Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
#1
Reported in the Hampshire news today the mothballed harriers could be back in service within a month, HMS Illustrious which is being refurbished as a helicopter carrier has had its ski jump renovated and not removed. It is costing the MOD 30 million pounds a week to maintain an RAF strike force in Cyprus and Italy as opposed to 80 million pounds a year to use harriers of a carrier. It is costing 4 million a month in hotel fees alone at the moment. It looks like someone has seen sense at last.
beer the food of the gods
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#2
Great news.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
#3
Only if it comes off, lets hope it does.
beer the food of the gods
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#4
What you imply. Guzzler, is that the RAF in Akrotiri, Cyprus, costs too much to maintain, hence the base should be dismantled and the planes withdrawn to Britain.
But as this too would result in heavy expences, it all does not add up; whether the base is in Akrotiri (which is British oversee territory) or in Britain, it would cost the same. Unless you mean that the planes in Akrotiri should be scrapped. Fair enough.
Furhtermore, by adding the cost of Harriers to the costs of warplanes already in service, it won't cost less, but more! Please illuminate us on how it could be the opposite.
May-be, though, you are confusing the costs of the ongoing war-actions against Libya, which are probably costing the heaps of money you mention. But then this has nothing to do with the Harriers.
As for Naples in Italy, let's leave 'em to sort their own mess out! If they want a war with Libya, we should not be expected to get involved in it!
All in all, the less warplanes we have flying around, the better. They cost hundreds of billions of pounds to operate in a period of decades, are noisy, pollute the air, and can be dangerous. Bugger 'em, I say!
Soldiers should be issued with rifle and bayonet, spare bayonet at the hip! Standard Britannic issue; no Italians, no Romans!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#5
Britannia's ships, those with the Trident on the sail, don't need Harriers anyway!
They use English Fire (an improved version of Greek Fire).
See Shardlake for more details.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#6
Sounds liike you are promoting the complete withdrawal of all our overseas armies Alexander and the dismantling of them too?
It sounded to me that Guzzler was promoting none of that, just that we change what we are doing with the harriers & helicopters, as the cost is £30 million a week, as opposed to £80 million a year - now that is a saving.
If we don't have any overseas involvement, then we do not need a reasonably-sized army, airforce or navy, but as far as I am concerned and aware, we do need an overseas presence - where ever it is needed.
Roger
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
#7
Great news about the ship regardless of human, political,military or financial implications!
Never give up...
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#8
I dont know Guzzler if this is just one of those circulating internet stories. it was a great shame seeing some of our fantastic military equipment scrapped and I cant understand such thinking with the world going ever more mad daily.
Although...the costs of these things was brought home to me yesterday during the Royal Wedding flypast. The TYPHOON, formerly know as the EuroFighter, costs £60,000 an hour to keep in the air. Yes £60,000 an hour. This little staggering snippet was on one of the TV channels yesterday and gave a reality check on the costs of these things.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#9
Quite right, Paul. The cost of spare parts needed for a war-plane is staggering.
It's not just the cost of fuel, but the fact that after flying only a few hours, each war-plane needs to undergo maintanance.
The periodical costs of spare parts for each plane, in the period of 1 year, by far exceeds what most people imagine. Many are not aware how much it costs to operate a modern plane.
The difference with commercial planes is that the customers pay for the expences.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#10
Roger, the sooner we get out of these places, the better! We've got the Falkland Islands, which are British, and our very own Island Country.
We don't need to get involved in these wars that blow up in Asia and Africa, there're not our business.
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
#11
Ah Ha 'Splendid Isolation'! Now that goes back to the era of Castlereagh and Canning!
Never give up...
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#12
Richard, I think it's about time we isolated ourselves from other people's wars!
Here in Dover there is unemployment, it spreads all through Kent and on through the Shires, and further into the Highlands, and to Cymru, and over the sea to Belfast.
Now let's forget other people's wars, and forget getting involved in them, and finally see to sorting out our own mess! We've got enough of it to sort out.
With a 900 billion pound national debt to boot and a 3 trillion pound private debt in this Country just to top it all up.
Now how's about investing some of these tens of millions of pounds a week that Guzzler speaks of, in our own private affairs, in the people, in the economy of the normal person.
I hope the Harriers are melted down into metal ingots ready for selling to the factories, so that the discussion of them being used in some war doesn't blow up again. Once they're gone, they're gone!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#13
These are not other people's wars - they affect us.
You are the type then Alexander who would stand by and do nothing if you spotted burgulars next door or would walk on by a victim of mugging....
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
hardly a comparison barry, a burglary or mugging is very straightforward.
invading other countries is much more complicated and has far reaching repercussions.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#15
Barry, surely you won't be volunteering to go and fight oversees, will you!
Now listen to some sound advice, stay here, don't let yourself be hoodwinked through some fake patriotism into enlisting and sailing away to Africa or Asia.
Leave 'em to it, Barry, let 'em sort their own wars out which they started!
I've got only one life to live here, on the Fair Banks of the Dour, and won't sacrifice it in the war of some unknown group of moaners and whingers elsewhere far away over the Seas. Let 'em get on with it, they started it, they can finish it!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#16
It is not different at all. The UK is as much a part of the international community as we as individuals are part of the community in which we live.
We cannot solve all the problems of the world but in situations when we are able to do so and we have a national interest as well, we should, and can only do that with powerfull armed forces.
Isolationism does not work. You need only to go back to the 1930's to see that.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#17
Well it looks as if Barry will be going to the recruitment centre then. Volunteers only. Happy training Barry! You'll be marching through dusty desert land, only a palm tree every 25 miles! Rifle on the shoulder, heavy boots, one flask of water
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#18
BarryW
states inter alia that ''......isolationism does not work...'' very true.
Hope you'll be applying that very same logic to the EU Barry. Another convert
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#19
The opposite of isolationism is not necessarily to join in every fight in the neighbourhood and sign up to every club going.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#20
Peter, those who shout for interventionism and world-policing, should be the first to put a pair of hobnailed boots on, which is what I'm trying to explain to Barry.
