HMS Ocean to be scrapped

[bluethrunthru]

£65m is a drop in the ocean for 3 additional years of service. No pun intended. The cost of building new war ships is billions.

Still no excuse mate. They trailed the spending "increase" to come yesterday despite refusing to comment on other things like say Police funding until the Autumn statement next week. Then they slip this out which is clearly how they propose to fund some of the stuff the claim is "new money". Somebody with integrity would make both announcements together - somebody with principles would remain in purdah until the statement next week and someone with a real interest in defending the country wouldn't do it - the multibillion pound aircraftless carriers will need some support and cover vessels on the fleet.

 

[JASR]

£65m is a drop in the ocean for 3 additional years of service. No pun intended. The cost of building new war ships is billions.

Yep that's the new aircraft carriers. One of which was going to be mothballed instantly - due to cost.
And the ludicrous decision not to include EMALS on them (magnetic catapults), means that they can't launch the planes of the future, UAV's
The list of naval/RAF MOD incompetence is extraordinary.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Yep that's the new aircraft carriers. One of which was going to be mothballed instantly - due to cost.
And the ludicrous decision not to include EMALS on them (magnetic catapults), means that they can't launch the planes of the future, UAV's
The list of naval/RAF MOD incompetence is extraordinary.

Yeah but don't mix up the legendary MOD ballsup/overspends ( sometimes governmental meddling has contributed to this ) with the cynical manipulation of the news by this lot to try and make it look like they are spending "new" money on defence when they are pulling stunts like this.
The next scandal will be when HMS Ocean is sold at a knockdown bargain price to some foreign power
Te one after that will be when that power transpires to be Argentina and our own state of the art warship is sailing up and down off the coast of the Falklands threatening us. Never mind by then Gideon will have handed out tax cuts which will most benefit the wealthy - Call Me Dave will be retired and the country will be on its arse. Have you seen the number of profits warnings issued today? Rolls Royce, Kingfisher, John Menzies !!

 

[blue b4 the moon]

That's nothing.
They gave all our Harriers a multimillion pound update just before the 2010 review

Then sold them all to the Yanks for " pence."

The Americans thought they were buying a plie of shit almost just fit for spares, they couldn't believe thier luck.

 

[bluethrunthru]

The Americans thought they were buying a plie of shit almost just fit for spares, they couldn't believe thier luck.

would have made an amazing episode of Flog It

 

[KenTheLandlord]

I sailed on her in 2000 whilst serving with 42 commando, I'm really surprised by this news because she is classed as a modern ship and I would have thought this will significantly reduce the commando brigades capability.

So what your proposin?

 

[happychappy]

Yeah but don't mix up the legendary MOD ballsup/overspends ( sometimes governmental meddling has contributed to this ) with the cynical manipulation of the news by this lot to try and make it look like they are spending "new" money on defence when they are pulling stunts like this.
The next scandal will be when HMS Ocean is sold at a knockdown bargain price to some foreign power
Te one after that will be when that power transpires to be Argentina and our own state of the art warship is sailing up and down off the coast of the Falklands threatening us. Never mind by then Gideon will have handed out tax cuts which will most benefit the wealthy - Call Me Dave will be retired and the country will be on its arse. Have you seen the number of profits warnings issued today? Rolls Royce, Kingfisher, John Menzies !!

 

[happychappy]

Yeah but don't mix up the legendary MOD ballsup/overspends ( sometimes governmental meddling has contributed to this ) with the cynical manipulation of the news by this lot to try and make it look like they are spending "new" money on defence when they are pulling stunts like this.
The next scandal will be when HMS Ocean is sold at a knockdown bargain price to some foreign power
Te one after that will be when that power transpires to be Argentina and our own state of the art warship is sailing up and down off the coast of the Falklands threatening us. Never mind by then Gideon will have handed out tax cuts which will most benefit the wealthy - Call Me Dave will be retired and the country will be on its arse. Have you seen the number of profits warnings issued today? Rolls Royce, Kingfisher, John Menzies !!

Cut 'call me dave' a bit of slack, he does have the lowest IQ of any PM ever tested

 

[bluethrunthru]

Cut 'call me dave' a bit of slack, he does have the lowest IQ of any PM ever tested

****'s too thick to even realise what that means

 

[aguero93:20]

Cut 'call me dave' a bit of slack, he does have the lowest IQ of any PM ever tested

Completely foot and mouth free though.

 

[JASR]

So what your proposin?

Keep ocean for commando and other reasons, scrap tornados, scrap buying f-35c's, put EMALS onto carriers, buy cheap f18's, Hawkeyes and ASW planes for carriers, develop naval UAV's.
Keep previous frigate buying numbers to protect carriers.
Buy the Poseidens as the nimrods are now razor blades.

Don't use PFI deals, ever again.
Slap whomever got rid of harriers.

And that's just for starters.

 

[DiscoSteve]

At the very least it needs to hang on until the HM QE carrier is operational - I suspect at that point Ocean will be surplus to requirements

 

[bluethrunthru]

At the very least it needs to hang on until the HM QE carrier is operational - I suspect at that point Ocean will be surplus to requirements

except that will deprive Gideon of money for his smoke and mirrors autumn statement - good idea but can't be done mate. They would rather put defence on the line - Gideon is already missing all his targets as it stands and he wants to persuade the electorate he is worthy of the top job in 2020 - he'd rather risk defence of the realm than his own chances any more...............

 

[@BluePhil8]

Keep ocean for commando and other reasons, scrap tornados, scrap buying f-35c's, put EMALS onto carriers, buy cheap f18's, Hawkeyes and ASW planes for carriers, develop naval UAV's.
Keep previous frigate buying numbers to protect carriers.
Buy the Poseidens as the nimrods are now razor blades.

Don't use PFI deals, ever again.
Slap whomever got rid of harriers.

And that's just for starters.

Small correction but it's the f35b we are buying and it will be a brilliant fighter jet for the next few decades.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Small correction but it's the f35b we are buying and it will be a brilliant fighter jet for the next few decades.

at the rate he is missing targets Gideon will be looking to see if there are any surplus Seafires and Swordfish aircraft anywhere in the world we can buy cheap for the new carriers - sorry carrier as one is being built especially not to be used ffs........

 

[KenTheLandlord]

at the rate he is missing targets Gideon will be looking to see if there are any surplus Seafires and Swordfish aircraft anywhere in the world we can buy cheap for the new carriers - sorry carrier as one is being built especially not to be used ffs........

yer right there, i wouldn't trust him with a carrier bag.

 

[bluethrunthru]

yer right there, i wouldn't trust him with a carrier bag.

at 5p a pop right now Ken he couldn't fucking afford one !!!

 

[law74]

at 5p a pop right now Ken he couldn't fucking afford one !!!

His daddy could buy him one with the money saved from exercising the corporation tax opt out clause.

 

[crazyg]

at the rate he is missing targets Gideon will be looking to see if there are any surplus Seafires and Swordfish aircraft anywhere in the world we can buy cheap for the new carriers - sorry carrier as one is being built especially not to be used ffs........

Now you're talking! I believe the Japanese have some surplus Zero fighters available, and arrangements are being made to upgrade them with sat navs at the Nissan factory in Sunderland.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Why the fuck would something be given a £65m overhaul then to scrap it 2 years later? Great this conservative government aren't they.

The reason is that it is public money and public money can be pissed up the wall by any government - any amount, at any time! That's why they are MPs! MP Mission Statement: To piss public money up the nearest wall.