I fear that the inmates are running the asylum - too many people without operational or logistical experience making the decisions - and too many decisions have a decidedly political spin for party purposes. The selling off of Barracks and MOD land especially in London over the past years smacks of cronyism - I note the the Household cavalry barracks are next for the chop - property developers rubbing their hands. I suppose it might save money if they rode bikes instead of horses!
Exactly Steven. One cannot help be suspicious on what is happening to the disposal of public assets...selling of these assets to big business for a fraction of their value. As regards the realisation of the asset value,these transactions are being undertaken at the bottom end of market activity...virtually fire sales. I think that the MOD proposes to dispose of about 7 sites ...what i see are sites which would be attractive to the speculators while developing a fort mentality with the remaining military centres,,planning further investment .....will be interesting what the balance book eventually shows between disposal and expenditure. A fine airfield such as Scampton has had its future in the balance for the best of 20 years...expect a sell off and a rundown of the site at anytime.
I'd be interested to know how much the MoD pays Crye to license the Multicam-derived MTP pattern? Not only did we discard our signature DPM, we've managed to pay for the privilege. Couldn't we have produced a 'semi-desert' DPM in a different colour mix, maintained our identity and saved a few bob? Apparently not. There is also the economic knock-on to the third-party kit manufacturers who now have to pay for Multicam or go to the expense of developing similar but legally-distinct patterns (ATP Vista) whereas DPM was basically free to use. To say nothing of the fact that their market keeps shrinking. Donning the tinfoil hat for a moment: it's almost as if DPM's demise was deliberate as it was allowed to get progressively denser and darker over the years. Clockwise from left: 'final' DPM, worn-in DPM c1980, washed-out DPM c 1980 and MTP: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=101642&stc=1&d=1363121430 (Not entirely off topic as there is a para smock in the photo!)
Aircraft carriers without airplanes, armoured regiments without tanks, paras without parachutes, I suppose the Guards will be losing their Bearskins next. Is it that bad over there?
Is it that bad over there? Yes, I am ex MOD and have a member of my family working there, I know a lot of senior military officers who are desperate to get out, I myself am glad to be out as it's going down the toilet very very fast. The big joke is the reliance on the Reserve forces, the trouble is no significant numbers are joining for fear of being sent off to support the regular Army for 6 months with the jobs problems in civvy street. The TA was seen as a weekend laugh away from the Mrs, having a good night in the mess and playing with guns etc, but now it's getting serious so many are leaving.
A58 There are many many reasons for the British to be in this state of not having enough Tanks - Paras - Sailors - Aircraft etc so my two cents worth might also be relevant - it goes back to the pre 1914 era when Britain was a world power and a much hated Empire - to some... We lost far too many potential leaders in the 1914/18 bloodbath and never really recovered from that when the 1939/45 bloodbath started - and we lost some more leaders plus becoming bankrupt in the winning of that conflict - then just after we started to recover we had the 1956/57 Suez crisis - Which was necessary to retain a major asset in the canal - alas we were instructed to cease and desist on the point of victory by our alleged "friends" of Eisenhower of the USA and Pearson of Canada......and it has been downhill all the way since then with numerous conflict sapping away at our strength - and leadership in order to "keep up " with our alleged friends. Then of course we have had the EU - plus Tony Blairs Socialist government which nailed Britain to the benefits for all nonsense until to-day they are paying out more "benefits" to thousands who don't even bother to learn the language- and leave the people who did much to win their last big war with frozen pensions for having the temerity to leave and live in the "OLD" Colonies.... and that is my two cents worth... Cheers
