Fifteen RN Sailors captured by Iranian forces

[Blitzen]

erm have many times has a US aircraft carrier been sunk by an electric/diesel sub in Nato exercises.

Thats the Americans....we know how to pilot them


Its standard to have subs in a task force to protect the Fleet HQ

[GeorgeTuk]

Those that say, "send in the SAS" to rescue the 15 have been watching too much "Ultimate Farce" on ITV.

Never a truer point made!

[Moby-Dick]

Ever heard of a 'GoalKeeper'?
Unless there were many missiles, there wouldnt be a thing that could get through.
You should see this weapon go.....its amazing!

As far as I heard , all the CIWS things are a real last line of defence. If you hear one of them start up , you know its brown trowsers time !

[nichomach]

I believe the engagement range for Goalkeeper is 350-1500m, albeit that that cannon used is the GAU8 that you find in the A10, so yes, I'd be making sure I had a change of undies too... .

[GeorgeTuk]

There is also a better missile based system around these days. The projectiles from the guns don't do enough damage to the missiles or rather technology has moved on.

Plus in the Type45 we have the latest in anti-ship missile defence. That employs some impressive variations in capability to destroy incoming threats. When it finally gets delivered it will sit alongside the future carrier and defend it and anything else with a substantial range.

[YorkieBen]

apart from the goalkeeper (which is by far a different (and better) kettle of fish than the US phalanx) we have the sea wolf (which shot down a 4.5" shell in testing - faster and smaller than a sunburn) and the sea dart has shot down SSMs before

the goalkeeper uses a 30mm round that is far larger and thus destructive (4 times the weight on the phalanx round - the goalkeeper's bullets each weigh 1 pound. The phalanx is not as complex either - however because it is so cheap the RN have fitted it to most ships instead of the superior goalkeeper)

The RN are the best in the world at ASW and I doubt the Iranian sub crews are going to be that trained up

[Blitzen]

and the sea dart has shot down SSMs before

HMS Brum in 1990 or 1991 (cant rem now).

My old Yeoman was on the bridge when it happened.

[YorkieBen]

HMS Brum in 1990 or 1991 (cant rem now).

My old Yeoman was on the bridge when it happened.

probably 1991, an iraqi missile got fired at a RN ship (I thought it was HMS Gloucester, not brum?), a us ship fired its phalanx ciws at it and missed (hitting a US battleship instead ) so the RN shot it down with the much maligned Sea Dart - saying that the Sea Dart is now obselete, the sooner the new t45s get into service the better (all 6 of them )

[iranu]

erm you say Iran imports 40% of it's petrol requirements, so how does the UK stop it? The UK cannot stop say Chinese ships trading with Iran in International waters.

Instead of thinking about the 40% they do import, think of the 60% that they DO NOT import. The UK would not have to stop the 40% being shipped in, merely decrease the amount of Iranian domestic petrol producing capacity thereby requiring Iran to increase imports and therefore price, logistics etc etc.

Blocking 3rd party ships is not possible, however reducing the Iranians ability to produce their own petrol would have a massive and quick domestic effect and this is (relatively) easily possible.

Whilst I believe that RN has excellent anti-ship missile capability along with early warning radar provided by the Yanks (all learnt from the Falklands) the Iranians certainly have land, air and sea anti shipping capability that is not to be sniffed at.

Whilst us armchair generals sit and chew the fat I hope that all our service personel are as well as can be and I wish them a speedy return without further trial.

Hopefully the UK et al can learn from this and not let it happen in the future.

[Blitzen]

probably 1991, an iraqi missile got fired at a RN ship (I thought it was HMS Gloucester, not brum?), a us ship fired its phalanx ciws at it and missed (hitting a US battleship instead ) so the RN shot it down with the much maligned Sea Dart - saying that the Sea Dart is now obselete, the sooner the new t45s get into service the better (all 6 of them )

Thought it was Brum....nm

I thought it was just an old dit when he told me but i had it confirmed by the Joss that was on there at the time.

[nichomach]

FWIW, this is the official word from [IRONY]renowned reasonable man Mahmoud Ahmadinejad[/IRONY] - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6525905.stm. If he follows through, then with any luck, they'll be home safe, no shots fired, no-one killed. Which I think we call if not ideal then a lot better than some of the alternatives.

[kalniel]

Agreed.

Nice if we could get the equipment back too, but it's the people that matter the most.

[pollaxe]

^Absolutely, they kept the boats the last time, too... :|

[nichomach]

Well, did you SEE the state of theirs...? Shocking...

[pollaxe]

Keep your eyes peeled on eBay for a couple of used Pacifics in the coming months, maybe....?


I shouldn't joke, both probably represent a significant proportion of our surface fleet these days. (Sighs)

[GeorgeTuk]

FWIW, this is the official word from [IRONY]renowned reasonable man Mahmoud Ahmadinejad[/IRONY] - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6525905.stm. If he follows through, then with any luck, they'll be home safe, no shots fired, no-one killed. Which I think we call if not ideal then a lot better than some of the alternatives.

Excellent news indeed. Its a shame they won't admit they are wrong but this is definite internal politics led. Old Pres needs to look good since he has had a few negatives in recent months.

I think the lame 'gift to the people of the UK' is quite laughable. He knows he was in a corner and this is his only way out.

Hmmm, maybe Trident works...