Norway will join the UK’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region in 2025, Defence Secretary John Healey announced today, according to a press release.

The announcement followed a meeting in London between Defence Secretary Healey and his Norwegian counterpart, Bjørn Arild Gram.

The ministers discussed the maritime deployment, industrial collaboration, support for Ukraine, and the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East, as stated in the press release.

The Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain’s two aircraft carriers, will operate alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and other partners to support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Norway’s participation, which includes the addition of two ships, one of which is a frigate, will bolster the Strike Group’s capabilities. The press release highlighted that this cooperation demonstrates the indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security.

“This Government is determined to strengthen our partnerships with European allies to keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad,” Defence Healey said in the press release.

“As a close strategic partner, we are delighted to have the Norwegian Navy join the Royal Navy on this historic deployment. It’s an exciting demonstration of the strength of our nations’ maritime partnership and the deepening of our relationship in the months and years to come.”

Norwegian Defence Secretary Bjørn Arild Gram remarked on the significance of the joint deployment.

“The UK is Norway’s closest and most important European ally. We have a long-standing and very close defence relationship. With this joint deployment, we are developing this cooperation even further. The Indo-Pacific is an area of growing importance for global security and stability, also for Europe,” Gram said. He further noted the opportunity for the Norwegian Armed Forces to develop skills and proficiency through participation in allied carrier operations.

The 2025 Carrier Strike Group deployment will last around seven months and is expected to bring various military, security, and prosperity benefits for the UK and participating nations. According to the announcement, the UK Government says this underscores its commitment to global security, anchored in the NATO Alliance, while also fostering partnerships with countries sharing a similar worldview.

A Carrier Strike Group is described in the press release as a “versatile and lethal resource”, always led by an aircraft carrier with embarked F-35B Lightning jets. The formation can include submarines, warships, and support vessels, including those from allied navies, offering cutting-edge air, surface, and underwater defence. It also serves as a focal point for delivering broader strategic objectives.

At the UK Defence Journal, we aim to deliver accurate and timely news on defence matters. We rely on the support of readers like you to maintain our independence and high-quality journalism. Please consider making a one-off donation to help us continue our work. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support!

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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185 COMMENTS

  1. So Norwegians in….. wonder what their second ship will be?? Will the Americans and or Dutch be joining us this time?

    hopefully this time round the boys and girls of the Royal Navy get some proper shore visits and no face masks!

    • A quick look at Norway’s Navy on Wiki; I would guess it would be HNoMS Maud. As most other non-frigate ships are probably too small sail that far.

    • There will always be Americans involved . Almost certainly US Marines on carrier like last time . As they are our insurance to prevent carrier being sunk 😅

        • Oh ! That is surprising 😮 😅 be interesting to see how all that carrier space is utilised . Will it just be UK F35s, or will another nation add to plane numbers somehow . Interesting

          • They’re aiming for 2 squadrons UK so 24 but any more would have to be Italy which don’t have that many either.

          • I’ve just done wiki check out of curiosity. As u mention italy has about 3 f35b and Japan skorea have some on order. That looks to be about it it seems. Though 24 is a pretty decent number I reckon from uk . A lot more than I might have expected which is really pleasing to see 🙂

          • I just done a quick scan for 2024 info ,and sounds like the Italian aircraft carrier is on its way or already in Pacific with 3 f35b on board and planning to team up with Japan, though Japan don’t seem to have any f35b yet untill maybe end of 2024 ? Needs confirming.
            So looks like Japan and Italy may well be keen to get some carrier training on a uk carrier in the Pacific. These two uk carriers are starting to show there worth which is good 🙂

    • Maud probably, and interestingly named after Edward the 7th’s daughter whom went on to be Queen of Norway 🇳🇴

  2. On the one hand, excellent way of refining cooperation. On the other, the availability of RN escorts is very low, so friends not just welcome but needed.

    • Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t believe F-35B is on Norwegian strength just RN/RAF or USMC. I’m guessing Norway has F-35A since they have no carriers for F-35C.
      Thus USMC air were welcome guests on previous CSG operations..
      Sorry for weak research.

        • It might be interesting to invite the Italians to operate from PoW in the Med and Japan in the Pacific. Both have Bs. She is perfectly large enough to run with three squadrons.
          Plus it’s always good to train interoperability on this sort of deployment. You never known when you might have to do it for real

          • I would like to see a bit more aggression from our political friends so that we can operate carriers properly.

    • Yes, that’s what has been mentioned, it would be good to see a third USMC squadron again though as then we will see a full complement as she was designed for.
      Not sure if any US ships or aircraft will be involved though from what I’ve read elsewhere.

