Posted on 04/16/2018 8:48:07 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Britain's 'depressing' array of ageing ships and fighter jets unable to fire cruise missiles meant that France took the lead in striking Syria, it was revealed today.
The UK fired eight Storm Shadow missiles out of 105 used to punish Bashar al-Assad for his chemical attack in Douma last Saturday - fewer than the French and the Americans.
The Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyer HMS Duncan played second fiddle to the French ship The Languedoc who fired missiles at Syrian targets while the British type-23 frigate was moved away.
The £1billion ship has a space on the deck where a cruise missile launcher is meant to be but it was scrapped to save cash with new frigates able to do it not due at sea until 2025 at the earliest.
Instead HMS Duncan set up station south-east of Cyprus as an 'air defence' ship against any threat against RAF Akrotiri from Moscow, while four French frigate warships went into the attack zone.
France also sent its fast Rafale jets to fire its Scalp missiles into Syria protected en route by a squadron of Mirage 2000s armed with air-to-air missiles.
Britain's only means off hitting its targets came from four Tornado GR4 jets who sent in eight Storm Shadow missiles - but the warplanes were first used in 1979 and will be retired next year.
Four Typhoons were protecting them but these cannot fire cruise missiles after an integration programme was stopped for financial reasons several years ago and will not be able to use Storm Shadow until the end of 2018.
But Britain did provide the bulk of intelligence, maps and surveillance images needed for the raid on Saturday morning.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5620029/Britain-played-second-fiddle-France-Syria-strikes.html#ixzz5Ctk2r3eC Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Britain was outmuscled by the Americans and the French because its many of its ships and planes are unable to fire cruise missiles at targets in Syria
The British Army's size is approaching 82,000 troops - its smallest for 220 years, figures show
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5620029/Britain-played-second-fiddle-France-Syria-strikes.html#ixzz5CtkUsCN9 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Britain would have much to gain if Ivan conquered them, ie: lessen Muslim threat, and make men out Brits if that’s even possible.
82 000 is ridiculous. With disarmed society, an islamic uprising of millions there and whoosh, no more england
Sad, they once had the best navy in the world.
I don’t think they would fight an Islamic uprising. They’re already giving the Islamic invaders everything they want now.
“The £1billion ship has a space on the deck where a cruise missile launcher is meant to be but it was scrapped to save cash“
Council Flats are expensive. And the Brit government has made quite clear where their priorities lie.
L
Britain is like Canada, why spend billions on defense when you’ve got the US to do that for you.
The National Health Service, of which British leftists claim to be oh-so-proud, will never, ever have enough money, no matter how much is spent. Its the second largest state employer in the world, after the Chinese Army.
Its budget has historically grown at 4% per year, although that’s been trimmed to 1-2% per. And for that, a citizen will wait an average of 5 hours before seeing a doctor at a hospital, and complaints from the public are non-stop
It is the socialist program godzilla that will devour the UK
You’d think the British would still keep up their navy.
The Russians aren’t going to get many tanks into Piccadilly Circus without coming across the ocean.
Lived in the UK for several years. My son was born in the UK and has citizenship of both the USA and the UK. It is most sad to see a once grand nation commit suicide!
It’s too late now to become the 51’st state.
” It {NHS} is the socialist program godzilla that will devour the UK “
Same with ObamaCare, although the goal here is more about total control of all.
The story is not fair.
The Brits fired 8 bunker busting Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
These missiles are unique and not an ordnance that we deploy.
They struck first and softened the hardened targets so that our follow on cruise missiles could finish.
Where is the credit that is due the Brits for their 13 aerial tankers that flew out of Cyprus?
Those tankers caused the Russians to think the attack was coming from the west allowing the success we had.
LOL, don’t give them Brits ideas.
True or not, that's going to leave a mark. Second fiddle to the French? Nelson is rolling in his grave. Bad show...
I am only guessing, but it's that the Royal Navy hit a nadir some time ago and is slowly climbing out, hopefully in time for whatever Brexit turns out to be. The British Special Forces are as good as it gets. It simply won't do to underestimate the British - that's been a bad bet for a very long time.
I don’t think Americans are too keen on protecting Western Europe anymore. That military entitlement has neutered the European male.
Push through Europe, send in Spetznaz to hold the chunnel, and it could happen.
Put the tanks on flatbed though.
time changes everything. Before the rise of the British navy in the mid 1700s, the Dutch were the naval power and before them the Spanish and before them the Genoese and before them, Ming dynasty China.
It has been reported that Britain has more general officers than main battle tanks. So let’s look on the bright side. If another major war occurs, each British tank could be commanded not by some green lieutenant, but by an experienced general.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045226/British-Army-generals-tanks-stuffed-penpushers.html
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