Shipbucket

But if we need to ramp up the sortie rate or lessen time on target a carrier of the coast would be more practical. We also need diplomatic clearences or basing rights to bring aircraft like tornado to conflicts in other parts of the world. Of course the RAF claim they can provide protection to the navy anywhere in the world Just like they did in 1982.

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"There was nothing wrong with Titanic when she left the Shipyard" Tim McGarry Belfast Comedian

What is interesting is just how cunning Gaddafi is. He first issued statements that he was observing a cease fire, then rushed his forces into the suburbs of Benghazi so that they could not be attacked without compromising civilian targets. It does look as though the U.N. forces are hitting his lines of communication (as well as his radar and communications); but he still has Benghazi by the throat. Maybe now we will see elite forces on the ground to direct surgical strikes on small targets; and soon attack helicopters and Harriers operating off shore. The US and Italy have those assets; and France is bringing up their Charles De Gaul. What impressed me was that the RAF managed to fly a mission non stop and return from the U.K. some eight hours flying. And yes, having the Ark Royal still would have been invaluable.

Long term, the best win win would be to see Gaddafi (and his brood) tried for war crimes.

At least we'd dip clearances to fly across France or Spain unlike the Americans when they did Op Eldrado Canyon in the 80's with F111's flying from Laken Heath

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"There was nothing wrong with Titanic when she left the Shipyard" Tim McGarry Belfast Comedian

The Bases in Cyprus combined with in air refueling give you plenty of range to hit anything you need to. The bases in Sicily are even better, but the UK owns those in Cyprus.

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𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐍𝐄𝐓- 𝑻𝒐 𝑪𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆

It appears Kearsarge is conducting operations with a large Marine Harrier contingent onboard in support of the airstrikes and Enterprise hasn't been sent to maintain a lower profile. I wonder if Kearsarge has a full twenty Harriers aboard?

Anyway, one thing the Royal Navy could do to be more useful in the situation is if Illustrious is available she could be deployed and operate USMC Harriers off her deck in support of the no-fly zone. That would be useful in terms of ground-attack capability, continue to keep the US presence low profile, and be useful in the political fights bound to still come over the two CVFs.

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"Once movement was detected, the crew attempted to raise anchor and maneuver away from the shore, but the weather and sea conditions made this difficult. By the time the anchor was raised, the ship had been pushed too close to the shore to recover." Next time, guys, grab a blowtorch.

The typhoons are operating from mainland Italy.

Also Rifleman in 1982 they did from RN carriers , Blackbuck raids and Nimrod from Ascention and Chile!

Many Thanks

Nick

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Nick

@ashwellkennedy

And now Sweden most likely will be involved sending 8 Gripen fighterplanes

...though with severe RoE, as the Swedish Socialdemocrats under their new chairman, Rt Hon Håkan Juholt has hijacked the Swedish participation, in effect, since the PM, the Conservative Fredrik Reinfeldt wished to obtain a wide majority for the decision to dispatch the eight JAS-39 Gripens to the Med. The Swedish Liberal Poular Party, of which I once was an active member, before moving to the US, supported a more active RoE schedule, where the Swedish contingent would be allowed to attack ground tarhets too.

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My Avatar:Петр Алексеевич Безобразов (Petr Alekseevich Bezobrazov), Вице-адмирал , царская ВМФ России(1845-1906) - I sign my drawings as Ari Saarinen

Totally agree! But its Sweden we are talking about The country were nothing is simple to decide and even the most obvious needs to be inquired for a couple of years