      • I think after last time lessons were learnt that the Americans are very manpower heavy, people had to be put on n camp beds crammed into all sorts of spaces, whilst the Americans have a wealth of experience of the 35s they bring everything and the kitchen sink along,

        For example they have to bring Thier own armourers as each nation will only arm Thier own jets. The engineers aswell are one man one job one plane and when your talking about a maintenance crew for each American jet it gets tight quickly, off the top of my head I believe it was around twenty USMC engineers Per jet, there was around 30 USN aviation ordnance personnel and twenty support staff including a handful of civilian contractors who were there as very specialised personnel just incase, there was a lot of passengers on the ship on that trip

  4. That’s very interesting and as they say the devil is in the detail, 2 ships and 1 will be a Frigate. MMm 🤔 That narrows it right down as their only other combat ships are Skjold class FAC and small SSK submarines, I can’t see them going to the Pacific.
    So I’m going to speculate it will be something really useful and given the state of the RFA and our only remaining Fort possible vital to the success of CSG25.
    I’m betting it will be HNoMS Maud which is a very close cousin of our Tide class Fleet Oilers but is over 27.000 tonnes and is a mini FSS for solid stores, spares, Munitions and fuel.
    Designed by BMT, built in S Korea by Daewoo and her crew were RAS trained by the RN at Raleigh.

    Any one got a better idea 🤔 And let’s face it other options are pretty short on the ground. France and Italy could help but are supporting their own deployments this year, and Germany and Spain are a bit more local.

    If I’m right it will be interesting to see how the RFA crew react when they find out how much the Norwegians are paid, then again she is a commissioned Warship.

    • I don’t know if its still happening, but since we are meant to be rotaing with the French in having a carrier in the Pacific I could see us going down the route of working with our northern nato members(Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands and maybe even Germany) while the French going down working with the southern nato members (Spain, Italy maybe Greece or Turkey)

      • Italy are sending their own carrier battlegroup into the pacific within a year, so they will be to busy to support other CBGs.

        • Hi M8, The Cavour strike group is out in FE right now, they left in July. I think they have left Australia so are either in the Philippines or Japan.

          • Blimey, I did not realise they had set of yet, I thought it was a bit later in the year…I bet china are just loving it…one European carrier battle group after another will really prick their ears.

    • The Norwegians need to get paid a lot – the cost of living in their country is supposedly ‘off the scale’. Isn’t a pint of beer about £9?

    • A Norwegian frigate and supply ship would solve alot of problems, if it’s the case I hope we don’t try and send two T23 again, we could really do with them at home and if China’s type 93 performance from CSG 21 is still the best they have then two T23 and an Astute is over kill.

      • Sorry Jim – what’s this about China’s Type 93? A quick google doesn’t turn anything up but that sounds very interesting

    • Heavens. The detail with added, hefty, kick in the nuts with that post. RFA need establishment and means pay. Tad difficult at present but talk with them and establish good industrial relations for the future.

      • Hi DB Problem is made much worse as their skills are 100% transferable and for more money.
        It’s a football that’s been kicked into the terraces and forgotten about, but next year with CSG25 it’s Game on, it’s all on TV and where’s the ball ?
        I always find it funny what happens when Politicians see a dollop of embarrassment heading their way and turning browner the nearer it gets.

    • Unfortunate that no T-26 will be available for CSG-25. Absolutely nothing generates enthusiasm for potential sales like real-world demo/ops. Could have brought a few Norwegian military and/or civilian leaders aboard during slack periods of the deployment. Believe they have a sovereign wealth fund worth $1+Tn,. T-26 purchase would barely amount to rounding error. 🤔

      • Per capita Norway is probably the richest country on Earth, they have 2 separate Sovereign wealth funds. One for Pensions and one for investment in their future, combined total is about $1.6 Trillion which is growing every year.
        Norway is Oil, Gas and Green Electric rich which is a hell of a combination, massive surplus of Hydro Electricity (they export) means they can export most of their oil and gas.
        Where else can you drive in winter on an electrically heated road.🥴
        As for T26 exports, if Norway buys 5 the UK SB industry will be in overdrive. And not to forget we are buying 8 but have 21 being built by the cousins.
        Personally I think that once HMS Glasgow is commissioned she should make a trip to Canada, pop up to Lake Michigan and visit lots of US port calls. 😎

  5. No doubt the trolls will be along shortly to tell us how having a Norwegian frigate on CSG25 is an embarrassment for the UK and shows how we are no longer a great power.

      • Yes funny how a T45 in a US CSG is seen as a diplomatic success for the US but a US destroyer in a British CSG is seen as a military failure for the UK.

        Russian and Chinese bots seem to have homed in on the UK’s greatest weakness which is middle age winging men 😀

        • The true British disease sadly not helped by some of the press. Mind you the MAGA brigade are headed in the same direction. Easy trap to fall into when you can’t match perceptions of past greatness.

