Who says you can't make a living by staring out of windows... Interested in maritime and other stuff.
Joined August 2014
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Defence Budget % GDP-Japan 1.4/UK 2.3
JMSDF-4xCVS/LH, 28xSSK, 8xDDG, 42xDD/FFM/DE, 40+Coastguard OPV, 21x MCMV, 5x AOE
RN-2xCVF, 4xSSBN, 5xSSN, 6xDDG, 9xFF, 8xOPV 5xMCMV, 3x AO
Obviously its more than just numbers, but you can't help thinking Japan does a far better job with it.
A 14000 cruiser that from being laid down to commissioned, is projected to take less that 3 years.
A perfect example of the benefits you can gain from a strong shipbuilding industry.
The 2017/22 NSS proposed a path to deliver this for the UK, but are now long forgotten documents.
Ancient Mariner retweeted
Elon Musk has attempted to close the issue with Starlink in Ukraine. But here is a tale in 7 tweets that suggests it’s far from closed. The throttling back of speed limits on Starlink terminals occurred around 14 October so let’s go back to then in his timeline. 🧵1/10
It's 151 days since an operational RN SSN was at sea.
The boats in these pictures (Audacious-1303, Ambush-1546 & Artful-1273) have now spent a combined total of 4122 days in port.
The lack of dry dock capacity has been known for years, but we still await for an order...
#scandal
HMCS Okanagan in Plymouth Sound October 1996.
#OTD 24/10/1991 #RememberRCN -HMCS OKANAGAN departs Halifax for the Great Lakes & is first RCN submarine to enter the Great Lakes with stops at Quebec City, Montreal, Prescott, Hamilton, Toronto, Oshawa & Kingston before returning to Halifax on 30 November. Photo -Julie Ferguson
Considering the T45 OSD timeline, this is one program we really have to hope proceeds without too many issues.
Which considering the problems most defence programs have encountered over the past few years, even the most optimistic person will struggle to believe will be the case.
Latest news article:
Royal Navy to trial its first Large Uncrewed Surface Vessel next year
navylookout.com/royal-navy-t…
Yikes & just wait until you find out which unfriendly country previously sold Argentina an aircraft carrier & air defence destroyers
To repeat, for all the dramatic headlines, the Argentine military currently & for a least the next decade, represents zero threat to the Falklands
EXCLUSIVE: France and Germany offer to supply Argentina submarines amid Falklands threat as No10 seeks EU reset. gbnews.com/news/world/falkla…
Gosport March 1995
-Royal Netherlands Navy Zwaardvis Class submarine HrMs Tijgerhaai (S807)
#ships
Well that's a shock, a new weapons system that's encountering delays...
Still I'm sure those drones ships they plan to replace the dedicated AD ships they cancelled, will work out just fine and on schedule...
Ministers now seem less confident that the first DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon will be fitted to a Type 45 destroyer next year, as previously promised. @LukePollard @_AndersonStuart
theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id…
questions-statements.parliam…
Another grim read on the status of the RN frigate force & a situation that many of us have been warning about for years.
The T26 program was delayed far too long & then seemly allowed to proceed at a Treasury/Industry friendly pace, whilst ignoring the critical needs of the RN.
Latest news commentary:
Royal Navy frigate crisis is even worse than Commons Defence Committee report suggests
navylookout.com/royal-navy-f…
Yes that's just what we need to protect the UKs underwater infrastructure, more powers...
Not an orders for the long talked about second MROSS, and replacing the River B1s, speeding up the delivery of new frigates or perhaps getting some SSN's to sea...
bbc.com/news/articles/cwe8lz…
An excellent if utterly grim thread. And reminder again, that it's not just a question of more money. The current broken system would just eat it up & delivery nothing better
Note:
If you take the nuclear away, we spend a similar about to Japan, but just look what they get for it
@nicholadrummond @TanDhesi @TotherChris @UKDefJournal @NavyLookout @UKCDS_MOD @ArmyCGSRBLX @GenGJenkinsRM @ChiefofAirStaff @ShippersUnbound @LOS_Fisher @sylviapfeifer @bealejonathan
OK, here's the rub: the UK spends a LOT on defence - but where's the money going?
