Queenbough? My dad was on her in the late 50s, I assume your time was late 60s?
My old boss did a sea ride on a River as part of the prep for the OPV program here and was quite impressed. Then again even a canoe would be better than an Armidale.
The Royal Navy Discussions and Updates
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My old boss did a sea ride on a River as part of the prep for the OPV program here and was quite impressed. Then again even a canoe would be better than an Armidale.
A further article from ‘Save the Royal Navy’, this time focussing on the Arrowhead 140 candidate for the RN’s Type 31e.
In focus – the Arrowhead 140 Type 31e frigate candidate | Save the Royal Navy
HMAS Queenborough (ex HMS) one of the Q class transferred to the RAN, she was one of the 3 x ship Training Squadron of the late 1960’s incl. HMAShips Sydney and Anzac.
“Then again” Armidales May jump a bit but I’ll take one over an Attack every time.
HMAS Queenborough | Royal Australian Navy
Yes, I served in her under Weary Weil in 1971. A fun ship although I left her in Fiji half way through a pacific islands jolly to join Sydney for her trip to the US. I notice that Queenbee's Wikipedia entry suggests she had only one mortar mark 10; I'm very sure she had two!
Don't know the year but dad was on her for an exercise during the Confrontation, escorting HMS Centaur, there's a photo album somewhere with all the shots of the carrier and an escorting cruiser, one of the Colonies I think or maybe a Minotaur.
Moving the thread BACK to RN Activities, this video has appeared, showing trails on HMS Queen Elizabeth...
Yes I know it's the Daily Mail, but the article is quite pertinent and holds no punches about the demise of the RN.
Iran tanker seizure: Ex-admirals join criticism of Royal Navy cuts | Daily Mail Online
Iran tanker seizure: Ex-admirals join criticism of Royal Navy cuts | Daily Mail Online
Its going to get worse before it gets better. The Iran situation is a here and now thing.. I don't know if there is much they can do. At least this is a real story for the Daily Mail.
If they do nothing, nothing will change.
A lot has been made about Montrose being too far away, I say balls, she carries an armed Wildcat helo which could have played a part but given the handwringing from a distracted govt it seems the best course is for the RN is to stay away until the so called European escort force is established.
I can’t help but see the irony here, the UK is hell bent on Brexit but the minute a crisis emerges they extol the virtue of cooperative action.
Where’s the Iron Lady when she’s needed?
Which admiral would be able to get anything out of the current situation, you have ministers quiting and limbo until a new PM is in. There is no other space for anything other than Brexit flimflam. What would happening if the Helo was shot (or fired on) at or downed.. IMO there is a reason they chose a British ship. Even if they had all the capability in the world in theater, it wouldn't solve the problem.
New ships will take many years to build up as will their crews. Their currently build rate isn't hugely ambitious and ships are always getting older, and problems always exist.
I wonder if Boris's first speech will be about how the cooperative European force will save the day. Maybe he will be the first PM not to talk or use his voice.
New ships will take many years to build up as will their crews. Their currently build rate isn't hugely ambitious and ships are always getting older, and problems always exist.
And where is Admiral Sir Henry Leach, along with two operational carriers and well worked up squadrons of naval strike aircraft?
I know that this sad state of affairs is no surprise to DT members. We have all been watching the steady rundown of the Royal Navy for decades and it has now reached a stage where it just cannot meet the commitments expected of it. I wonder if the defence minister and the UK cabinet were surprised when told that naval action was not an option. During the Falklands War Admiral Leach was able to buy a decade or more for the R.N. carrier force when decisive action showed that the Empire could still strike back and in doing so won political and public support for the navy. I feel sorry for the First Sea Lord now as he looks at his shrunken fleet and particularly at the proportion of destroyers and frigates that are currently unavailable for operations.
Is there any possibility the the RN could take advantage of the situation to try and win public support for a stronger navy? It wouldn't help in the short term but just maybe it might be able to at least arrest the current downwards slide!
Tas
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Redlands18
Well-Known Member
When I first started getting interested in Militaries in the late 70s, the RN conventional fleet was about 4 times the size of the RAN in numbers of ships, after the end of the Cold War it was down to 3 times the size, now it is barely twice the size in Surface Ships and only just passes the RAN in Attack Subs*
*though they are much bigger and more capable but current planning will see the RAN pass the RN numbers by the early 40s.
