Perhaps you are all missing the point though; it doesn't seem to matter how many destroyers or CVNs you have nowadays. These weapons are from the last war (though it is said Gernerals are always fighting the last war). We are living in the geodesic age. Things such as education, warfare, business, etc all are along geodesic lines. It used to be that a prole like myself could not educate himself without the approval of some glowering Cambridge don but in our age, one can educate himself or herself via the internet on any subject. The same for business: i don't need capital, education or approval from the elite to do business: just an internet connection.

 

Warfare has gone the same way, for what is 'assymetric warfare' but geodesic warfare? The individual waging war on his own. With all its might the US has so far failed to subdue Afghanistan and Iraq even though the latter have no battaliions, logistics, satellites, etc. France has the ability to humiliate, devastate, bombard Brazil or 95% of the Third World (or the Majority World as i like to call it) with endless airstrikes from a CVN, but to what end? The economic costs will soon outweigh any benefits, and the populace will resist assymetrically, preventing any real victory.

 

Ok, everyone can bash me now; I've turned the other cheek so many times I look like a Picasso painting anyway, so slug away:)

The 44 rungs to Wargasm is just so much "Pap."  

Its what we functionally actually are doing, you know.

It was FS who introduced that subject line when he boasted about French nuclear armaments. All I did was show the stipidity involved in raising a non-issue. He doesn't ujnderstand what that kind of escalation really means. (A Magnitude increase in risk of national extinction for WHAT? Honor?)

Variable and not exactly numbers at fingertips, but at least from an ASW commerce defense standpoint, maybe add 30%-50% to USN strength? the french bring little to that(10%?)  Factor in geography, expertise, and battlespace coverage assets that the RN has as the force multiplier. If you mean in a purely naval tactical battle perspective, then the RN  is not as much (15%), since our naval air force is just so much larger, but each navy is built to a different requirement. When you add a couple of carriers, to your lineup and add or replace the current generation of AAW/ASW escorts that will add hugely to your tactical battle capability. At a guess, I would say 25% of US capability.

 

France would bring very little to the table surface wasfare wise, about 5%. Subsuirface is where she shines. Whereas Britian brings easily 30%, the French would add about 20%.

 

Herald

 

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