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  1. argentine fleet doesnt retreat

    There was an idea to fit nuclear warheads to the original Tigerfish if WW3 looked likely, as it was deemed the only way to ensure destruction of an enemy submarine. Classy. That's what you get for buying British in the face of adversity. There was also a problem with their batteries contacts...

  2. What happened to the Royal Navy?

    I don't recall in either World War the Germans having freedom of the high seas. So the RN achieved that; bottling up the hostile fleets and crippling their entire merchant fleet. I don't recall neutral shipping being free to trade with Germany; or even Axis Mediterranean trade during WW2 being...

  3. AHC: RAN Crusaders

    The whole point of the RAAF getting the F111s was to be able to deliver a knock-out strike at extreme range against any likely regional adversary they'd face (especially unaided), such as bomber bases, ports, power stations etc. etc., which drastically reduced the RAN's need for a larger carrier...

  4. AHC: RAN Crusaders

    Air defence is vital, but with an extremely limited air group one has to go with what will make the greatest difference against the most likely adversary, especially during the 1960s when missile warfare and fast attack craft was coming of age. In such circumstances, the ability to denude a...

  5. AHC: RAN Crusaders

    More likely to have gone down the Sea Harrier route, post-Falklands anyway, as were going to have Invincible. (Although that'd require a reduction in other RAN capabilities, or increased budget; and given the limited air component any affordable carrier could operate they were better off...

  6. AHC: RAN Crusaders

    A carrier is used as a force multiplier, in such circumstances especially as that which faced the RAN, being a moderate-sized navy facing a host of potentially hostile, largely brown-water navies, especially those likely to be equipped with Soviet anti-ship weaponry against which there were...

  7. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    Can't imagine the Irish would have much need for proper tanks - unlike the similarly sized Belgians/Danes, who'd like them and invest considerably in them instead of naval forces as they face the Soviet tanks streaming across from Germany! Troop carriers and light tanks for the marines, maybe...

  8. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    All seems good, although a main concern would be maintaining sufficient numbers to crew vessels such as a Fearless class and an RFA in addition to the frigates. The marine corps would also be quite small if it were to retain a superior status as an 'elite' conventional force such as the Royal...

  9. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    USAF BASE FECKOFF has a ring to it.

  10. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    I think it's very reasonable for a nation as outlined and given its limited budget and geography. I'm no expert, but it doesn't seem way out of proportion. Forces would reflect ambitions as well as economies. The Type 21s and RFA would suggest participation in blue water operations within and...

  11. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    I could imagine the US wanting to have access to the sparsely populated flatter areas of Western Ireland for sneaky-beaky bases just like that, alongside more prosaic installations.

  12. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    Be interesting to see what kind of economy a combined Ireland would've achieved, given that The Troubles scared off investors for many decades from NI and the agrarian, heavily religiously influenced direction of the Republic from the 1920s-60s. Assuming development in keeping with other smaller...

  13. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    You could have an Irish marine corps that worked and trained very closely with the Royal Marines for NATO operations, much as British and Dutch marines do, so would form part of the UK-Netherlands amphibious force for use (principally) in Scandinavia. That could justify an RFA amphibious vessel...

  14. 2008 Thermonuclear War

    Yes they do; they have a very modern and very competent SSBN force receiving improved missiles. They still have air-delivered nuclear theatre weapons too. The only thing they've changed is removing the (obsolete) land-based component. That is quite unclear. SSBNs are not just vengeance...

  15. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    The RAN was involved in the development of the Type 21 alongside the RN, but changed their minds (can't recall why, but sensible to have gone for the OHP class instead) so could see the Irish involved in that. Hull life depends on a whole range of issues from design to construction, to refits...

  16. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    That is a consideration, but a trade off for having a NATO navy able to assist in a very important (and quite neglected) role - being able to operate inshore in keeping the ports of Ireland and western UK and France open for resupply. In any case, larger ocean going MCMVs and corvettes would be...

  17. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    Almost certain that a 'NATO Ireland' wouldn't be as militarised as the Mediterranean counterparts with similar scale populations and economies. I'd imagine they'd be pushed to focus their main efforts on - 1 - mine countermeasure vessels, given their location and the fact that such vessels...

  18. 32 county island of Ireland in NATO

    Third World War: The Untold Story, by Gen Sir John Hackett. Second book of his about a speculative (largely) conventional WW3 fought in August 1985, both written some years before that date. The second book also includes an 'alternative' ending. For those who've not read it, Irish Army is...

  19. FRAM more successful?

    It allowed the US to turn its WW2 era boats into more effective multi-role submarines and keep them viably in service for decades after 1945. Same as the RN did after WW2: streamline them, fit better batteries, snorkels and sensors. Makes them more effective and bridges the gap until new classes...

  20. Excercise Armageddon

    I don't think it was ever likely the UK would've taken direct military action against Rhodesia: white Rhodesians were/are pretty much all British settlers with a lot of familial and cultural ties to the UK, including having served in both world wars. Be like fighting against New Zealanders...
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