Search found 1351 matches

by GibMariner
21 Jul 2017, 20:31
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Gibraltar
Replies: 364
Views: 76447

Re: Gibraltar

Interesting series of events, not sure if this will be reported on or swept under the rug and forgotten. Yesterday, the French Navy's mine warfare experimentation vessel THETIS (A785) incurred in Gibraltar waters on its way to Algeciras, flying a Spanish courtesy flag, ignored HMS Sabre's requests t...
by GibMariner
21 Jul 2017, 08:13
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

So now we know the name of the T26 class what about the T31? The trend seems to be to release the name on the day the first steel is cut, so until (if?) that happens, it's likely we won't know. Say they select a variant of the Venator what about names starting with a V? First ship in class being HM...
by GibMariner
20 Jul 2017, 20:11
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464811

Re: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]

It will be interesting to see what the other 7 cities are chosen given that there are only 8 in total compared to the 14 T42's. As others have said maybe not Belfast with the current version still afloat. You would say Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Sheffield, Exeter, Southampton for a...
by GibMariner
20 Jul 2017, 09:37
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464811

Re: Type 26 Global Combat Ship [News Only]

HMS Glasgow it is!


by GibMariner
19 Jul 2017, 21:02
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464811

Re: Type 26 Global Combat Ship [News Only]

1st Type 26 vessel name to be revealed tomorrow, 20/07/2017:
by GibMariner
17 Jul 2017, 17:35
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Quick trivial pursuit question: the T23s are being modified to carry a different main missile system than when they entered service. What was the last RN ship or class to receive the same treatment? (Moved from Type 26 news thread) The only ones that come to mind right now are the 5 'Batch 3A' Lean...
by GibMariner
17 Jul 2017, 08:02
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409466

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

I've said it before, but Portsmouth really needs to have 'D Lock' (the largest) expanded. I think there is potential for a 320m long dock in Portsmouth, which could be created by moving D Lock's West Gate 60m further to the west, without it protruding out into Portsmouth Harbour and causing issues ...
by GibMariner
17 Jul 2017, 00:53
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456327

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

Don't know if there are any official figures out for that, but I remember seeing a US naval aviation chart a couple of years ago showing between 5 and 8 P-3C/P-8A per squadron, with the Fleet Replacement Squadron having around 20.
by GibMariner
17 Jul 2017, 00:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409466

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Cammell Laird: No. 5 Dock (Wirral): 289m (max) x 42.7m (at the entrance) Inchgreen Drydock (Port Glasgow): 305m x 45m (Rosyth's No. 1 Dock was expanded to 320.5m x 42.1m) Toulon also has a second dry dock that should be able to take a vessel the size of QE, I believe the dimensions are the same as t...
by GibMariner
09 Jul 2017, 10:55
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

- I don't think the Gulf Arabs have forgotten that we left already once. Iran snatched their 3 islands when there was still 3 days of our defence treaty with the Trucial States left to run. While that is true, and pretty much the whole world clings on to the view of "Perfidious Albion", o...
by GibMariner
09 Jul 2017, 08:43
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Just proves that the standing tasks are a mantra, repeated when some cause needs promoting, but skipping them at will is kept quiet. Like the "rising" defence budget myth. The T31 forward positioning has been officially mentioned (by RN itself, in a naval show in the Gulf). Actually doing...
by GibMariner
09 Jul 2017, 08:06
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

Does RN need to keep APT-S and 2nd Kipion both with escort = if RN do need 19 escorts. We can't manage either of those now, even with the (on-paper) 19 escorts, largely due to manpower shortage. The last two South Atlantic patrols have been done as part of wider deployments: In 2015 HMS Lancaster w...
by GibMariner
06 Jul 2017, 10:08
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Gibraltar
Replies: 364
Views: 76447

Re: Gibraltar

The Lt Cmdr stated they'd be replaced in two years Would we have one or two River1s over the required number by then, to head across the Pond (the demo tour has already been undertaken; the previous "all-weather" OPVs for T&T ended up in Brazil, instead. And the tours always emphasise...
by GibMariner
06 Jul 2017, 09:20
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Gibraltar
Replies: 364
Views: 76447

