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Armada of British naval power massing in the Gulf as Israel prepares an Iran strike
The Telegraph ^ | 15 Sep 2012 | Sean Rayment

Posted on 09/15/2012 5:26:47 PM PDT by mandaladon

An armada of US and British naval power is massing in the Persian Gulf in the belief that Israel is considering a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s covert nuclear weapons programme. Battleships, aircraft carriers, minesweepers and submarines from 25 nations are converging on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in an unprecedented show of force as Israel and Iran move towards the brink of war.

Western leaders are convinced that Iran will retaliate to any attack by attempting to mine or blockade the shipping lane through which passes around 18 million barrels of oil every day, approximately 35 per cent of the world’s petroleum traded by sea.

A blockade would have a catastrophic effect on the fragile economies of Britain, Europe the United States and Japan, all of which rely heavily on oil and gas supplies from the Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most congested international waterways. It is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point and is bordered by the Iranian coast to the north and the United Arab Emirates to the south.

In preparation for any pre-emptive or retaliatory action by Iran, warships from more than 25 countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will today begin an annual 12-day exercise.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; israel; straitofhormuz; unitedkingdom; waronterror
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To: the scotsman
an aircraft carrier (though without fixed-wing aircraft)

As I said, pretty much of a joke these days.

If the EU combined all of its naval assets, it could put together a credible force. Alone, you might make a case for ranking the UK in the top 10, but competition for that list is mighty thin.

101 posted on 09/15/2012 9:47:13 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: no-to-illegals; mkjessup; Happy Rain
I listened to both renderings using the title of Waltzing Matilda. I was moved by the first one, though not using the traditional song. Pictured are fine healthy men in their prime in the uniform and then inevitably they grow old. Those that survive, I mean. We have all watched this process in later wars.

The second rendering, though beautifully done, does not have the rollicking balladry of the traditional song. Of course, it was at a concert which necessitated decorum and grace.

Now to Winston Churchill. I was surprised at the casualty list at Gallipoli as given on Wikipedia. Of course, it has been the ANZAC division that seems to be most associated with Gallipoli. 44,000 soldiers dead from that immense attempt to turn WW1. The Australian New Zealand Army Corps- to spell it out, lost 10,000 men.

For those that are not familiar with the Gallipoli campaign, it was Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty that was said to be the planner. The allied ships were plagued by U-Boats as they tried to supply Russia from Europe. The plan was to force the Dardanelles, the backdoor to Russia. They had to push the redoubtable Turks aside. Thus the badly equipped Russian Army could get a million rifles etc. They had to bypass the Turks first to protect the shipping.

Please excuse this ramble, the memories just set me off. Finally, the Turks held fast and quickly the Allied troops were withdrawn (1915-1916). Churchill was fired and sent to the Western Front, but stood it for six months. Then he was back. I had better quit and have overstayed on this thread.

102 posted on 09/15/2012 10:03:11 PM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: bobo1
Your post # 28

The Brits actually have a pretty good heritage when it comes to some things.

I note your support for things Brit and thanks. I am used to the give and take on FR, would not have it any other way. Getting late and I thought I would fire off a salvo. It was at Omdurman in 1898, witnessed by a young Churchill, that the great charge of fanatical Islam took place. Thousands of horsemen wanting to die for Allah. Victory for Kitchener of Khartoum. Oh well, one parting statement.

We are on the same bloomin' side, are we not? God speed the Navy!

103 posted on 09/15/2012 10:26:27 PM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: Peter Libra
Thank You for the compliment and History Lesson. Much Appreciated. Sissel - Shenandoah ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1EG_4IBzbA&feature=related
104 posted on 09/15/2012 10:26:27 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Please God, Protect and Bless Our Men and Women in Uniform with Victory. Amen.)
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To: Peter Libra

Re the Battle of Omdurman. The charge of the “Whirling Dervishes”. I’ve seen one account that said that the British killed 10,000 of them.

How? Gatling guns or their British equivalent.

Remind me to thank the Gatling Brothers for their contribution to keep the world safe from Islamic extremists.


105 posted on 09/15/2012 10:30:34 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: Peter Libra

There is a scene from “On The Beach” where Waltzing Matilda is sung.... this scene affected me greatly the first time I watched the film. It’s just awesome!