Ancient Mariner retweeted
1/ The Russian military is announcing the 'capture' of settlements far ahead of where even its own maps place the front line. A Russian warblogger suggests that this is an attempt to create 'facts' to influence peace talks with the United States, as has happened before. ⬇️
A reminder that if you're not doing it, your not learning & that once lost, institutional skills take a long time to relearn.
A situation that the RN/RFA will also be face when they try to get back into the RAS(S) world, assuming they even manage to get Fort Victoria back to sea.
1/5 With the House of Commons Defence Committee issuing a report revealing the loss of under ice operational skills in the much diminished Submarine Service of the Royal Navy – at the very wrong moment, when the Russian undersea threat is rising again – it’s worth recalling that even when the RN had only diesel-electric boats (SSKs) it went under the ice. This was in the early Cold War when other nations dared not do it so much with SSKs (including the Americans). Proof of British daring is provided by this early 1960s periscope shot from HMS Auriga, by a young Rob Forsyth (future SSK and SSN CO) of a polynya (necessary for the submarine surface through).
ALT Periscope shot from HMS Auriga, by a young Rob Forsyth (future SSK and SSN CO) of a polynya (necessary for the submarine to surface through). His copyright.
Well that's a shock...
Still the MOD says it ok, because they're 'strengthening Nato's northern flank and increasing our ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats'.
Note:
In other news, its now 147 days since an operational RN SSN was at sea.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmj4…
-Bursldon, River Hamble 2/5/95
Preserved RAF Vosper 68-Foot Rescue Launch 2751
-Portsmouth 17/2/95
Spanish Navy Santa Maria Class frigate SNS Victoria (F82)
#ships
Ancient Mariner retweeted
"Zelensky is suddenly talking about ending the war"
Jack, you have no clue what you are talking about. Here are NINE deals Ukraine has agreed to that Russia has rejected since 03/2025.
Ukraine said YES. Russia said NO.
1. Mar 11, 2025, Jeddah (US plan)
30-day ceasefire on land, sea and air.
Ukraine: accepted. Russia: "in principle," then demanded a halt to Western arms and Ukraine's mobilization first.
2. Mar 25, 2025, Black Sea truce
Safe shipping in the Black Sea.
Ukraine: agreed. Russia: tied it to lifting sanctions on its farm bank.
3. Apr 2025, no strikes on civilians
Both sides stop hitting civilian targets.
Ukraine: proposed. Russia: ignored it and declared a 30-hour Easter truce on its own.
4. May 12, 2025, Kyiv summit
30-day unconditional ceasefire, backed by France, UK, Germany and Poland.
Ukraine: accepted. Russia: refused and offered talks instead.
5. May–Jun 2025, Istanbul
30+ day ceasefire, a leaders' meeting, all-for-all prisoner swap.
Russia: offered a 2–3 day pause, or a ceasefire only if Ukraine gave up four regions.
6. Aug 2025, before the Alaska summit
Freeze the front line, then negotiate.
Ukraine and Europe: backed it. Russia: rejected it.
7. Late 2025 to Feb 2026, the 20-point US framework
Freeze the lines, security guarantees, limits on Ukraine's army.
Ukraine: helped write it, called it "90% ready." Lavrov: "a document no one gave us."
8. Oct 11–12, 2026, 60-day election ceasefire and energy truce
Ukraine: proposed the 60 days and accepted the energy truce.
Kremlin: "We do not want a ceasefire." Russia hit six Ukrainian energy sites the next day.
9. Sep 23, 2026: 51 UN member states said Ukraine had agreed to an unconditional ceasefire and called on Russia to do the same. Russia still hasn't.
Ah yes, just one more round of bombing, that should do the job, after the previous dozen or so rounds of bombing didn't...
Ex HMS Starling still going strong in her second life...
As they're being replaced in a frontline role by more modern ships, I wonder if the Philippine Navy would consider selling the three Peacock Class back to the UK to replace the River B1's?!? 🤔
