They should re-activate HMS nottingham too, 12 destroyers again keep them in service until after all the type 45s have been handed over then make an arguement for their replacement with Type 45 batch 2.

They are probably using the money for Exeter Nottingham and Southampton to keep Liverpool in service, I assume that of the four it was in the best condition. However with a Batch 2 being kept until 2012, that could mean the Batch 3’s remaining in service for quite a while longer (wasn’t the last batch 4 supposed to go in 2012 or 2013?).

As an alternative to all Harrier/JSF squadrons becoming RAF they could all become Navy. Let the RAF keep Typhoons, Tonkas etc. If the UK is going to have JSF at all then desginating them all RN should be no more expensive that designating them all RAF. The CAS role can be carried out by RN pilots just as well as by RAF, perhaps more so as the RN has it’s own soilders.

Any thoughts

The RAF has its own ‘soldiers’ as well. Though nowhere near as many as there are in the Royal Marines.

Obviously steam is out and diesel is in, esp. in LPDs. But that was not why I responded: I responded to the suggestion that GTUs were commonly used as propulsion in LPDs. Any other open doors?

Someone is missing the point that i was trying to make. Namely that steam is outmoded, overmanned and definately a point against the purchase of an Austin class.

Aussie Navy is having a well deserved and prolonged Xmas break.. :p:p

On serious note for a country of 20 Million, id say Aussie navy has been quite generous in contributing to world world afairs which have real effect or concearn to Australia. We have ships in Middle east, as part of coalition force, we have been dealing with Piracy in our own back yard, and around wider oceaina and hotspots as Singapore, we are only navy patroling Antartic water and only hope for American sailors who get in trouble there… every year we have to save a bunch. Id say for the size of this country we are doing quite a bit.. more then those lazy Canadians for sure :diablo:

PS: Kiwis no longer have a defense force , they are relying on new breed of enhanced vicious sheep to attack any would be intruders.

Yup, basically due to the armidales being all based up north and not being suitable for southern waters anyway, we use frigates (we only have 12!) for patrol work in the southern ocean. Add in the 2-3 that are tied up in the middle east (counting post deployment refits) and we really don’t have much to spare.

As for New Zealand, they should become our 7th state, half of them live over here as it is anyway.

What % of ships in the USSR was Ukrainian built? End of story.

The important stuff is in St. Petersburg, and up North.

If you think for a moment that Ukrainian “Carrier” experts won’t go to Russia to work, you are delusional beyond help.

Most of them would be either retired or dead by now.

Two things. (Tango, I know these quotes are attributable to the Telegraph piece and not you)

I was under the impression that frigates did not venture down there for permanent protection of the islands in any case. For that the Royal Navy has had dedicated, and very lightly armed Falkland Islands Patrol Ships (previously the 2 Castles, and now Clyde). Northumberland would have been in the area (Carribean, South Atlantic) and available at a couple days notice.

So protection of vital shipping routes and international trade is of no strategic interest to us at all? Maybe we have been wrong all along and this country is not an island after all? Protection of shipping is nothing but an EU gimmick? This is not 1982, but it is still all about politics. Did anyone bother to ask the sailors that are going to be deployed about which mission they expect to be more rewarding, challenging, and ultimately more worthwhile? I know what would get my vote.

There is the falkland islands patrol ship (Clyde), the Antartic survey ship/icebreaker, atlantic patrol task south (frigate or destroyer) and atlantic patrol task north (frigate or RFA in the carribean).

The Aegis Destroyers and Crusiers are no that far apart in size and/or capabilities. Wouldn’t are larger common class be far more economical? Of course two maybe three seperate ship yard could construct them………driving the price down even futher. Yet, giving everybody a share……….:D

Ditch the cruisers and just build a single class of destroyers. The Burkes are big enough as it is.