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Britannia Flees the Seas
   
January 3, 2007: Continuing budget problems have already forced Britians Royal Navy to mothball (put into inactive reserve) 13 of its 44 warships. Now it has been decided to mothball another eight, and to cancel construction of two Type-45 destroyers. That will leave only six new Type-45s, plus two new aircraft carriers being built. The government is also considering closing one of the three bases the navy maintains. The budget problems are caused by cost overruns in procurement problems for new ships (destroyers and nuclear subs) and aircraft (the new Eurofighter), as well as training costs associated with troops being sent to Afghanistan and Iraq. The government believes it can get away with these cuts because, well, the U.S. Navy is more powerful than all the world's navies combined, and a close ally of Britain. So if there's an emergency requiring warships…


  

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Herald1234    When you need it, it won't be there............   1/3/2007 6:25:16 AM
Better do a better cost/benefit force analysis, look at long term demographics, and history.
 
Then do a better procurement decision cycle based on your own national interests. 
 
Never rely on somebody else to protect you, when you may be attacked.
 
He may not think you are worth his risking himself to defend. CF the recent American vote, and the probable future outcomes for Iraq and Israel.
 
Herald
 
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frog       1/3/2007 7:59:37 AM
"Now it has been decided to mothball another eight, and to cancel construction of two Type-45 destroyers. That will leave only six new Type-45s, plus two new aircraft carriers being built."
 
Reality is, that 2 of the six remaining Type-45's might get offered to the House of Saud (Saudi Arabia) bringing the number of Type-45's to 4, two per carrier. Although I feel, that 4 Type 45's wouldn't cut the bread it might just scrape us through in the medium term, with hopefully a longer term aspiration of the Type 22/23 replacements coming with a common hull, but different capabilities across the class (a la Fremm, where the french have an ASW version, a AAW version? and a Land attack version). Then we might hope to see another 4 AAW ships.
 
Slightly of Topic
 
Having spent some time thinking about it, I'm not certain if a as rumoured plan for a two teir fleet would work for the Royal Navy, as if there's a crisis developing somewhere you would want to nip it in the butt early, and if your only nearby asset is a low end corvette/ frigate (which it would have to be to satisfy the Treasury) you just wouldn't have the same ability to nip a crisis in the butt early on that you would get from a high end Frigate /Destroyer. In any given crisis the primary aim of a nation involved is to try and take control of events early on, so your oponent works to your script rather than their script.
 
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french stratege       1/3/2007 8:10:12 AM
Convergence with french navy is amazing.However UK still maintain 11 SSN.
I wonder where would be these navies in 2015.France is planning to have 24 frigates on active, 6 SSN and 2 carrier.
We will see.
 
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eldnah       1/3/2007 9:07:32 AM
I have this bridge in Brooklyn you may like to purchase if you believe Britannia will build anything more than two 20,000ish, max 30,000 ton carriers to replace the Invincibles. 
 
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RockyMTNClimber    Welfare for Countries!   1/4/2007 11:08:24 AM
 
The (British) government believes it can get away with these cuts because, well, the U.S. Navy is more powerful than all the world's navies combined, and a close ally of Britain. So if there's an emergency requiring warships…
 
Yet another analysis showing that Western Europe thinks Uncle Sam is a free ride to security.
 
Check Six
 
Rocky
 
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Yimmy       1/4/2007 2:03:43 PM
Have to love the way an American writes an article, stating what the British government thinks, and other Americans take it as gospal.
 
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TAC II       1/4/2007 2:10:02 PM
 
The money that has been cut from the RN was used on Iraq and Afghanistan - efforts done because UK is aclose ally of the US.
 
But by all means, don't change your narrow outlook just because of enlightenment.

 
The (British) government believes it can get away with these cuts because, well, the U.S. Navy is more powerful than all the world's navies combined, and a close ally of Britain. So if there's an emergency requiring warships…
 

Yet another analysis showing that Western Europe thinks Uncle Sam is a free ride to security.

 

Check Six

 

Rocky
 
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RockyMTNClimber       1/4/2007 2:37:15 PM
 
 
TAC II       1/4/2007 2:10:02 PM
The money that has been cut from the RN was used on Iraq and Afghanistan - efforts done because UK is aclose ally of the US.
 
But by all means, don't change your narrow outlook just because of enlightenment."

The price of freedom is not cheap. Maybe Brittainia should just surrender to Al Queda. Think of the savings on your defense budget then!
 
Check Six
 
Rocky
 
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AdamB       1/4/2007 2:55:36 PM
"20,000ish, max 30,000 ton carriers to replace the Invincibles. "
 
Britain's new aircraft carriers will be around 60,000-65,000 tons.
 
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AdamB       1/4/2007 2:57:04 PM
"The price of freedom is not cheap. Maybe Brittainia should just surrender to Al Queda. Think of the savings on your defense budget then!"
 
Yeah, as if Britain will just surrender.  Unlike the French (and sometimes the Americans), surrendering is not in Britain's nature.
 
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