Royal Navy Cuts Too Deep?

Researchers in the UK are saying that the Royal Navy is now 'too small' to protect Britain.

His warning was backed by retired naval officer Commander John Muxworthy of the UK National Defence Association who said that during the Falklands War in 1982 Britain had access to about 60 frigates and destroyers.

He said: "Now we have got 19. You have to use the rule of three with ships - one fighting, one training and one recovering"
"Just divide 19 by three to see how many we have got available for operations. People will fall about laughing if you claim we have enough.
"The Royal Navy has been emaciated. It is no longer a fleet. It is a flotilla."
"Britain is disarming when many countries around the world are rearming. The consequence is that we will lose lives, lose operational capabilities and we will be a shadow of our former selves.
"Yet as an island nation 90 per cent of everything that comes and goes from here goes by sea. "

Ouch.

By: Brant

The Royal Navy's First Woman Captain of a Ship

She's taking command of the HMS Portland.

The first woman to command a major Royal Navy warship is taking up her post.
Britain's Ministry of Defense says Commander Sarah West will take control of the frigate HMS Portland Tuesday.
The 40-year-old has served in the Royal Navy for 16 years.
The ship is being refitted and will be based in Devonport.
Officials say women first went to sea with the Royal Navy in 1990 and have served as pilots and mine clearance divers in addition to other posts.

The home page of the HMS Portland.

HMS Portland is currently in an upkeep period at Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard undergoing an upgrade and maintenance programme, including some significant upgrades and improvements to maintain the ship at peak effectiveness. Among the upgrades that Portland will receive during this substantial refit are the new DNA(2) Command System (key to the ship's fighting capability against air, surface and underwater threats); the new Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) (DII(F)), enabling information sharing and collaborative working across the defence sector network; the fit of Sonar 2087 (the tactical variable depth active and passive anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system), the SeaWolf mid-life update (SWMLU) comprising tracking, guidance and weapon management upgrades to counter evolving anti-ship missile threats; the 4.5 Mk8 Mod1 gun replacement; and new 30mm automatic gun fit.HMS Portland has spent most of 2011 in UK waters providing a platform to allow the crucial training of future Principle Warfare Officers, Navigators and Aircrew.

HMS Portland is scheduled to leave Rosyth for sea trials in autumn 2012 before returning to her home port of Devonport prior to Christmas.

HMS Portland spent most of 2011 conducting maritime security of UK waters and providing a platform to allow the crucial training of future Principle Warfare Officers, Navigators and Aircrew.

By: Brant

Falklands Row Expands to Other Nations

Preu has cancelled a visit by a UK warship.

Britain's Foreign Office expressed regret on Tuesday that Peru cancelled a visit by a Royal Navy frigate in a show of support for Argentina over the contested Falkland Islands.
"HMS Montrose was scheduled to make a short visit to Peru as part of a routine deployment to the region. This was agreed as an act of friendship and cooperation between Peru and the UK," a spokesman in London said.
"Ship visits are a sovereign decision for states, but we regret that Peru has revoked its previous agreement to this visit.

By: Brant

Royal Navy's New Anti-Missile Missile

And it's supersonic, too. Oooooohhh

A new air defence system that can destroy enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds has been revealed by the Royal Navy.

Sea Ceptor missiles fired from warships will reach speeds of up to Mach 3 and protect an area of around 500 sq miles.

The £483 million contract to develop the defence system has been awarded to MBDA (UK).

The Ministry of Defence said the five-year project would mean continued employment for around 500 workers.

Facilities across the UK including at Stevenage in Hertfordshire, Filton in South Gloucestershire and Lostock in Bolton will be used to build the missile system.

Defence Equipment Minister Peter Luff said: "The development of this missile system is a huge boost to the UK's world-leading missile industry and once again proves our commitment to providing battle-winning technology to our armed forces."

To start with, Sea Ceptor will be used on the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates, but in future it could be adapted for use by the Army and RAF.

So when is someone going to make an anti-anti-missile missile?