Excerpt of “Waltzing Matilda” from “On the Beach” (1959)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n7LwzODzQg


106 posted on 09/15/2012 10:36:01 PM PDT by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
Just caught your query before turning in. I had thought it was the Gatling gun but..... Always learn something, recently a television program dealt with that battle. It was the Gardner machine gun. American inventor called by that name. The slaughter was horrific. Churchill was even appalled by the mopping up of the enemy. The Gatling gun may have been used. Old poem by Henry Newbolt.

"The Gatlings jammed and the Colonel dead.
The regiment blind with dust and smoke
England's far and honour a name, but the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks.
Play up, play up and play the game."

Yep, Americans gave us the Gatling.

107 posted on 09/15/2012 10:41:52 PM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: Bobalu

Wow! Trying to get some shuteye. But will give one more post. Yes, one terrific rendering. The end of the world, sends chills down my spine. Defiance plus.


108 posted on 09/15/2012 10:44:31 PM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: the scotsman; All
1-The Royal Navy operates a “blue-water” fleet of technologically sophisticated ships...

Navy to cut its fleet by half

Flagship aircraft carrier Ark Royal to be sold for scrap

Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible is put up for sale

Languishing in Arizona, our once-mighty fleet of Harriers... sold for the price of just ONE of their US-made replacements

Navy aircraft carrier will be sold after three years - and never carry jets

HMS Edinburgh and HMS York on sale; “illustrious names to be mothballed”

2—What are you banging on about, not armed?

Just FOUR missiles: What HMS Westminster was carrying when sent to defend the Libyan frontline

Libya: Navy running short of Tomahawk missiles

Sorry mate, but Britannia no longer rules the waves.

109 posted on 09/16/2012 4:02:14 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: Timber Rattler

I’d take any D aily Mail story with a pinch of salt. And you make the mistake of thinking we use/rely solely on the Tomahawk. We use our own StormShadow missile:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_Shadow


110 posted on 09/16/2012 4:13:34 AM PDT by the scotsman (i)
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To: Venturer
There are no more Battleships, except those on display as museum pieces at various places in the world. US

FIFY. And to note: I'm not counting Mikasa in Japan as a "battleship" because she's a pre-dreadnought. Although it's admittedly a debatable point.

The last British Battleship was HMS Vanguard. Which was truly an excellent ship. Shame the Brits didn't keep her in mothballs; she could have been modernized and reactivated in the 1980s just like the Iowas were.
111 posted on 09/16/2012 4:23:59 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: the scotsman
... including an aircraft carrier (though without fixed-wing aircraft)

Lusty isn't considered a carrier anymore, having been converted into an LPH to supplement Ocean. While she could, ostensibly, land and launch other nations' Harriers (maybe the USMC would loan some of the GR.9s they now own and have in storage at Davis Monthan?) my understanding is that her conversion to LPH involved major changes to her weapons storage and handling facilities that reduced if not eliminated the ability to carry fixed-wing aircraft ordinance in any appreciable quantity.

Unless of course they'd want to open store the ordinance on the hangar and flight decks. Before doing that I'd suggest the RN consult with the Japanese - they tried that a while back (early June 1942 I think it was) with somewhat problematic results.
112 posted on 09/16/2012 4:30:20 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: Timber Rattler
Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible is put up for sale

I think that bit of information is somewhat dated at this point:


113 posted on 09/16/2012 4:33:45 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: tanknetter

Wow. That’s just tragic.


114 posted on 09/16/2012 4:39:04 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: the scotsman

If u keep sending that message you will have an armada.


115 posted on 09/16/2012 5:46:56 AM PDT by mulder1 ("The past is prologue.")
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To: Peter Libra; MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
To self. My post #107.

Newbolt's poem could be misconstrued vis the jamming of the Gatling gun. It worked with deadly ferocity against the Islamic hordes. As with the Gardner, patented in Toledo, Ohio 1874, much dust did cause stoppages. In tests, the Gardner fired 16,000 rounds before jamming, under perfect conditions.

Fixed it!

116 posted on 09/16/2012 10:06:53 AM PDT by Peter Libra
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To: Jyotishi
Regardless, the plan must be to make him look good for the elections.

Good, bad, indifferent, whatever, but the song and dance will be played to the tune of "You can't replace a sitting President in Wartime", and it will be the open and real start of WW III. All else is prelude.

117 posted on 09/16/2012 11:12:41 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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