Looking at numbers, quotes and loads of publicly published documents does actually give you an idea of what goes on. Not really the same as being a boot on the ground thought is it?....maybe you should join the TA....take some time out from your course and do a tour....might help you on your course and see things first hand? Donnie
There's been quite a few 'squaddies' in Politics over the years. As for the 'Regs way', I think you'll find that in the main its a far better way than the 'TA way'. To summarise the military isn't in as bad shape as the media make it out to be...This media rubbish could be forseen back in March when they all started going out to theatre like vultures waiting for the body count to go up. The war in Afganistan is very much like the fighting in the Balkans during the 90's. Its dictated by the weather when the Winter comes they filter away back to their villages and hide their weapons along the way and now the Summer is well in swing there is a massive increase in hostilities. Come October when the winter tour starts for the British Army things will be quite and the media will come home in search for another story. Soldiers in the main are dying because they are taking the fight to and engaging the enemy not because they don't have the right kit. The same as in WW2, Korea, Malaya, Falklands, Gulf 1, Balkans and my personal favourite Gulf 2. Could they do with more kit? Who couldn't but sadly Soldiers will always die in conflicts because thats what happens when people throw their teddies out of the pram and go to war. With best will in the world fwars are won with the good old 'Mk 1 Boot' on the ground regardless of how much Teci Kit you have, without it you will achieve very little. Cheers
Not really the same as being a boot on the ground thought is it?....maybe you should join the TA....take some time out from your course and do a tour....might help you on your course and see things first hand? Donnie That was the idea for the part time MA, defo following your advice though mate and talking to the recruiters again asap.
Tut tut... Cant you tell that you could never take me alive... heheh It's obvious you need a carrier. Where are you going to keep all of your "planes" Donnie is right.
The war in Afganistan is very much like the fighting in the Balkans during the 90's. War in the Balkans wasn't Guerrilla war and it was nothing like Afghanistan Soldiers in the main are dying because they are taking the fight to and engaging the enemy not because they don't have the right kit. The same as in WW2, Korea, Malaya, Falklands, Gulf 1, Balkans and my personal favourite Gulf 2. Could they do with more kit? Who couldn't but sadly Soldiers will always die in conflicts because thats what happens when people throw their teddies out of the pram and go to war. Soldiers dying mostly from mines and IED's during patrolling. Only in new recce vehicle Jackal 14 soldiers lost their lives because it's almost complete unarmoured and very vulnerable to mine treath. And how many died in Snatch, WMIK of Vikings just because neither of this vehicles are mine protected. For example there is no reported death in Mastiff patrol vehicles which is mineproof but Army still use many of older vehicles for patrolling. Because shortage of helicopters units have to be supplied by road convoys which again mean more chance to hit some mine or IED.
.....Seriously mate...get off your arse and get a pair of Dessies on and then you can make comments on Officers and Kit shortages...just because you study War and Society does not mean you can preach so wind yer neck in. ....... Donnie Brother you said a mouthful! :eagleglobeanchor:
Back to the original question....from the US standpoint. No, carriers are not eclipsed. We have plenty of them, 11 on active duty to be exact and several more in the works, one in the slips and two more coming after that. Of course that comes with the territory of being a super power, and the definition of being a super power is to be able to project influence, with extreme prejudice (if needed) anywhere in the world. Smaller carriers, that can put Marines ashore via helicopter are a big plus too. Got to have the boots on the ground you know. Expensive, you betcha! Needed, certainly (to be a super power that is). Better have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them. That was learned in the Falkland War, concerning carriers that is. Don't forget that lesson. Next time it might be someone else. China is building carriers now, or at least contemplating to do so I believe, and the Russians too. You never know....
India bought one from Russia (a big purchasing mess BTW), is building one of their own and when this will ready will start another of the same class. Far from being a dying breed.
India bought one from Russia (a big purchasing mess BTW), is building one of their own and when this will ready will start another of the same class. Far from being a dying breed. What the hell does India need an Aircraft Carrier for?
...All the subs are in the process of being replaced with a new class (Back to the navy being in charge again)... The Royal Navy is not currently 'in charge'. The last Admiral to be Chief Of The Defence Staff was Admiral Sir Michael Boyce who left the post in 2003, after just 2 years in the position. Following him was General Walker and currently it is Air Chief Marshal Stirrup, hence the current bout of in-fighting over the RAF wanting to scrap the Harrier force to save money and the Navy wanting to retain it to provide fixed wing experience for the FAA and the new Carriers, as ACM Stirrup is siding with the RAF on this matter although I believe the Navy is winning this particular argument. Maybe in this day & age the question should be "Do we really need as many Main Battle Tanks as we currently have?" Now there is a piece of hardware fast approaching obsolescence.
Just in case Pakistan gets one.... Not wishing to urinate in your parade but India's military problem is not Pakistan. Pakistan's defence budget is 1/10 of India's in real terms, and anyway Pakistan's prospects as a political entity seem to be slipping down the Islamist drain. The main problem India faces is a modernising Chinese armed forces who are buying an entire new navy from Russia, carriers included (and four marine assault ships from France!)
Not wishing to urinate in your parade but India's military problem is not Pakistan. Pakistan's defence budget is 1/10 of India's in real terms, and anyway Pakistan's prospects as a political entity seem to be slipping down the Islamist drain. The main problem India faces is a modernising Chinese armed forces who are buying an entire new navy from Russia, carriers included (and four marine assault ships from France!) Ok, good point. I'll tell Brad. "Hey Brad, the Indians ain't afeared of the Paki's, it's the Chicoms they are looking to have to fight off." There, happy now....
Does The Republic of China have a navy? If not, then they better get one to counter the People's Republic of China's navy. Maybe it would be in the Nationalist's best interest to ally with India then.
yes to carriers..but as poop says it would be nice to have some planes to go on em..do raf typhoons have good drag chutes..we might need some area defence boats..sorry ships and some support ships to go with em.. do an invincible trick again and you end up with a bristol a load of bait type 42s and an untested close too flaming close seawolfs in an emergency instead of a properly structured area defence.. dont need the heavy army..keep an armoured brigade to tread thru desert occassionally..do the army on a light tight battle group as in afghanistan role but give em all they need..light brigades though should never be used to charge the guns..not right not clever..disband raf..strategic war thinkers and plane hoarding no longer required.. all helos to green jobs or are they sandy jobs now..whatever... the russians aint coming mr stirrup..let it go man..they dont like the planes getting wet anyway..keep 2sqns for fighter defence the air cadets can use them at summer camp..harriers and transports go with helos to the pongos..navy is needed ..army may need em to get home on one day..we have a history...better a blanket and rum laced horlicks on way home served a la jack tar than that foreign yank muck they call coffee and us having to thank them for another 60 years.. keep the paras ..one never knows when one may require a nutter..and for gods sakes keep the egg banjos..
