British Military Current Events

[daftandbarmy]

Utterly effing stupid. The amount of capital tied up in one of these ships and they cheap out on these?

May I refer you to the infamous 'Blue Circle' radar?


Production Tornado F.2s had concrete ballast in place of the Foxhunter radar, due to the development delays. This ballast became known as the "Blue Circle radar", a play on words from a British brand of cement by the same name, and the Rainbow Codes previously used for British radars.

AI.24 Foxhunter - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kirkhill]

May I refer you to the infamous 'Blue Circle' radar?


Production Tornado F.2s had concrete ballast in place of the Foxhunter radar, due to the development delays. This ballast became known as the "Blue Circle radar", a play on words from a British brand of cement by the same name, and the Rainbow Codes previously used for British radars.

AI.24 Foxhunter - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

So the Yanks are still taking lessons from the Masters?

Why some F-35s will be delivered with no radar​

Since mid-2025, Lockheed Martin has reportedly been installing ballast weights in place of the missing radar on US-delivered F-35s to ensure the aircraft remains airworthy.

Why some US F-35 jets are being delivered with no radar

F-35 radar delays see US jets delivered without APG-85 system, with aircraft restricted to training until upgraded.

aerospaceglobalnews.com

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Except in this case, the guns and associated equipment are already available and they are just to cheap to do it.

 

[daftandbarmy]

LUOTC ski trip transport this morning. Officer Cdts all lectured about the need for security and barred from using any MTP warm kit or day sacs etc” Taken on the ship at Dover on its way over to Europe.
You couldn't make it up, priceless

Facebook

 

[Kirkhill]

Problems in the waggon train.

The waggon masters want more money,

Royal Fleet Auxiliary seafarers walk out over pay

Seafarers serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have begun strike action after overwhelmingly rejecting the latest pay offer from their employer, the UK Defence Journal understands.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

RMT is currently one of Britain's most militant unions.

They are adamant that the trains that run in Vancouver with no crew need both a driver and conductor whe in London.
The also got a hefty plus-up the week that Labour took power, contributing massively to the black hole that prevents Britain investing in Defence and paying the RFA better,


And here's the boss

"The leader of a major railway union posed with a communist flag and was pictured alongside people singing pro-Russia chants on a visit to occupied Ukraine, it has emerged.

"The general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Eddie Dempsey, travelled to the Donbas region of Ukraine in 2015, one year after it had been invaded by Russia."

Union boss ‘pictured alongside people singing pro-Russia chants in occupied Ukraine’

RMT spokesperson insists that Eddie Dempsey has ‘at no time supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’

www.independent.co.uk

....

Starmer is in deep trouble with the Unions

Declining Union membership has made it easier for radicals generally, usually on the left, to gain positions of power. The central committees then control the funds to the Labour party and so when they take positions on international policy the Party has to listen.

One union turned hard left on the basis of a leadership vote of only 7% of its membership.

Add in his troubles with the county council elections in May and the striking Junior Doctors at the NHS and his historically low popularity ratings ..... Britain is hamstrung.

 

[Kirkhill]

Problems in the waggon train.

The waggon masters want more money,

Royal Fleet Auxiliary seafarers walk out over pay

Seafarers serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary have begun strike action after overwhelmingly rejecting the latest pay offer from their employer, the UK Defence Journal understands.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

RMT is currently one of Britain's most militant unions.

They are adamant that the trains that run in Vancouver with no crew need both a driver and conductor whe in London.
The also got a hefty plus-up the week that Labour took power, contributing massively to the black hole that prevents Britain investing in Defence and paying the RFA better,


And here's the boss

"The leader of a major railway union posed with a communist flag and was pictured alongside people singing pro-Russia chants on a visit to occupied Ukraine, it has emerged.

"The general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Eddie Dempsey, travelled to the Donbas region of Ukraine in 2015, one year after it had been invaded by Russia."