A very sad state of affairs
When all said and done the British economy just isn't what it used to be. In a comparison to Australia the GDP is only about 95% larger while the population is 170% greater then Australia. They quite simply cant afford the fleet they used to have in the past. Now could they be more fiscally responsible with the funds and get more for them? Of course hell almost every nation could especially Australia but itwont be anywhere near like the old days of having a force dwarfing that of others. They should going forward be able to sustain a navy and air force at the least double that of Australia's but not much more especially when one considers that the cost of them maintaining a nuclear capability eats up around 5.6% of the defence budget alone, More going forward with the future acquisitions. Going forward he budget for the British forces is looking better with the 2020 budget to be around $62 billion USD compared to an ADF budget of $28 billion USD (based on present exchange rates and a little guesstimation). What has hurt the British forces the most I would say is timing. They went through the post cold war scaling down, Then when they did start to expand again got hit by the GFC which hit the economy hard. Scaled down too much too fast then when did start to reverse it got a big hit thrown their way. Financially things are looking better and will continue to improve (Barring the Trump or some one else tipping things over into a conflict with Iran) and should see the military improve right along side it. The biggest issue if any is a lack of long term planning. They should be laying out the planned acquisition and upgrade of the RN for the next 20 - 30 years now rather then making decisions on the fly (5 to 10 year plans).
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
I listened to ex Australian High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Downer being interviewed by the ABC on the Boris Johnson leadership. Downer knows both May and Johnson very well.
He was very positive about Boris’ prospects and showed a view from an insider not often reported.
When asked about the PM May legacy Downer was circumspect but highly critical, especially over the tanker crisis where he said that Trump had offered to protect UK flagged ships but because May disliked and disrespected Trump she refused the offer.
The rest, as they say, is history.
I hope the future is a bit more cohesive that what it looks from the outside. I can certainly see Boris and Trump getting along and putting in some joint planning on a number of fronts, surely one of which is defence.
I actually think Boris is probably a good thing for Australian interests. He has an infatuation with Australia, and it doesn't suprise me that Downer and others from the Australian mission would have a stronger connection with him. Boris has visited Australia numerous times (almost annually) before and during his political career, and has connections here, and representing Australia in the Uk. Where as May the relationship was very distant and generally focused on Europe.
The Aussie papers are full of it.
Australia fan Boris Johnson gets welcome mat from Down Under
Bishop: Underestimating Boris Johnson a ‘huge mistake’
You can also see more on his views from his 2017 Lowy speech. He frequently sites Australia of an example of what can be achieved out side of the common market.
The 2017 Lowy Lecture: UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
It seems however, Boris has played the situation well, and after May, anything he does is likely to be seen as a success. He is likely to see less division in the party than May, even if he reruns the same policy.
It would be seemingly timely to have on the agenda a clear direction for defense and for foreign policy. Given the high profile situation with British shipping. Guess we will have to see. You can't make ships and sailors appear out of thin air, and finance is likely to be tight in the near term. But I do think at least as far as the US and Australia is concerned, there is probably more active looking and accepting of offers being made, this might make the existing RN more effective.
Best to keep focused on how these issues would affect the RN directly before the mods make me drink fosters. There better be an immediate plan to solve the current situation.
Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
I actually think Boris is probably a good thing for Australian interests. He has an infatuation with Australia, and it doesn't suprise me that Downer and others from the Australian mission would have a stronger connection with him. Boris has visited Australia numerous times (almost annually) before and during his political career, and has connections here, and representing Australia in the Uk. Where as May the relationship was very distant and generally focused on Europe.
The Aussie papers are full of it.
Australia fan Boris Johnson gets welcome mat from Down Under
Bishop: Underestimating Boris Johnson a ‘huge mistake’
You can also see more on his views from his 2017 Lowy speech. He frequently sites Australia of an example of what can be achieved out side of the common market.
The 2017 Lowy Lecture: UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
It seems however, Boris has played the situation well, and after May, anything he does is likely to be seen as a success. He is likely to see less division in the party than May, even if he reruns the same policy.
It would be seemingly timely to have on the agenda a clear direction for defense and for foreign policy. Given the high profile situation with British shipping. Guess we will have to see. You can't make ships and sailors appear out of thin air, and finance is likely to be tight in the near term. But I do think at least as far as the US and Australia is concerned, there is probably more active looking and accepting of offers being made, this might make the existing RN more effective.
Best to keep focused on how these issues would affect the RN directly before the mods make me drink fosters. There better be an immediate plan to solve the current situation.
Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
For our posters who live in the land of the Pom. Something to brighten their day.
Those pics look like your average Pom who’s spent the day on Bondi beach after stepping off the plane from Heathrow.For our posters who live in the land of the Pom. Something to brighten their day.
No sunsmarts here.
No hankies covering their heads either or socks and sandals
the concerned
Active Member
Does anyone know which ship is currently in the Caribbean on patrol . Just thinking with the current crisis if it is a surface combatant maybe it could be replaced by one of the patrol craft