UK Defence Forum

ArmChairCivvy wrote: I wonder if Spain is sticking to their funny games about overflight rights, when there is some urgency to get "stuff" over there and the Chinooks to help to deliver it?

Rhetorical question?

If HMS Ocean is underway then I expect the Chinooks won't be stopping at Gib.

Smokey wrote: I expect the Chinooks won't be stopping at Gib.

Sitting pretty, on the deck now.

ArmChairCivvy wrote:

Smokey wrote: I expect the Chinooks won't be stopping at Gib.

Sitting pretty, on the deck now.

Yeah, I got that wrong.

I was expecting more to fly out to either the ship when she was underway or loaded onto a C17/AN124 and taken direct to the Caribbean.

Each method avoiding Spain completely.

Smokey wrote: I was expecting more to fly out to either the ship when she was underway

The spray sheets they are putting onto (some of) the onboarded helos are unusual; perhaps they are expecting same kind of weather as what the Task Force to the Falklands had on their (winter) outing

ArmChairCivvy wrote:The spray sheets they are putting onto (some of) the onboarded helos are unusual; perhaps they are expecting same kind of weather as what the Task Force to the Falklands had on their (winter) outing

Yup - plenty of nasty stuff out there at the moment - Jose is still wandering around south of Bermuda (seems to be strengthening again as well) and there is another system forming mid-way between the Cape Verde islands and the Caribbean that will at least give some heavy weather (there's another forming off the west coast of Africa that could move North-west and follow it as well). Quite a conveyor belt of storms from Cape Verde this year.

AstuteAssassin wrote:Probably be brushed under the carpet. At least we know what France's position under Macron is.

The French are supporting Spanish claims, like most of the EU

Anyway, I'm glad to see that they have somehow managed to scramble HMS Somerset to provide a bit of escort there.

abc123 wrote:Anyway, I'm glad to see that they have somehow managed to scramble HMS Somerset to provide a bit of escort there.

Not being narky, bit what is the point to escort her into Gib (other than PR) after allowing her to sail through international waters without escort? As a general civvy, it seems a little worrying that we would allow her (even when on trials) to go out alone into international waters...

Fully agreed.

dmereifield wrote: after allowing her to sail through international waters without escort? As a general civvy, it seems a little worrying that we would allow her (even when on trials) to go out alone into international waters...

The nagging question to any one getting to close to the carrier in international water was is her escort under me ? That we will never know but as submarines transiting the straits must surface the use of a frigate makes more sense. The escort give the navy some good P.R. As the carrier will be using the exercise areas east of Gibraltar. Further aircraft arrivals at Gibraltar may indicate what systems they are testing while conducting helicopter flight trials. Sailing in company to practice replenishment at sea station keeping. Gibraltar sea ranges have been used traditionally for trials .

S M H wrote:Sailing in company to practice replenishment at sea station keeping.

Presumably why RFA Tidespring is due into Gib in the near future

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Gibraltar

(GBC News)

The Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth left Gibraltar this morning. She'll continue sea trials and test capability and response in different weather conditions. In a tweet this morning, the ship thanked the Rock for its hospitality, saying she's leaving, rested, recuperated and with stores replenished for the next chapter.

The ship has been berthed at the Port over the past three days with the Ministry of Defence aiming to invest in the current infrastucture to enable it to host aircraft carriers at the Naval Base in future.

History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Gibraltar

Sink the fucker! Enough is enough,, I voted remain for various reasons but time to ditch these so called allies. As for Eire, if they want toplay hardball then lets do a hard border and watch their economy wither.

jimthelad wrote:Sink the fucker! Enough is enough,, I voted remain for various reasons but time to ditch these so called allies.

They've just watched the Hunt for the Red October too many times, and borrowed this scene (the film borrowed it from real life):
"In 1975, a Soviet Navy officer named Valery Sablin led a mutiny on the frigate (not submarine) Storozhevoy—not because he wanted to move to America"
... travelling all along the Baltic Coast, with the "message" being broadcasted to the shore
And then, he got shot. These guys won't, but no wonder the Naval sub-HQ in Gib with 400 in manning from the UK and Spain, jointly, was abolished

jimthelad wrote:Sink the fucker! Enough is enough,, I voted remain for various reasons but time to ditch these so called allies.

Bit strong surely.....

I have to say though that it does appear to be getting worse and HMG needs to assert some authority now.

What would the Americans do?

What would the Australians do?

What would the Russians do?

It's clear what the British are going to do..........absolutely nothing.

Why are we now so soft?

Spain's national anthem was stolen from the demo tune of the Casio VL-1.

Recognise Catalonia as a sovereign state.

Arrange for HMS QE to have her next capability insertion period in Gibraltar & with 4 x F35's on board

The Spanish love to quote Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht, because they think that it deprives Gib of any territorial waters, but seen to have amnesia about article XIII, which guarantees Catalonia's independence.