UK Defence Force General discussion

[Musashi_kenshin]

I like the idea in general, but also think that the best showcase for the UK are the Queen Elizabeth carriers, every ship in the RN can act as a trade envoy when visiting other nations.

You can't have the carriers doing port calls just for trade or other diplomatic missions, it would cause a high chance of them being out of place for when they were needed. As for escort vessels, that's old hat and not impressive - it can also send the wrong signals having diplomats arrive on a warship.

Whilst am am a pro-monarchist I feel the days of the Royal family are over once the Queen passes. I think the Harry and Meghan show has helped the republican movement a lot.

The same predictions were made in the 1990s when you-know-who got divorced, and it led to nothing.

One poll in the last month that showed a shift of republican support amongst young voters. However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remain popular and even the Prince of Wales has more positive than negative support. Eventually the whole drama will blow over.

We can safely assume the UK will remain a monarchy for the foreseeable future. As such, if a royal yacht is deemed a worthwhile investment in principle, there's no realistic danger of it becoming redundant.

 

[John Fedup]

You can't have the carriers doing port calls just for trade or other diplomatic missions, it would cause a high chance of them being out of place for when they were needed. As for escort vessels, that's old hat and not impressive - it can also send the wrong signals having diplomats arrive on a warship.



The same predictions were made in the 1990s when you-know-who got divorced, and it led to nothing.

One poll in the last month that showed a shift of republican support amongst young voters. However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remain popular and even the Prince of Wales has more positive than negative support. Eventually the whole drama will blow over.

We can safely assume the UK will remain a monarchy for the foreseeable future. As such, if a royal yacht is deemed a worthwhile investment in principle, there's no realistic danger of it becoming redundant.

Would the yacht be built in Scotland? As for the monarchy, UK survival most likely but perhaps not for the 3EYES.

 

[t68]

You can't have the carriers doing port calls just for trade or other diplomatic missions, it would cause a high chance of them being out of place for when they were needed. As for escort vessels, that's old hat and not impressive - it can also send the wrong signals having diplomats arrive on a warship.

Whenever a RN vessel or any navy ship is in a foreign port its other role is diplomatic in nature, its not always about ambassadors hosting cocktail parties either,

The same predictions were made in the 1990s when you-know-who got divorced, and it led to nothing.

One poll in the last month that showed a shift of republican support amongst young voters. However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remain popular and even the Prince of Wales has more positive than negative support. Eventually the whole drama will blow over.

We can safely assume the UK will remain a monarchy for the foreseeable future. As such, if a royal yacht is deemed a worthwhile investment in principle, there's no realistic danger of it becoming redundant.

I think the Queen is the glue holding it all together at the moment, but I do see the Firm as Harry puts it becoming more irrelevant after the Queen passes, that will be the fundamental difference between then and now

 

[John Fedup]

The biggest drawback for losing the Queen as head of state for Canada is going to be the expense of electing some political flake every 4 years not to mention the cost of changing all the stationary (likely a contract awarded to some Quebec based business).

 

[ngatimozart]

The biggest drawback for losing the Queen as head of state for Canada is going to be the expense of electing some political flake every 4 years not to mention the cost of changing all the stationary (likely a contract awarded to some Quebec based business).

I hear Trump is looking for a new gig.

 

[t68]

It seems the queen is displeased about a new royal yacht, don’t blame her really as it is also a symbol of royalty extravagance in a period of covid-19, perception is everything

Queen 'turned down' plan to name royal yacht after Prince Philip

It was hoped that the ship, which will start to be built next year, would be named after the Prince Philip, who died in April at the age of 99, but the PM's plan was rejected by the royals.

www.google.com.au

 

[Redlands18]

The biggest drawback for losing the Queen as head of state for Canada is going to be the expense of electing some political flake every 4 years not to mention the cost of changing all the stationary (likely a contract awarded to some Quebec based business).

https://www.jstor.org/stable/43240022?seq=1

You could always have Referendum like in Australia that ends up being defeated by the Pro Republic side because they decided to fight each other over what type of Republic to have instead of trying to get the yes vote

 

[spoz]

You are quoting the Daily Mail as a source?? While it is possible, it’s also possible, given the announcement of the decision to build has only just been made, that she has not been consulted on a name as yet. But I have to think that a “national flagship” needs a broader name than that of an individual. Albion is taken, but Britannia is available....although that is also the name of a pub (and an infamous roundabout) in Adelaide, so it might not appropriate either.