By: Brant

UK In Action: HMS Raider Patrol

The P2000 Archer Class Patrol vessel HMS Raider is pictured at speed in the Solent. HMS Raider is one of two Batch 2 P2000 class coastal training vessels operated by the Royal Navy. Her primary tasking is in support of Bristol University Royal Naval Unit, providing the opportunity for students to spend time at sea, both on sea weekends, and longer deployments during university breaks.

img from UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

UK In Action: Night Carrier Ops

Pictured through an image intensifier, a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter from No.7 Squadron lifts off from the deck of HMS Illustrious during night flying operations with Apache helicopters in the foreground. Two Apache helicopters from 664 Squadron, Army Air Corps have also embarked for a two week training package, to enable pilots and ground crews to acclimatise to working in a maritime environment. They were joined by a Chinook from 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force which flew out to the ship for a few hours deck landing practice. the flying continued well into the night as well.

img from UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

UK In Action: HMS Dragon Leaving the Yard

Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon leaves Clyde following construction and heads for her new home on the south coast. The fourth of the Royal Navy’s state-of-the-art Type 45 destroyer class – HMS Dragon – this morning (Saturday August 27) slipped beneath the Erskine Bridge bound for the south coast. Built by BAE Systems on the Clyde, Dragon has rounded off her build and sea trials, and is making her way to her new home in Portsmouth, where she will join sisters HM Ships Daring, Dauntless and Diamond. A total of six ships will make up the Daring Class – Defender and Duncan, which will complete the class, are still in completion on the Clyde.

img from UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

Lock Up Your Women, the Royal Navy is... Oh. Uh, Never Mind...

The Royal Navy has appointed their first female warship commander.

The Royal Navy has appointed a woman to command a frigate for the first time.

Lieutenant Commander Sarah West, 39, will take command of HMS Portland in April 2012. She has previously commanded four minehunters.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Lt Cdr West would complete a commanding officer designate course before taking up the position.

Women have been able to serve in the Royal Navy since 1994 and now make up just under 10% of the force.

They remain barred from some areas of service, such as the Royal Marine Commandos.

Lt Cdr West's previous naval experience has included serving in the Gulf.

h/t MM

By: Brant

UK In Action: RFA Fort Victoria

RFA Fort Victoria passes Mogadishu during OP CAPRI, the Counter-Piracy effort off the Somalian Coast. Fort Victoria and Fort George combine the functions of fleet oilers and stores ships. Being large and adaptable they are equipped with an expansive flight deck, supported by hangars for three Sea King-sized helicopters. This class can embark and support both anti-submarine helicopters and troop-carrying Sea King Mk4 helicopters, which can transfer large amounts of stores to other ships. For dual-purpose replenishment rigs are fitted amidships, enabling transfer of fuel and stores to two ships simultaneously. Both can fuel vessels over the stern. The variety of tasks that these vessels can be employed upon is reflected in their complements. The ship’s company of RFA officers and ratings is supplemented by civilian Warship Support Agency staff and RN personnel who maintain the weapons.

img from UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

Discord in UK Government & Military Over Capabilities

There's a very public row growing between Prime Minister Cameron and the First Sea Lord over comments about how stretched the Royal Navy really is.

Britain's chief naval officer has been left humiliated after David Cameron said he had summoned him to Downing Street to challenge his claims that the fleet could not continue the Libya campaign indefinitely without affecting other naval operations.

The prime minister told MPs he had met Sir Mark Stanhope, and that the first sea lord now agreed that the navy would be able to "sustain this mission as long as we need to".

The meeting was the culmination of a turbulent 24 hours for Stanhope, who infuriated No 10 by talking about the strains on the navy, which is heavily involved in the Afghanistan mission as well as in Libya.

In a briefing on Monday, Stanhope said ministers would have to "make challenging decisions" once Nato's 90-day extension to the Libya campaign ended.

"Beyond that we might have to request the government to make some challenging decisions about priorities," he said. "There are different ways of doing this. It's not simply about giving up standing commitments. We will have to rebalance."

He said a ship might have to be diverted from "around home waters".

His remarks provoked uproar at No 10, which regarded them as a PR gift to the Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, as well as misrepresenting the state of the service. But serving staff privately rallied to him, and former officers provided public support, saying Stanhope was only stating the obvious, especially now the navy has axed ships and thousands of personnel as part of the government's strategic defence and security review (SDSR).