Re: Gibraltar

Are we thinking too big I terms of vessels like the rivers or P2000 ? Could be that there looking at something more like the Mk6 patrol boats, they are larger faster and better armed with 2 x 12.5mm chain guns, lightly manned and can ever carry a rib if needed Moving the conversation here as we're ...
by GibMariner
06 Jul 2017, 08:15
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5411
Views: 1420368

Re: river I/I.5 and II patrol vessels

CO of HMS Scimitar has just said on GBC TV that the current Gib squadron boats Scimitar and Sabre will be 'replaced in the next two years, by much bigger gunned, longer range ships' Anyone any ideas....Rivers? P2000 fulfils that description... :| Going on what Lt Cmdr James Myhill of the Gibraltar ...
by GibMariner
06 Jul 2017, 07:44
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

here will be 9 FREMM + 2 FREDA for tasks needing them, so 5 FTI has no problem The order for the last 3 FREMM were cancelled and the 5 FTI ordered in their place. It's 6 FREMM ASW and 2 FREDA plus 5 FTI. They're authorised to operate 15 frontline frigates. They're not doing much better than us. The...
by GibMariner
11 Apr 2017, 13:52
Forum: Personnel and Units
Topic: Royal Marines
Replies: 205
Views: 34146

Re: Royal Marines

Royal Marines to be restructured in line with growing Royal Navy The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones confirms that the Royal Marines will be restructured to better balance a growing Royal Navy.With billions being invested into a growing Royal Navy, the Royal Marines have decided to restruct...
by GibMariner
11 Apr 2017, 13:47
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Brazil
Replies: 84
Views: 7479

Re: Brazil

dmereifield wrote:Last nights episode of "warship" took every opportunity to point out that HMS Ocean is old, hard to maintain and verging on being not got for purpose - hardly the best advertisement for a sale to Brazil....
I think that was directed more at the British audience/taxpayer...
by GibMariner
29 Mar 2017, 09:16
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I'm not comparing it with 1980s, I'm comparing it with early 2000s. You can't say that now RN has more amphibious capabilities than at the time, nor that the trend is encouraging. Mark was talking about the 80s/90s. If you'd read my post you'd see I said that the RN's amphibious capabilities have b...
by GibMariner
28 Mar 2017, 15:10
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion
Replies: 19147
Views: 7056829

Re: Current & Future Escorts - General Discussion

I wouldn't say our amphibious capability is dwindling its about the same as it was in the 80's & 90's but better in some aspects. I disagree. With 3 ( of 4 ) Bays, with 3 ( of 6 ) Points, with 1 ( of 2 Albions ), soon without Ocean... No, Mark is right. We didn't have any of those ships in the ...
by GibMariner
09 Dec 2016, 08:53
Forum: Deployments
Topic: Gibraltar
Replies: 364
Views: 76447

Re: Gibraltar

RFA Mounts Bay returned to Gibraltar early this morning:

by GibMariner
09 Dec 2016, 08:52
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD (A)) (RFA)
Replies: 367
Views: 193105

Re: Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD (A)) (RFA)

RFA Mounts Bay returned to Gibraltar early this morning:

by GibMariner
05 Dec 2016, 15:11
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Replies: 77
Views: 44226

Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

HMS Enterprise praised for saving lives in the Mediterranean UK Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning today (Sunday) praised the Royal Navy vessel for her contribution to Operation Sophia, which is focused on tackling human smugglers and arms traffickers who endanger the lives of migrants seeking trav...
by GibMariner
05 Dec 2016, 15:09
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)
Replies: 77
Views: 44226

Re: Echo Class Hydrographic Survey Ships (RN)

And Echo has now replacing her, guess you'll see her coming you're way soon. HMS Echo patrolled through Gib waters on 07/11 and I believe was spotted in Malta a few days later. Presumably had already been on station for a while prior to today's news. HMS Enterprise departed Gib yesterday morning: h...