So rather than emulate the USMC we are probably going to go down the path Canada has followed with a unified armed forces. However I believe since that policy was introduced each branch of the Canadian military as developed is own identity more and more.

I wonder if there are any sacred cow that are immune to a combined military. Will there still be three officer training colleges or will only one survive. The tail end has pretty much been combined so it really leaves the frontline and headquarters. Regarding the latter this is an area many agree will happen but the former is going to be much more difficult. We already have joint helicopter, air defence and NBC units. Prime targets could be the RM and RAF Regiment.

My main concern is that although I believe there are issues that need immediate attention in the short term, the only areas that are going to see any benefits from the SDR are those directly relevant to Afghanistan. Programmes that are actually in production should be safe or at least suffer only minor cuts, but it is going to be longer term programmes that will be dropped or delayed. The F-35 should survive but at only 60-70 purchased. In fact the RAF seems to be the major target, with the RNs major programmes such as the CVF and new FFGs safe, but the latter will have minimum impact on the budget over the next few years. So that leave further cuts in the fast jet force, probably seeing the Tornado force cut in half by 2015 as the Typhoons come on stream being totally phased out along with the remaining Harriers by 2020 with the introduction of the F-35. That would leave the UKs fast jet strength at between 9 and 12 squadrons. Barely enough to meet its existing committments but then again it has been stated that all committments bar one are up for re-evaluation.

In the end I see the UKs Armed Forces being turned into a “Fire Brigade” able to deploy force rapidly for a short term operation but not for long term operations like we are currently involved in in Afghanistan, that will be the job for others.

The key world in the arguement is “Ambush” which is unlikely given the evidence. First it would have to be from a source that was not class as a threat by the CVBG like a NATO Ally and second the CVBG would have to be stood down and near a coast line. None of the above are likely.

One of the main problems with Kormoran 2 is its range, only 35Km putting the launch aircraft well inside the CVBG exclusion zone. Soviet plans used longer range high speed missiles allowing the launch aircraft some chance to get away.

Yes the Forrestal was badly damaged by a fire from a Zuni rocket misfiring on deck but the USN leasrnt many lessons from that incident regarding Damage Control.

As I have said before a CVBG is not invincible but the assets required to launch a successfull attack and the losses that would be incurred make it a very hard nut to crack

Again numbers is the key thing here. With each Tornado IDS only carrying 2 Kormoran 2 missiles, to hurt a Carrier you are going to need multiple hits due to the size of the warhead. Add to this its short range 35km you are going to need alot of Tornadoes to get in close and fire enough to do the job.

RAF Tornados didn’t train to hit a CVBG but rather Soviet groups with nowhere near the level of defences the former have/had. In addition the Sea Eagle had almost 4x the range. Yes multi-directional attacks would be effective against the latter threat. Tornado pilots actually preferred their old Buccaneers which could carry twice the number of ASMs and a more effective platform in the role.

Unfortunately sending a plane to follow a E-2 home is really a non starter as unless we are talking a MPA, the ESM on the E-2 will outperform those on that following it, detecting any comms sent regarding the CVBGs location. Remember the E-2 and the CVBG for the matter are using passive ESM not their radars at this point. If they go active the current E-2 is very effective at tracking targets of all sizes at all altitudes and will be passing this info to the carrier by Link so the CVBG is still “Quiet”!

If it feels it has been detected the CVBG will first take actions to get lost again and increase its CAP. By the way where are the Typhoons comming from?

How many Kormorans would it take to “Disable a US Carrier? Answer a lot!. You would need at least five times as many Tornadoes to carry out any attack that has the slimest chances of success, in other words the whole of MFG 1 or 2 If the CVBG is operating under EmCon it is still looking out for enemy electronic emissions and how are the enemy going to find the CVBG without using its radars. As soon as these are detected by the E-2s they will vector F-18s towards the incomming attack whilst passing info to the CVBG. Any enemy that leak through with cause the CVBG escorts to go active and engage.

Another issue is where is this sat info comming from? Is it real time? The US tracks all satelites in orbit and would know when a Recon satalite passed over the CVBG.

I certainly wouldn’t want to commit my entire Tornado force in a WWII style wing and a prayer search for a CVBG using only the mark one eyeball especially at low level in bad weather. How close are they going to have to be, maximum of 6nm given the horizon at 50 feet.

In the Falkland the Argentinian had a good idea where the Task Force was as it had to be within a certain proximity to the islands. Totally different to finding a CVBG out int he ocean.

Finally the range of both Kormoran and HARM are fairy short. Kormoran was designed to be used in the Baltic and has a small warhead and Harm against fixed land sites though it does have naval applications. Also remember the CVBGs CIWS (Phalanx, RAM) can also engage both the Kormorans and HARMS.

I agree with the airframe but what avionics have been installed. If it can mimic a 4th Gen platform in this area it would still be a good lead in. Look at the USAF with the T-38C. That is a really old design but it avionics have been updated to still make it a viable trainer for F-22 and F-35 drivers

Compared to any other combat vessels built for the RN since the 70’s the Invincibles were capital ships, though called Through Deck Cruisers to try to trick the Treasury who didn’t think the RN needed carriers but ASW cruisers with a large helicopter capacity for ASW work in the Atlantic fitted in with the RN role in NATO.

Going through my copies of Conway’s It seems the naming of RN ships has always been a random affair with only classes maintain a semblance of consistency.

Turning to armaments, although Sea Wolf was research in forms other than the 6 round launcher it would still have been a large install and very expensive. The Broad beam Leanders only had one director were a patch job at best. You could not really fit a lightweight 4 cell launcher together with director on the hanger roof to replace Sea Cat launchers though it would be feasible to fit them on larger platforms like the Counties or later T-42s at the beam position.

On land the Sea Wolf is a none starter plus Rapier was entering service eventually equipped with Blindfire. Sea Wolf again would have been too bulky and heavy with a foot print more akin to a HAWK battery.

For escorts I would have liked to see a heavily modified T-82 with the Sea Dart and 4.5 Forward, 2x Ikara amidships like the RAN Hobart and a Hanger for 2 Lynx or 1 Seaking aft. ASMs could be fitted when available making them very similar to USN escort Cruisers of the period.

Yes the Luftwaffe Alphajet were given the suplimentary mission of Anti-Helicopter work but for this they only had the 27mm Mauser pod. Their main role was Anti-Armour equiped with both dumb and cluster bombs. One of the roles the SABA concept was designed for was to counter the Hind “Panic” of the 1980s and could carry 6 ASRAAM and had an internal 27mm cannon with very good low level maneoverabilty and protection for its size.

The A-10 is a great aircraft for the CAS role but has always been in the sights of the Fast Jet Mafia. Remember when they wanted to purchase A-17 equipped with a lightweight GAU-8 pod to replace the A-10.

I see a Hawk 100 carrying a Designator Pod, 2 x Paveway IV (500lb) and 4 Brimstone mod. and 2 ASRAAM as being a useful CAS platform for Low and Medium level operations. It is rugged enough to operate from austere strips and could be given AAR capability. Demonstrator models were already fitted with FLIR so would have a useable Day/night capabilty. I don’t know the going price for a Hawk 100 but compared to current 4th gen platforms it must be a bargain!