Anyone got any games they can think of that would model this level of over-taxation of forces based on economic investments? Third Reich, maybe?

By: Brant

UK In Action: Arctic LCAC

A Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) from 539 Squadron Royal Marines. Approaching the well dock of HMS Albion, during Exercise Joint Winter in Norway.

img from UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

Royal Navy Pilots Learning To Speak French

The recent agreement between Britain and France to share an aircraft carrier means that some Royal Navy pilots must learn French in order to operate off the Charles de Gaulle. Who woulda thunk it?!

The first five of 30 Royal Navy pilots have begun French language training at the defence college in Paris before they join the carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, where they will fly Rafale jets.

They will spend 16 weeks studying French so that they are able to communicate with their colleagues on board the vessel.

While they will wear their own uniforms they will sleep, eat and work alongside French fighter pilots, in what has been described as a major test of co-operation for the two Navies.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The relationship with France is strategically important and discussions are ongoing about Royal Navy personnel being based on Charles de Gaulle as part of the bilateral agreement between our two countries. This will allow us to maintain our skills and help to develop an enhanced capability in the future.”

By: Shelldrake

The Brits'll Get An Aircraft Carrier Afloat... Eventually

Well, I guess the Brits will get an aircraft carrier back on the seas by 2020.

Defence secretary Liam Fox was on the Clyde to cut the first steel for HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the Royal Navy's two Queen Elizabeth class carriers.

Dr Fox started the computer-guided laser to cut the first piece of hull for the ship at a ceremony at the BAE Systems shipyard in Govan.

After the symbolic ceremony, Dr Fox told the workers the government was committed to delivering this next generation of powerful British aircraft carriers, which will form the cornerstone of the navy's Future Force 2020.

"This major construction project is creating and sustaining thousands of jobs in shipyards around the country," he added.

After attending the event, Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty told The Courier, "It is another milestone on the road to completion of the two aircraft carriers.

"Obviously I am delighted to begin to see the Queen Elizabeth carriers taking shape in Govan and more crucially at Rosyth."

He said not only would the carriers guarantee employment for Rosyth until 2020 at least, but they were of great benefit to the UK.

In the meantime, the pride of the French navy is doing the heavy lifting of Libya.

By: Brant

HMS Liverpool Returns Fire On Rocket Battery

Navy News reports that pro-Gaddafi forces recently learned the hard way that it is not a good idea to fire on a Royal Navy destroyer.

HMS Liverpool pummelled an enemy rocket battery after it opened fire on the destroyer off the besieged Libyan city of Misrata this morning.

The words ‘Four-five, engage’ were issued after a salvo of rockets was launched at Liverpool as she and Allied warships tried to stop Colonel Gaddafi’s forces mining the waters off the port.

The destroyer’s main 4.5in gun responded with a series of withering blows which silenced the pro-government battery.

It’s the first time the main guns of the Royal Navy have been fired in anger since they plastered Saddam Hussein’s defences in the opening moments of the 2003 Iraq campaign.

After a break in Crete, Liverpool returned to waters off Libya for her second patrol to continue enforcing UN Security Council resolutions – preventing arms and munitions reaching Col Gaddafi and ensuring aid reaches the free peoples of Libya.

Pro-government forces have made sustained attempts to block the approaches to Misrata port with mines, including one thwarted by HMS Brocklesby a fortnight ago when the Portsmouth-based minehunter blew up a mine laid a mile or so off the harbour.

Last night Liverpool and other NATO warships were sent in to intercept inflatable boats seen approaching Misrata; the small fast craft are used to lay and anchor the mines to the seabed.

As the force moved in, one of the regime’s coastal batteries fired a salvo at Liverpool – which missed – and the destroyer immediately sent a response of steel and fire in the direction of the rocket launchers which promptly ceased firing.

The sweep by the Allied warships also caused the pro-Gaddafi boats to abandon their mining operation before laying their deadly ‘eggs’.

By: Shelldrake

HMS Brocklesby Destroys Mine

Mine warfare is an old but very real threat to NATO ships and civilian vessels operating in and around the besieged Libyan port of Misrata.

