UK Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

FORBIN said:

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Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2015. For a high resolution image click

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No 57 Merlin, 30 HM2 and stay 8 HM 1 deserves modernization also.

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7 SSN and 4 SSBN pretty much the standard for decades

In 1969 RN operated 45 submarines with 4 nuclear and 4 attack rest were diesel

USN operated operated 156 submarines both mixed with diesel and nuclear

Meanwhile the Soviet Union operated 375 submarines including 60 nuclear and during the height of the Soviet Union at its most powerful they operated 89 nuclear submarines that was in 1978

For a country the size of the UK I would say 11 nuclear submarines is a pretty awesome force plus they have the experience and knowledge

As a matter of fact I would say the ace up RN sleeve is the sub surface fleet a true equaliser

IMHO, the only reason nations like the UK and France can get away with a total of six or seven SSNs each (because that means maybe four or five are available) is because the US is operating well over fifty.

For nation's like the UK and France, with critical maritime interests around the world, just having 4-5 SSNs available at any one time spreads them very, very thin. But when they know that your US Allie's SSNs are out there in much larger numbers and covering areas where their interests as Allies are also looked after...it makes it easy to use a much smaller number...but then make those available to US in a crisis.

Anyhow...especially since the conventional subs have been disposed of long ago, this is true.

Well that overall-strategy is called "East of Suez" where 1 SSN remains in Red Sea, Gulf or Indian Ocean and whole purpose is called "duty tomahawk" where RN SSN participated in Balkans in 1999, Afghanistan in 2001, Iraqi in 2003 and Libya 2011 and as the name suggest job is to provide coalition forces with tomahawk cover

And RN has at most 3-4 SSN operating at anyone one time at max

As stated one in East of Suez
1 is protecting a single vanguard class SSBN patrol which is 24/7 rotated between 4 SSBN
And 1 is conducting the "Persisher" commanding officer training

If resources allow 1 more is made available for other missions but that has not happened in years

Once the carriers are operational the 1 East of suez will provide escort duties and if ever uk deployed both carriers they will have to push the SSN fleet really really hard and provide escort for carriers

With newer astute class they could be pushed harder but even then it's a tight fit which is why RN requested 8 SSN in 2005

Without going very far in about 2005 RN had 12 Trafalgar/Swiftsure and originaly Astute was replacing not all but only Swiftsure.
However, even if the number of seven is lower, very, Astute class is one the best, equivalent Virginia quiet, weapons number can be mixed as Seawolf weapons which is not possible with Virginia with the 12 VLS. Astute can carry up to 38 different weapons Virginia 26...
And maybe better for her sonar.

Operationnal matter for SSBN /SSN, we had 6 Le Redoutable maximum, 2 in patrol, 1 close ready, always one in RCOH because reactor had a lifetime of 6 years...
Now with 4 Triomphant during peace time 1 in patrol, in crisis 2.

For Rubis simple same as le Redoutable for number and RCOH, minimum 3 always available.

The UK's Future Flagships


I usually don’t post here but I thought I would ask a question and see what all of you regulars on this thread think

From my understanding Both V-22 and C-2 weigh the same (about 25 tons). The U.S. Marine Corps MV-22s can carry 24 troops 700 kilometers (vertical take-off on a ship, level flight, landing, and return) at 400 kilometers an hour. As a Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, the V-22 is similar in carrying capabilities and speed as the C-2. That means a slightly slower (445 kilometers an hour) cruise speed, and the V-22 is more expensive to maintain, but can land on a carrier more easily (as a helicopter) and can carry loads of up to 4.5 tons slung underneath. This enables the COD to deliver outsize objects (replacement components or structures for the ship, or aircraft parts that would not fit inside a C-2 or V-22.)

In 2011 the French Navy leased two U.S. Navy C-2A COD aircraft. This was a temporary solution to their need to deliver air cargo to their nuclear carrier (Charles de Gaulle) while the ship was heavily engaged supporting air operations over Libya. France has long used the similar E-2 radar aircraft, from which the C-2 was developed. But now Britain is building two carriers even larger than the de Gaulle and that means they are more likely to require a larger COD aircraft like the C-2 or V-22. In the past the British and French (and other nations with carriers) would improvise for COD, often taking a carrier based bomber aircraft to move freight. If close enough to land the helicopters every carrier embarked would be used.

So excuse me not being up on current events in regards to the UK’s carriers force. Has a decision been reached in regards to the Carrier Onboard Delivery aircraft and AWAC aircraft that will be utilized on the vessels? I read in several publications (mostly Defensa and Military Technology) that the V-22 (modified type) was being seriously considered. Is this still in the “serious consideration” stage or has a decision been made?

Cheers,


Back to bottling my Grenache

My understanding so far is that the engine for F35B/C currently does not fit into the standard V-22, however I believe this issue is being addressed and if they can fit the engine into the V-22 then yes it can replace C-2

Actually engine does fit but once it's packed and on a pallet then it doesn't fit into V-22 but Boeing is on the case and I am sure in future V-22 can do the job

Also job for refuelling tanker and AWACS

FORBIN said:

Virginia with the 12 VLS. Astute can carry up to 38 different weapons Virginia 26...

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I believe the Virginia class carry up to 27 weapons in the torpedo room...but you also have to add those 12 additional VLS, so this means a total of 39 total weapons for the Virginia class.

And with the Virginia Block III boats the older VLS are replaced by two Payload Tubes or VPTs, each carrying 6 missiles, but with the capability of launching different weapons and equipment out of them instead of just Tomahawk missile.

When the new extension for the four VPMs is added in Block V, each carrying seven tubes, they will add another 28 missiles/weapons/equipment for 40 missiles overall, plus the 27 torpedo room weapons, totaling 67 weapons for those Block V and above Virginias.

Then actual VLS used by LA, Virginia Bl I/II fire only CM and for Bl III to V what new weapons, torpedoes ?

New Wildcat, 825 sqn first equiped follow 815 RN would get 24 Wildcat ASW HMA2 variant and 4 Wildcat Atk AH1 for Royal Marines. Army get 34 Wildcat.

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