Not to be too off-topic but getting goodies like the new 45's is all good and well but isn't the UK, and well not just the UK but rather most navies today, get more and more AA capabilaties and few multirole ships ? I mean it seems to me that there is a growing emphasis on AA and not enough of it towards sea-sea and land assault capabilaties. It's just a thought.
New Reaper aircraft provides extra support to operations in Afghanistan
An extra Reaper remotely-piloted aircraft has arrived in Afghanistan, increasing support to troops.
This latest addition to the Royal Air Force's Reaper fleet will allow 39 Squadron to fly multiple Reaper aircraft at any one time over Afghanistan.
Article: MoD News
I've wondered the same thing myself actually...the type 45's are mainly AA and the typhoon while classed as multi-role is more of an interceptor it seemsOriginally Posted by fish_b
Ocelot to be revealed as Snatch Land Rover replacement
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11388724The Ministry of Defence is to announce a vehicle partially designed by Formula 1 engineers is to replace the controversial Snatch Land Rover.
The British-designed Ocelot has a V-shaped shell intended to defend against attacks coming from below the carriage.
The patrol vehicle can also be easily dismantled if needs be.
The Land Rover had been criticised for not offering troops in Afghanistan and Iraq enough protection from roadside bombs.
The Ocelot, which was created by Force Protection Europe and Ricardo, a British automotive engineering company, was among several bids competing for the Ministry of Defence contract.
The vehicle, which can weigh 7.5 tonnes when loaded, can reach 50mph in 19.75 seconds.
The Ocelot was up against this guy:
http://www.supacat.com/products/spv400/
Last edited by ForQueenAndCountry; 09-22-2010 at 11:30 AM.
Is the Ocelot the most suitable replacement for the Snatch, or the cheapest?
that's an ugly thing.... but i'd rather have ugly and safe than good looking and not..... my only thought is that the wheels seem a bit unprotected...
Its less ugly than the SPV400 IMO. There was speculation about the stability of the Supacat contender, with it being somewhat top heavy but don't know if this was borne out in the testing. Will say though that the supacat is taller and narrower due to it having the V floor above a regular chassis rather than the monocoque V shape of the Ocelot. Ocelot also has the modular crew pod, but don't know if this would actually be used as there are more specialized variants to fill these roles.
I'd love to see some test blast footage on these bad boys
The front reminds me of a German Sd.Kfz. 251
Does anyone know anything about it's price compared to the Supacat SPV400?
there's some for the Supacat contender...
http://www.supacat.com/products/spv400/spv400-gallery/
Royal Navy warships enjoy South American duties
Two Royal Navy warships - HMS Ocean and HMS Portland - have been building relations with South America as both ships have recently been on diplomatic duties with Brazil and Chile respectively.
Having finished her patrol duties in the South Atlantic, HMS Portland has played a starring role in Chile's bicentennial independence celebrations, while HMS Ocean has been working with Brazilian forces and her crew has been taking part in community projects.
Article: MoD News
There's a refocussing towards cheaper, multi-role units nowadays. The T26 being a classic example. We're finally about to reap the rewards of that colossal investment in items such as Artisan, CAMM, 2087 sonar, etc..
It's also worth remembering that the T45s are mutlirole warships, despite what the critics say. The weapons themselves are a small part of the overall picture (ridiculous as that sounds). We can train for them, without them, we have the sensors in place, we have the tactics in place. As frustrating as the FFBNW culture of the last decade is, it's something that produces results quickly if push comes to shove, but at the moment the T45s (as one example) don't need a world-beating asw or anti surface fit.
However, I think it's safe to see that we're going through a shift of culture now, and it's impossible to deny we need a large number of less capable, cheaper, units to support the constabulary operations which have once again become the navy's bread and butter.
Manchester races through a storm to Bermuda
22 September 2010
ROUGHERS. In a Type 42. Always fun.
The 42 is HMS Manchester. The roughers come courtesy of Hurricane Igor, a nasty little Category 3 storm (winds upwards of 130mph) which barrelled around Bermuda.
The Busy Bee, in the Caribbean on anti-drug-running and disaster relief duties, stood by as Igor passed directly over the British Overseas Territory.
The Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney, had requested that the destroyer was on hand so she could give assistance should Bermuda suffer major damage and so that the ship’s Lynx could conduct a rapid aerial survey.
In the event Igor passed close to the west of the Island during the early hours of Monday – by which time, fortunately, it had weakened to a Category 1 (winds up to a ‘mere’ 95mph) hurricane.
HMS Manchester arrived off Bermuda a few hours after Igor had passed and was able to launch her Lynx to survey the Island.
“Having been tasked to stand by Bermuda, it was important to get there as quickly as possible after Igor has passed through,” said Manchester’s CO Cdr Rex Cox.
“This involved a sporty fast dash north, surfing in behind the hurricane eye so as to be in a position to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief as required.
“Fortunately Bermuda suffered only slight damage and no casualties and Manchester can now return to the Caribbean Sea and position ready for the next severe weather event.”
Manchester had been conducting counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean Sea when the order was given to travel 900 miles north to Bermuda. She also had to cancel a planned visit to St Kitts which was part of their Independence Day celebrations.
During the passage north from her operating areas in the Caribbean basin the ship encountered two days of heavy seas with seven-metre (25ft) waves that had been whipped up by the hurricane.
“It was excellent that Manchester was able to send in her helicopter. From this flight we were able to get the complete picture as to what had happened,” said Governor Gozney.
- Navy News
Props to the HMS Manchester crew. Shows that the RN is a vital tool for diplomacy and humanitarian support not just warfare - some thing alot of folks seem to over look.
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