On the same day that the last Harrier GR9 took off from HMS Ark Royal as they both head off to retirement the RAF and Forces news released a video of how the RAPTOR pod and Tornado GR4 is ‘saving lives in Afghanistan’
You could have waited a few days chaps!
RAF insensitive?! Not when politics is in full swing.
Given the current, serious sabre rattling off the Korean Peninsula, shouldn’t our PM be asking his Defence Minister ‘Where are our carriers?’
Anyone care to tell him? Now might be a good time to delay Harrier/Ark Royal retirement for at least a few months or at least until the current spat blows over……or is it just me?
Except for a show of solidarity with the US a UK Carrier would be of little or no use with tis Harriers off the North Korean coast. One might be of use in the Helo/amphibious role though to insert SF and such like at a push. if we have any available that are not in Afghanistan.
Agree LJ, I just bet Kim Jong is shitting himself in case the RN change plans and send Ark Royal and half a dozen GR9’s to join the fray :)
Still, those retired something’s from the Admiralty can use it as yet another excuse to embarrass themselves and the service they love
There are times I wish the armed forces would institute a military “Work to rule”, policy where they state they can only carry out operations for which they are properly kitted out and trained for, getting rid of their famous “Can Do” mentality which has done for more harm than good over the past years. Hopefully this would give thoise in power and the public a true picture of the UKs actual capabilities and capacity to carry out operations.
Back to reality everyone
South Korea is neither short of airfields to operate our aircraft from, nor aircraft to operate itself.
If South Korea requests our aid, and we choose to supply it, a dozen IDS Tornados would provide a new capability, a dozen Harriers on Ark Royal would be a liability.
Think Defence said “Agree LJ, I just bet Kim Jong is shitting himself in case the RN change plans and send Ark Royal and half a dozen GR9′s to join the fray :)”
For some who bangs on about defence co-operation you are not really thinking out of the box are you?
I bet the USMC would appreciate an extra flight deck for their AV8B’s. Just saying……….
Somebody over on RumRation spelled out the FAA contribution to the Korean War which made for an interesting read.
(FYI I don’t normally visit the RumRation. But as I have passing interest in the social history of the Royal Navy and these being momentous it is interesting to read what Jack thinks.)
Its silly to think that we’d have a hand in Korea episode. Its more usefull having Thailand’s harrier carrier help with USMC carrier space… your forgetting the S.K probably has their navy far more suited than the RN is for ops against the Norks along with pleanty of US and neighbourly support…the only chance I can see us being there, maybe, is if China went beserk.
My hat tip to that odd idea
DominicJ is on the ball with that…back to reality please! The Harriers, Nimrod, Ark Royal, quite a few challies…soon sentinel…all wont be coming back
…unless serious sh!@ hits the fan.
And RAPTOR is a serious piece of kit… I dont see the problem…plus people are ranting on about harriers in their RN form forgetting that quite a few RAF personel had their careers in Harrier too, not only the RN…from the pilots right down to businesses surrounding the two bases, they are loosing out too…the reaction from that RAF Harrier pilot about his sorties in Afghan accounting for nothing more than him being out of a job hits very hard. In the end it really does make one big stink… but that black hole has to go >_<
LJ & TD, sabre rattling is as much about solidarity as capability. I wouldn’t be too concerned about Kim Jong-il suffering a massive dafaecation, involutary or not, but I’m sure half a dozen Harriers could do considerable damage against a dockyard facility containing patrol boats and midget submarines. I wouldn’t bet good money on the base commanders pants being spotless.
In this sense the RN could make a valuable contribution as well as having experienced pilots and naval officers in the area of operations.
Chillout chaps, it was only a joke!
@ Mike
Have you seen how many bases the RAF have? They even have a holiday base in the Med!!!! :)
Actually I have my money on China invading North Korea themselves………
“I wouldn’t be too concerned about Kim Jong-il suffering a massive dafaecation, involutary or not, but I’m sure half a dozen Harriers could do considerable damage against a dockyard facility containing patrol boats and midget submarines. I wouldn’t bet good money on the base commanders pants being spotless.”
Could a dozen Tornados do it better though?
Now look what you have started!!
Tomorrow afternoon if you are in the area – say goodbye to the fast jet FAA, possibly forever.
We are now reliant on the good offices of the Yanks, and Messieurs Reliable should we need assistance in the next 10 to 15 years.
Shamelessly copied from the RAF Forum –
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