My view is that we need to become task specific:
-Clearly there is in increased russian presence in and around uk waters. Therefore, the CASD role should be filled with a ASW t23/26.
-I think post Brexit and in conjunction with the above point we should have a presence in the Baltic sea, for the same reasons i'd deploy an ASW t23/26.
-Any carrier group would need at least one ASW t23/26.
-And anything deploying east to the indian ocean and perhaps beyond would ideally need in my eyes to have ASW capability.
That meant the current 8 would not be sufficient, with at least 11 required so I worked from that point. In the belief that the t31 will be severly limited (arguably to only an east of suez/fres tasking). Therefore, I 'budgeted' for the additional cost by cancelling the t31, reducing overall FF replacement and paring down of non ASW capability.
In support of my first point of russian activity, it would be prudent to have sub availabilty as high as possible in and around uk waters. Diesels to me are a non starter as are more astutes. Therefore, being task specific, if we could alleviate the landstrike responsibilty from the sub fleet, by adding mk 41 to the 6 t45 rather than the planned 8 t26. We can then retask the subs to British Northern European waters, providing a more consistent and genuine deterrent.
The t45 can then focus on the gulf, where its AEW cover makes sense in conjunction with allied and likely British carrier deployments. As well as 'fleet' protection for the x4 minesweepers, x2 rfa ships in the region plus any additional assets deployed periodically. Whilst now also providing constant landstrike capability.
Fres covered by t45 too, as the class would be a genuine 'all rounder' particularly if paired with a merlin. To react to world events.
Finally, the relieved manning from the reduction in the frigate fleet would allow the rivers to be retained. Allowing them to be deployed where FF/DD are arguably overkill, including the falklands, where i believe with tri service assets deployed, and the state of argentine defence enables us, for a time, to pause this regular deployment (as has been the case recently). By retaining the rivers this actually gives us more coverage, admittedly at a lower level, but to taskings that demand no higher capability.
Just my thoughts on it.
I agree, in that preferably i'd like the t26 to have mk41 too, but wanted to justify any gains against realistic losses
Cheers Sellers
-Clearly there is in increased russian presence in and around uk waters. Therefore, the CASD role should be filled with a ASW t23/26.
-I think post Brexit and in conjunction with the above point we should have a presence in the Baltic sea, for the same reasons i'd deploy an ASW t23/26.
-Any carrier group would need at least one ASW t23/26.
-And anything deploying east to the indian ocean and perhaps beyond would ideally need in my eyes to have ASW capability.
That meant the current 8 would not be sufficient, with at least 11 required so I worked from that point. In the belief that the t31 will be severly limited (arguably to only an east of suez/fres tasking). Therefore, I 'budgeted' for the additional cost by cancelling the t31, reducing overall FF replacement and paring down of non ASW capability.
In support of my first point of russian activity, it would be prudent to have sub availabilty as high as possible in and around uk waters. Diesels to me are a non starter as are more astutes. Therefore, being task specific, if we could alleviate the landstrike responsibilty from the sub fleet, by adding mk 41 to the 6 t45 rather than the planned 8 t26. We can then retask the subs to British Northern European waters, providing a more consistent and genuine deterrent.
The t45 can then focus on the gulf, where its AEW cover makes sense in conjunction with allied and likely British carrier deployments. As well as 'fleet' protection for the x4 minesweepers, x2 rfa ships in the region plus any additional assets deployed periodically. Whilst now also providing constant landstrike capability.
Fres covered by t45 too, as the class would be a genuine 'all rounder' particularly if paired with a merlin. To react to world events.
Finally, the relieved manning from the reduction in the frigate fleet would allow the rivers to be retained. Allowing them to be deployed where FF/DD are arguably overkill, including the falklands, where i believe with tri service assets deployed, and the state of argentine defence enables us, for a time, to pause this regular deployment (as has been the case recently). By retaining the rivers this actually gives us more coverage, admittedly at a lower level, but to taskings that demand no higher capability.
Just my thoughts on it.
I agree, in that preferably i'd like the t26 to have mk41 too, but wanted to justify any gains against realistic losses
Cheers Sellers
