Gen dit or just hype? Potential plan to scrap Albion & Bulwark. Future of amphibious warfare? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41511790
Albion & Bulwark in the news
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Not good for Devonport, regardless. This is set against a backdrop of Portsmouth "demanding" all future frigates, and the Commodore of the base going on record with saying that Pompey would 'get frigates'. It's part of a wider struggle between Babcock and BAE, and the Navy is unfortunately caught in the middle of it.
"The government announced "additional work to review national security capabilities" in July - a review by stealth - under the leadership of its national security adviser Mark Sedwill." How reassuring that advice is being taken from a Civil Service pencil neck whose previous relevant experience seems to be the Home Office. So yet another 1SL has been left to paint himself into a corner.
The cynic in me sees the MOD thinking that this is a perfect solution to their current woes. A £5.2bn shortfall to 2020, and there isn't any more money coming after that.
If you get rid of Albion and Bulwark, you can get rid of the Marines. If you get rid of the Marines, then Portsmouth becomes the predominant naval base and a real conversation is had about Devonport's future. Why keep Devonport if it has no submarines, no frigates, no destroyers and no bootnecks? It's valuable land... probably a couple of billion given the Marine Enterprise Zone that's just sprung up in South Yard beside the dockyard. Would save the MOD a huge financial headache...
Maybe if certain ministers and Sea Lords dropped the "I'm alright Jack" approach, the MOD might realise that there are easier targets for cost-savings.
If you get rid of Albion and Bulwark, you can get rid of the Marines. If you get rid of the Marines, then Portsmouth becomes the predominant naval base and a real conversation is had about Devonport's future. Why keep Devonport if it has no submarines, no frigates, no destroyers and no bootnecks? It's valuable land... probably a couple of billion given the Marine Enterprise Zone that's just sprung up in South Yard beside the dockyard. Would save the MOD a huge financial headache...
Maybe if certain ministers and Sea Lords dropped the "I'm alright Jack" approach, the MOD might realise that there are easier targets for cost-savings.
It could be argued that an amphibious capability isn't just about protecting our green and pleasant land but is also an important offensive capability (Falklands?), power projection tool and large ships like this class have great potential for humanitarian missions...but I guess (keyword here) that can all be done off a QE class too, we shall see
I would certainly agree that it would be good for offensive ops etc, however, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH doesn't have the capability to launch an amphibious attack.
From what I have been reading they may be making some significant adjustments to HMS PRINCE OF WALES to enable her for these types of op but will still be relying on external temporary pontoons etc to launch boats from and there will not be any way to launch vehicles.
Does this mean that we will simply be without amphibious capability for a time? Or that there will be an overlap?
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From what I have been reading they may be making some significant adjustments to HMS PRINCE OF WALES to enable her for these types of op but will still be relying on external temporary pontoons etc to launch boats from and there will not be any way to launch vehicles.
Does this mean that we will simply be without amphibious capability for a time? Or that there will be an overlap?
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Wow, so much doom and gloom.
My take is that this is a good posture for 1SL to adopt. We know and report we're structurally underfunded to meet the Navy Plan which was agreed at SDSR at the same time as we know and report we're undermanned. These two massive factors are hugely exacerbated by a number of other challenges (that we all know), so 1SL has to present options over how he is going to operate the Navy, against the agreed plan, inside the agreed cost envelope.
He is simply saying he has run out of sensible options and now needs to cease tasking, and his professional opinion (staffed, of course) is that the least worst pain, is to take the LPDs.
This then triggers a huge debate in the centre and in wider London about the need/requirement and benefit of the LPD and of course RM.
Where are the RM now? Highly visible, operating off an 'amphibious' platform in a HADR operation. Useful timing methinks and supports 1SL inferred point.
I think this is a good play, it makes the point about stretch, underfunding and under resourcing - over to the Centre to make the decision.
My take is that this is a good posture for 1SL to adopt. We know and report we're structurally underfunded to meet the Navy Plan which was agreed at SDSR at the same time as we know and report we're undermanned. These two massive factors are hugely exacerbated by a number of other challenges (that we all know), so 1SL has to present options over how he is going to operate the Navy, against the agreed plan, inside the agreed cost envelope.
He is simply saying he has run out of sensible options and now needs to cease tasking, and his professional opinion (staffed, of course) is that the least worst pain, is to take the LPDs.
This then triggers a huge debate in the centre and in wider London about the need/requirement and benefit of the LPD and of course RM.
Where are the RM now? Highly visible, operating off an 'amphibious' platform in a HADR operation. Useful timing methinks and supports 1SL inferred point.
I think this is a good play, it makes the point about stretch, underfunding and under resourcing - over to the Centre to make the decision.
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