world has long been questioned by disarmament campaigners.

Britain's independent deterrent, based on Trident missiles carried by submarines, could cost the country up to £100bn, according to some estimates, once planned modernisation to the fleet has been completed.

France also maintains a four-submarine Strategic Oceanic Force, with each submarine armed with 16 missiles.

Last September the prime minister said Britain's submarine fleet could be reduced from four to three as a gesture towards disarmament, but the total financial savings were reported as relatively small.

"We have talked about the idea of sharing continuity at sea as part of a larger discussion about sharing defence burdens," a French official said

[Touch Not the Cat]

.
Just.

Say.

No.

[bunkerhill7]

Why not just take the tunnel? Its shorter and faster too, usually. On second thought, better not.

[mylife]

I aint sayin nuthin but I am frowning

[mylife]

Who wants to be relieved by the Frogs?

[Proud_USA_Republican]

At the rate England is downsizing their military forces to financially support their open border multiculti welfare state, they will be the ones begging to joining Frances military within 20 years.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Brits will never part with their submarine force. They an important part of our SIOP/NUTS(Nuclear utilization target selection) nuclear strategy

[Proud_USA_Republican]

So that means we’ll have to foot the bill for their submarine force?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

We never have foot the bill before. The Brits view the subs as a vital part of the Royal Navy and their nuclear deterrent.

[howlinhound]

You will be able to tell the French subs from the British subs by the white flags flying on the French ones while on the surface.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

LOL

[Pontiac]

Britain and France each maintain "continuous at-sea deterrence", which involves running at least one nuclear-armed submarine submerged and undetected at any given time. It is a hugely expensive undertaking, and its usefulness in a post-cold war world has long been questioned by disarmament campaigners.

Like Alice, I try to believe three impossible things before breakfast.

I’ll put peace in our times on my list for tomorrow.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Royal Navy participation in the SIOP plan plays an important role in our response on the United States here and in NATO. Secondly, the Vanguard submarines are also the UK’s nuclear response to a nuclear attack. Remember, those Tridents in those subs can reach Russia in 5-15 minutes.Those four submarines could strike a maximum of 512 separate targets. The "peaceniks" though very vocal but I do not see the UK Parliament scrapping those subs which are a major part of the Royal Navy.