State of our Royal Navy

[Ivan Cloherty]

Recently came across an old diary of mine

In 1962 the Royal Navy could muster

13 Aircraft Carriers (excluding Escort Carriers)
13 Cruisers
68 Destroyers + 4 building
158 Frigates and escorts + 24 building
51 Submarines + 8 building

Anybody got todays fleet figures

Ivan

[Hugh]

Hello Ivan,
Take a look here: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...oday/index.htm

When I served we still had some ships but today our fleet doesn't match our commitments and, as an island nation, I would say we couldn't properly defend ourselves our our interests.
Regards
Hugh

[happy daze john in oz]

The manner in which war is now waged is vastly different to the days of W.W. 2 and just after. Weapons are vastly different so the needs of ships etc is greatly changed. No doubt if U.K. was under attack they would look to U.S. for assistance.

[Ivan Cloherty]

The manner in which war is now waged is vastly different to the days of W.W. 2 and just after. Weapons are vastly different so the needs of ships etc is greatly changed. No doubt if U.K. was under attack they would look to U.S. for assistance.

I don't think that under the present Obhama administration we could be guaranteed any help, as the man is as anti British as any USA President dare be, as he still believes the stories he heard on his Grandmothers knee about the British ill treating her family during xxxx years, when the British troops were not there at that time.Witness the rhetoric in the Gulf oil spill, when all the equipment being used was American and American operated, it suddenly became British

So we cannot expect any TransAtlantic support in any adverse events that may befall us, in fact he considers the British troops in Afghanistan as non-existent and as recently declared France as Americas greatest Allie

Yes we know modern warfare has changed, because we are seamen and we read the papers, so numbers may not be "AS" important as they were, but as Hugh as said we are still seriously under strength to fulfill our committments to our own Isles never mind the committments the Government pledges to others.

There will be no help from the USA when Argentina invades the Falklands again, which it surely will when their economy starts to falter again, and this time Argentina will have support from other South American countries knowing that with the present incumbent in the White House their own economic Aid will not be affected.

The writings on the wall for all to see, but as always I stand to be corrected, and no I am not anti-American, I love em for the help we received in WWII., although received later than it should have been

Ivan

[j.sabourn]

In the late 70s early 80s I worked on a DSV on charter to the Navy. There were about 12 MN crew And anything from 17 to 30 RN personnel on board. The RN were responsible for the Diving. The navy at the time were having a multi purpose vessel being built HMS Challenger. Due to the heavy damage sustained during the Falklands war the navy had to put their thinking caps on again re. the use of aluminium. When this vessel finally came into service I have no idea. However about 2001 I and a crew of 7 were sent up to Singapore to bring a Russian Survey vessel down to work on the Australian coast. The authorities gave permission for the Russian crew to remain onboard. We all got on well together. The Russian crew to my mind all had a naval background. The ship was manned by the old standards and consisted of about 35, including 3 mates and a wireless operator. Anyhow on going through the ships publications I found a large volume detailing all the NATO warships with every detail imagineable, among the lists was also the MN DSV I had been on which was classed as a warship, I was surprised. The next day I went back on bridge to look at book to see if HMS Challenger was in, the book however had disappeared, so no doubt it was not for other eyes to see. Does anyone know what happened to this HMS Challenger. After having a nice easy life working for the MOD, I was thrown back into the rigours of the North Sea and did not follow up on its progress. Regards John Sabourn.

[happy daze john in oz]

Ivan I respect your point of view on this one but will add one point, Obama will not be there forever and the U.S will get involved in any fight that they feel may in any way effect them. Had Brown won the election I dare to say the feelings would be very different than to the current government. But apart from a few countries I just wonder how many could defend themselves without outside help?

[Hugh]

"Does anyone know what happened to this HMS Challenger".

Hello John,

The ship only lasted a few years in the RN before being offered for sale in 1990. In 1993 the ship was purchased by a company called Subsea Offshore, to be converted for work decontaminating hazardous waste dumped in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic. Present name is MV YA TOIVO.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rinkratz/3785981994/


http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuil...p.asp?id=19388

Regards
Hugh

[j.sabourn]

Thanks Hugh, the ship I was on hired to the RN was the Seaforth Clansman, she finished up on the African coast looking for Diamonds I believe, dont know if they ever found any.HMS Challenger was supposed to have been the Navys answer to a lot of things, but sounds like she was a damp squid, another burden to the taxpayer. Thanks for info. John Sabourn.