Union boss ‘pictured alongside people singing pro-Russia chants in occupied Ukraine’

RMT spokesperson insists that Eddie Dempsey has ‘at no time supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’

www.independent.co.uk

....

Starmer is in deep trouble with the Unions

Declining Union membership has made it easier for radicals generally, usually on the left, to gain positions of power. The central committees then control the funds to the Labour party and so when they take positions on international policy the Party has to listen.

One union turned hard left on the basis of a leadership vote of only 7% of its membership.

Add in his troubles with the county council elections in May and the striking Junior Doctors at the NHS and his historically low popularity ratings ..... Britain is hamstrung.

The Aussie solution to Bolshie Brit unions?

"The AROS Console is designed to be fitted on new or existing vessels, enabling the remote operation and tasking of autonomous and uncrewed assets, complimenting shore-based operations and supporting crewed-uncrewed teaming (MUM-T).

"Developed in collaboration with Greenroom Robotics, the console enhances Australia’s sovereign capability to deliver support for optionally crewed vessels and uncrewed assets being delivered for future maritime forces.

"The console provides three main stations

• Remote piloting, with both touch input and physical controls, for uncrewed surface vessels (USV), remotely operated vessels (ROV) and uncrewed air vehicles (UAV).
• Asset tasking, mission planning, course plotting and target interactions.
• Remote engineering of multiple assets, allowing crews to administer engineering functions, fulfilling both regulatory requirements and further enabling mission success."

Autonomy

In collaboration with our customers, we are integrating with, and enhancing, the mission capability of crewed platforms, working together across government and industry to meet evolving threats and ensure mission success. In 2025 we launched a number of autonomous capabilities including AROS...

www.austal.com

....

The console has been grafted on to Aussie Armadale Patrol Boats and American JHSV Transport Cats.

Maybe RN should just recommission RFA Lyme Regis as HMS Lyme Regis and install one of those consoles. It is intended to deploy autonomous vessels and vehicles in any event.

 

[OldSolduer]

I
Thought it said

“Remote pirating” arrrrr

 

[daftandbarmy]

Thursday's toast!

Sacking of former Royal Navy chief demonstrates challenge facing the Armed Forces, says 1SL​

The First Sea Lord says the sacking of the former head of the Royal Navy for inappropriate behaviour demonstrates the challenge facing the Armed Forces.

In his first comments about the dismissal of Admiral Sir Ben Key, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who replaced him, told MPs it shows the Armed Forces have "some way to go" when it comes to making the changes needed across defence.

Admiral Sir Ben Key was sacked in July last year following an investigation into an alleged relationship with a female colleague.

Gen Sir Gwyn spoke publicly for the first time about Adm Sir Ben's sacking while facing questions from the Defence Committee. Former RAF officer-turned-Labour MP Calvin Bailey asked him to share his thoughts on what happened and his concerns about prevailing conditions in the Armed Forces.

Sacking of former Royal Navy chief demonstrates challenge facing the Armed Forces, says 1SL

The current head of the Royal Navy says the sacking of his predecessor shows the Armed Forces have "some way to go" in culture change

www.forcesnews.com

 

[Kirkhill]

On the deployment of the RN's submarine.

UK submarines to focus on Atlantic and Med, Lovegrove says

The bulk of the UK attack submarine fleet will continue to be focused on the Atlantic and Mediterranean despite the Indo-Pacific dimension of AUKUS, according to Sir Stephen Lovegrove. #UDT2026

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Presumably it will be operating off Gibraltar if the Spanish let it.

 

[Kirkhill]

UK has taken delivery of over 8,000 drones since 2024

The UK has taken delivery of more than 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024 as part of a £450 million investment in drones and related technologies, according to Defence Minister Luke Pollard.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

The UK has taken delivery of more than 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024 as part of a £450 million investment in drones

- over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development,

- the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement.”

- does not include spend in support of Ukraine

......

