contedicavour
New Member
Dear all,
budget cuts are affecting almost all European Navies
> the well known cuts in the Royal Navy from 12 to 8 SSNs, from 12 to 8 DDGs, several Type 23 sold abroad, etc
> the French Navy cutting the number of DDG horizon from 4 to 2
> the Dutch Navy cutting its frigate size from 12 to 6 (4 LCF, 2 Doorman)
> the Danish Navy eliminating its entire submarine force
> the Swedish Navy cutting subs to 5
> the German Navy cutting subs from 12 to 6 U212 by the mid-2010s
> the Italian Navy cutting subs from 8 to 4 U212 and from 12 FFGs to 10 although more powerful FREMMs
> even the Greek Navy is not replacing yet its CF Adams ex-USN DDGs even if it is building 4 new submarines
The only European Navy currently growing in size seems to be the Spanish one, with one huge LPH building, 2 more planned to replace the old ex-USN LSTs, a 5th new AEGIS FFG, 10 more OPVs...
The lucky Spanish apart, given the cuts in fleet size it would be just about time the major European governments got their act together to revive joint procurement, as the defunct Nato NFR frigate in the 90s so that we don't end up spending billions in R&D for a production series of ....... 2 ships :mad3
budget cuts are affecting almost all European Navies
> the well known cuts in the Royal Navy from 12 to 8 SSNs, from 12 to 8 DDGs, several Type 23 sold abroad, etc
> the French Navy cutting the number of DDG horizon from 4 to 2
> the Dutch Navy cutting its frigate size from 12 to 6 (4 LCF, 2 Doorman)
> the Danish Navy eliminating its entire submarine force
> the Swedish Navy cutting subs to 5
> the German Navy cutting subs from 12 to 6 U212 by the mid-2010s
> the Italian Navy cutting subs from 8 to 4 U212 and from 12 FFGs to 10 although more powerful FREMMs
> even the Greek Navy is not replacing yet its CF Adams ex-USN DDGs even if it is building 4 new submarines
The only European Navy currently growing in size seems to be the Spanish one, with one huge LPH building, 2 more planned to replace the old ex-USN LSTs, a 5th new AEGIS FFG, 10 more OPVs...
The lucky Spanish apart, given the cuts in fleet size it would be just about time the major European governments got their act together to revive joint procurement, as the defunct Nato NFR frigate in the 90s so that we don't end up spending billions in R&D for a production series of ....... 2 ships :mad3