Posted on 11/16/2010 11:20:37 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
No discussions have been held between Britain and France on whether aircraft carriers could be sent to defend the Falkland Islands, Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey said.
The Government "have not seen this as necessary", Mr Harvey said, despite the two countries recently agreeing to share carriers as part of a defence cooperation treaty.
The deal raised concerns that the UK could be left without carrier strike capability if only a French ship was available and Paris decided it did not want to take part in military action that was not in its national interest.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox conceded there was "no means" of coercing France into action, saying of the deal: "Would that mean that we would be able to force the French to do something against their will during that period or vice-versa? Of course it wouldn't."
Last week a group of retired senior commanders warned that defence cuts - including the decision to scrap the Harrier force and the aircraft carrier Ark Royal - "practically invited" Argentina to attempt to take the "newly valuable" Falklands
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
The “sharing carrier” plan was about the stupidest military-related idea I can personally remember.
It is. This entire “Entente Frugale” idea is dumb.
The ONLY way it would work, and I do mean only, would be completely separate crews and aircrews — much like the way that we run our boomers. Frenchies get off, Brits get on, and vice versa. When it’s under French crew it’s a French ship, and likewise when the Brits are running it.
But that would only mean that the Argies would just wait until the French flag broke on the masthead and then invade.
Look up "cat bomb". During WWII, someone got the bright idea to strap bomb to cats, and then parachute them onto the decks of enemy ships. The developers assumed that the cats would guide themselves to the ships because they hated water so much.
Apparently, in 1942, no one knew cats didn't have opposable thumbs to hold the guidelines, nor the intellect to understand the directions of the jumpmaster. Surprising, right?
Sharing carrier is a stupid plan, but it doesn't come anywhere near the dumbest - perhaps not even top 50.
There is no way the Charles de Gaulle could make it all the way to the Falklands.
I believe the R91(Charles De Gaulle) is their only nuke aircraft carrier out of 10 carriers.I believe there is a base called RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands with 4 Eurofighter Typhoons and a assortment of lesser aircraft.
The Charles De Gaulle has had “technical” problems in construction and while in service.
Circling the drain.... sadly...
ping
Click on pic for past Navair pings.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.
It is an economic plan, not a defence one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Victorious_(R38)#First_Pacific_Service
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.