This is the first, chilling image of a mine laid by Gaddafi’s forces off the beleaguered city of Misrata – and blown up by HMS Brocklesby minutes later.

Crudely tethered to an inflatable boat – sunk to serve as a makeshift ‘mooring’ – the mine packs 100kg explosive and was laid just a mile off the entrance to the Libyan port.

The contact mine – designed to detonate on impact with a passing vessel – possessed enough explosive, said Brocklesby's Commanding Officer Lt Cdr James Byron, to sink any ship which struck it.

The mine was one of three dumped in the waters off Misrata by pro-Gaddafi forces – who have made repeated attempts to close the port.

The city has been held by rebel forces for several weeks, but is under siege from government troops who have made concerted efforts to re-take the city on land, and to halt the flow of humanitarian aid by sea.

NATO forces enforcing UN Security Council resolutions off Libya observed pro-Gaddafi forces laying three tethered mines. Allied mine warfare forces – part of the 19-strong NATO armada in the Gulf of Sirte – were ordered in to deal with the threat.

With Brocklesby closed up at action stations and all the ship’s company in anti-flash, her state-of-the-art sonar and Seafox disposal system were used to locate one of the mines – the latter hi-tech piece of kit provided a live video feed back to the Portsmouth-based minehunter’s ops room.

With the order ‘Command approved’ from Lt Cdr Byron, a charge from Seafox blew up the mine – causing a small plume of first white and then black water to rise above the surface as the device and the sunken inflatable were sent to kingdom come.

“This is exactly the kind of operation my crew have trained for: dealing with live mines posing a threat to legitimate shipping within sight and range of shore bombardment," said Lt Cdr Byron.

“My team have handled themselves superbly in the execution of this mission reacting stoutly to the very real threat posed by rockets and artillery ashore.”

By: Shelldrake

HMS Queen Elizabeth Under Construction

A "65,000-tonne jigsaw puzzle".

In a shipyard in Scotland the future of the Royal Navy is slowly taking shape. But the construction of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is a mammoth task.

Imagine an aircraft carrier as a 65,000-tonne jigsaw puzzle and you have got a good idea of the scale of the building of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The pieces are being built at six shipyards around the UK and will be slotted together at Rosyth in Fife using an enormous crane which was transported by sea from China.

Around 10,000 workers across Britain are employed on the £5bn project with up to 25,000 engaged in building components for the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft.

The carrier will have between 12 and 40 F-35s, or Joint Strike Fighters, costing around £65m each.

We're trying to find some images on like the ones linked at the article. Below is the Google Maps sat view of the shipyards where the work's going on.

By: Brant


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Royal Navy Running Out Of Ammo?

So apparently the Royal Navy is almost out of Tomahawk missiles.

Defence insiders say as many as 12 of the weapons have been fired from the hunter–killer submarine Triumph in the past four days.
If this is correct, the Navy will have used up to 20 per cent of its 64 Tomahawks in the opening salvos of the war, leading to fears that it is "burning through" its armoury.
The situation could become an embarrassment for the Government if the submarine were the only vessel within range of a number of targets but could not fulfil the mission.

They've only got 64 on-hand? Seriously? That's an afternoon fire drill for the US. In the Libya mission alone, we've fired 116 or so. The Brits only have 64? Total?! Eesh. Can someone loan them a few?

By: Brant

UK In Action: Ships of the Line

During the Maritime demomstration off Oman,a FA2 Sea Harrier from 801 Squadron launches from the flight deck of HMS Illustrious, Fleet Flag Ship. Naval units of Oman and the Royal Navy in the back ground, HMS Southampton, Al Muzzar, HMS Cornwall, Qahir Al Amwaj, Fulk Al Salamah , HMS Ocean.

Image: UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

UK In Action: Piracy Patrol

Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland is pictured in the Indian Ocean whilst conducting Counter-Piracy Operations.

Image: UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

UK In Action: Getting Wet at Sea

Royal Navy type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh is pictured during a pre-wetting exercise. This system is designed to increase the Ship's survivability from chemical or biological attack by washing-off any agents which laid on the Ship. The crew inside are kept safe by a positive-pressure atmospheric 'citadel', and by wearing personal respirators.

Image: UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7