 

[swerve]

There are plenty of pubs called the Britannia in the UK. Didn't stop the royal yacht being named Britannia. There are pubs called the Prince of Wales - but we have a new aircraft carrier named Prince of Wales.

And so on. Albion, Iron Duke (a good pub to stop on a Sunday bike ride in summer), etc.

 

[MrConservative]

Iron Duke (a good pub to stop on a Sunday bike ride in summer), etc.

Swerve I'm assuming your referencing the one in Reading. Yes very good. In that general neighbourhood I have always enjoyed the The Bull nearby in Sonning. I'm sure you know it well.

 

[Ananda]

Perhaps the name of Royal Sovereign can be use for the new yacht. Eventough it's call Royal Yacht, but seems the usage will be different then Britania. From what I read, it's more for UK official diplomatics vessel. So Royal Sovereign can be the name that alongside long history on RN, also represent the grandeur of Britan Sovereign purpose.

 

[ASSAIL]

For our Brit members:
Which budget pays for the Royal Yacht, does it come from the Royal Household, the RN or some other nefarious funding source?
I understand it’s crewed by the RN so are they funded separately?
I only ask because the GBP 200m and recurring costs are a large slice for the RN to forfeit from other programmes.

 

[John Fedup]

For our Brit members:
Which budget pays for the Royal Yacht, does it come from the Royal Household, the RN or some other nefarious funding source?
I understand it’s crewed by the RN so are they funded separately?
I only ask because the GBP 200m and recurring costs are a large slice for the RN to forfeit from other programmes.

Indeed, the crewing costs would be a bit of the burden for the RN. As the ship will be promoting British interests in addition to being the Royal yacht, there are certainly other ministries that should be contributing support along will commercial interests that will benefit from having the yacht visit potential export regions.

 

[swerve]

Swerve I'm assuming your referencing the one in Reading. Yes very good. In that general neighbourhood I have always enjoyed the The Bull nearby in Sonning. I'm sure you know it well.

Actually, the one at Stratfield Saye, just across the county boundary in Hampshire.

Yes, I know the Bull well. It's an easy walk along the river from home.

 

[the concerned]

Just wondering if anyone knows the out of service dates of existing aircraft. Just wondering if we do fully develop the tempest do we also run the risk of multiple types retiring together. Surely the C-17/A-400 and voyager will all be nearing the end of there lives . Plus other stuff like hawk t2 even the first F35's will be 20+

 

[John Fedup]

Transport aircraft have long service lives depending on usage and maintenance. The Hercules is a good example. Both it and the A400 are still in production. The C-17 may be an issue down the road. There isn’t exactly a pile of money available for a new strategic air lifter. There is also the question of do you go with a blended wing/body or wing and tube design and what are the consequences of former on existing infrastructure?

 

[StobieWan]

Actually, the one at Stratfield Saye, just across the county boundary in Hampshire.

Yes, I know the Bull well. It's an easy walk along the river from home.

Haven't been to Reading since a half marathon ages back - used to drink there frequently when I had friends in the Met office over there. Used to make regular appearances at the beer festival

 

[StobieWan]

For our Brit members:
Which budget pays for the Royal Yacht, does it come from the Royal Household, the RN or some other nefarious funding source?
I understand it’s crewed by the RN so are they funded separately?
I only ask because the GBP 200m and recurring costs are a large slice for the RN to forfeit from other programmes.

The declared intent has been to fund it privately - and there are enough billionaires lying around who could chip in.


I'm dubious as to the point of the bloody thing personally and from the press, I'm not alone. The manning requirement from the RN will be a PITA for sure however.

 

[ASSAIL]

The declared intent has been to fund it privately - and there are enough billionaires lying around who could chip in.


I'm dubious as to the point of the bloody thing personally and from the press, I'm not alone. The manning requirement from the RN will be a PITA for sure however.

There was a time though when being a “Royal Yachtsman” was a source of pride.
One of my RN PWO classmates ended up being the Jimmy in HMY, I suspect because he attended Eaton School because it certainly wasn’t for his prowess as a PWO.

 

[ngatimozart]

There was a time though when being a “Royal Yachtsman” was a source of pride.
One of my RN PWO classmates ended up being the Jimmy in HMY, I suspect because he attended Eaton School because it certainly wasn’t for his prowess as a PWO.

Some RNZN ratings served on the Royal Yacht as well at various times.