So 150 MUKP spent on procuring 8000 drones

Average cost per unit of $20,000

But

How many of those 8000 drones were of the types being built at the rate of 1 every 23 seconds and being consumed just as fast?
8000 of those represents two days of production/consumption.

And the British government is desperate for fluff going into elections that will see them lose control of cities and counties and the election of committed separatists in Scotland and Wales.

So, YMMV.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I recall seeing a lot of sheep during this event on Dartmoor. Maybe that says more about me

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[Halifax Tar]

I recall seeing a lot of sheep during this event on Dartmoor. Maybe that says more about me

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Nothing about that looks appealing lol hahahaha

Whats the failure rate ?

Ill stick with

 

[daftandbarmy]

Nothing about that looks appealing lol hahahaha

Whats the failure rate ?

Ill stick with

View attachment 99902

About 50%... the 30 miler is the last in a series of Commando tests.

I did the 'All Arms' version, for non-Royal Marines joining the Commando Bde. Same tests, but delivered in a stand alone 5 week package instead of part of the 32 week recruit training program at Lympstone.

Jack usually sends well prepared people who do well on the course e.g., I had a RN dentist in my section who was first class. Had no idea how to wear his fighting order and ruck sack, but couldn't be stopped

All Arms Commando Course - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Halifax Tar]

About 50%... the 30 miler is the last in a series of Commando tests.

I did the 'All Arms' version, for non-Royal Marines joining the Commando Bde. Same tests, but delivered in a stand alone 5 week package instead of part of the 32 week recruit training program at Lympstone.

Jack usually sends well prepared people who do well on the course e.g., I had a RN dentist in my section who was first class. Had no idea how to wear his fighting order and ruck sack, but couldn't be stopped

All Arms Commando Course - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Who is Jack ?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Who is Jack ?

The guy in that photo you posted

 

[daftandbarmy]

Extra points for style

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[Kirkhill]

Nothing about that looks appealing lol hahahaha

Whats the failure rate ?

Ill stick with

View attachment 99902

Jolly Jack Tar?

 

[daftandbarmy]

I never knew that!

Bloody Cromwell’s to blame for most things, really

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[Kirkhill]

I never knew that!

Bloody Cromwell’s to blame for most things, really

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Further to...

The Household Division is the King's Personal Army. Every other county lord had his own army so the king was allowed one.

The Royal Marines fall under the RN's warrant.

The Royal Artillery has its own warrant along with the Royal Engineers, both elements of the Ordnance.

Not the preponderance of Blue. As in the Blues and Royals.

As I understood it, if Blue then Royal and directly under Royal Authority.

County Regiments adopted Cromwell's crimson and were under the authority of parliament and the Lords Lieutenant. They could be called out by the local Lord Lieutenant or by the King on the advice of parliament.

I also remember being told that the Scottish Establishment made up troops from south and east of the Highland Line and north of the Tweed, while the Irish Establishment included not just the Irish but the Islanders and the other gaelic speakers in Scotland beyond the Highland line.

The Crown kept the means of making war, protecting itself and subduing the Counties.

The Counties organized themselves and were not encouraged to act jointly except under Royal Authority.

Thus many buttons and bows and 150 capbadges.

At least as I remember my history lessons.

 

[Kirkhill]

Just double checked

The county Lords Lieutenant were authorised to raise their county militias within their borders by the post Cromwell Militia Act of 1662. The Restoration era.

They retained that authority until 1871 when they lost miltary control of the militia with the Cardswell reforms.

In 1921 the Territorial Act removed the authority entirely.

In 1997 Tony Blair made it clear that the Lords Lieutenant were only ceremonial representatives of the Crown with the Lieutenancies act.

...

Canadian parallel.

Communities raised hospitals.
Hospitals were centrally regulated.
Hospitals were centrally funded.
Hospitals were removed to central control.
Communities lost control to central authority.
Central authority reduced community services in the name of efficiencies.