[Widget Jr]

Another way to look at this, is as a plea to upgrade the they Type 45 destroyers (Daring class) to have land attack ability that was part of the planned "growth room" for the class. The ship has space for a dozen more MK-41 or Sylver A70 "strike length" VLS tubes for Tomahawk or SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles. Replacing the Harpoons with the Naval Strike Missile would give dual anti-ship and land attack ability.

The Daring's already have a 4.5" gun, dual Phalanx and remote 30mm guns, a mix of GPMGs, miniguns and 50 cal MGs, lessons learned from the Falklands. They can carry one or two helicopters carrying a Martlet or Sea Venom short range air to surface missiles, from the Battle of Bubiyan of the Gulf war where the RN trashed the Iraqi Navy (Yes RN, some Americans know about that one). Now upgraded to NSMs and add surface launched Storm Shadow missiles.

That would give the Daring's an all around anti-surface ability from pirate skiffs to deep land strike, on top of the AAW and helicopter based ASW.

Sweet dreams, RN.

[Paul R.]

It seemed to me a while back when I was reading through various NATO countries’ capabilities, that many NATO countries focus’ varies from country to country, creating a force that sort of has to depend on its fellow members and then of course the US, to create a comprehensive force. I believe this is by design.