        • Exactly. Western navies should mostly ‘police the oceans’ as multi-national Groups. It carries a strong message that we are united.

      • Apparently NATO is an alliance that covers all members except the UK which some how has to provide for all its own security and is some how obligated to provide security for everyone else on the planet and must patrol every inch of water on the surface of the earth less it be seen as a failure in the eyes of America and referred to as a declining power 😀

    • We will probably send

      1 x QEC
      2 x T45
      1 x T23
      1 x Oiler as QEC has a thirst
      1 x Astute or Triumph……

      Norway

      1 x Oiler + Solids – on mainly solids duty
      1 x frigate

      • I’m sure they will get Fort Victoria back in the water by then patched up with duct tape and running on hope and glory 😀

        • In order for Fort Victoria to participate in CSG25 she would surely need to be reactivated and back at sea by this October or November. That in turn would mean dockyard workmen swarming over her now – but she has been laid up at low cost berth in Leith Docks near Edinburgh since May 2023, and she is still there as far as I know.

      • Not certain why USMC is apparently declining to participate in CSG-25. Generalized mantra of US forces is to train the way you intend to fight. Perhaps no invitation was extended, if RN wishes to demonstrate solo capability? ,🤔

        • The CSG21 deployment was agreed when we gave early F35 production slots to USMC. I’m sure we would love to have a USMC squadron onboard and have 36 F35 operating but I don’t think the USMC has many spare squadrons. They are still putting AV8B on operations.

      • Reasonable speculation, but I suspect that given current events the RN really wants another allied AAW destroyer involved to avoid committing more than one of its scarce T45s for the whole of the deployment. As far as I can make out the USA, Germany, France and Italy have all declined due to their own commitments and current/planned Indo-Pacific deployments. It’s a long shot, but maybe Australia will contribute a Hobart class destroyer for a few months whilst the CSG is actually in the Indo-Pacific region.

    • Long term planning for this has been ongoing for years. That planning involves look aheads in refit and FTSP periods for CSG25 units and for units needed for covering UK and NATO commitments at home.

      You dont cuff stuff like this with a few months notice. Lots of stuff needs to come together to make it happen and that requires med term planning

  7. Excellent news, showing how close we are as allies. Also, slightly OT, but hopeful that the norwegians will add to the type 26 export success we have had…

  8. Excellent news, the MOD and RN were getting desperate to find at least one major partner to bulk up CSG25 after the US gave a polite “not this time” to UK soundings early in the year. I wonder if it forms a component a larger deal for a Norwegian buy of T26’s. I.e. the RNoN gives the RN a helping hand over the next 4-5 lean years, in return for HMS Belfast being sold to them. Until 2015 the plan was to build one T26 a year, an order five Norwegian ships would make that essential again.

    • UK-Norway relations seem to be going from strength to strength. Xmas trees, Kongsberg remote weapons stations, NSM, BMT support ship designs, CSG25, possible T26 order. I wonder if we planning joining them in the European Economic Area. Pragmatic move which would give us access to the EU single market without actually joining it.

  9. Isn’t “lethal carrier group” an oxymoron? If not I suggest we go for “deadly lethal carrier group of destruction and mayhem”.

  10. And we’ve all got to hope that the Suez passage and Gulf area remain open! Wonder if an earlier prepositioning of an Astute, or two, in the Indo-Pacific might be a good thing then?

  11. Good evening all, It’s your friendly neighbourhood Chinese AI bot
    Greetings
    NATO ? North Atlantic , what the hell they gonna go paddling in Indo Pacific waters
    Your terminology ‘ Lethal Carrier Group’. Carrier Strike Group , Peace and Stability, The Indo – Pacific is a growing area of importance for Global security and stability, A versatile and Lethal resources and It also serves as a focal point for delivering broader strategic objectives
    Now given that NATO is involved and that this region is actually peaceful
    Explain these words extrapolated from above Lethal , Strike , Peace , Stability , Strategic and Objectives
    Who’s kidding Who
    You can kid all you want till all the rocks melt in the Sun and all the Seas go dry
    But their one you shall never kid and That’s China
    You will be watched and analysed to the the tiniest detail and such deployed against you
    China NEVER starts Wars China Ends them
    Be very very very careful of what you clearly desire particularly your Strategic Objectives
    The best laid plans ‘O ‘ men and mice often gan aglay
    Do not plan for what you can never possibly achieve such is the actions of Clowns and when the clowns enter any place , Then it’s that place that becomes a Circus

    • What worry’s China more, Tempest GCAP fighter developed with Japan or a multi national carrier group in the South China Sea ensuring freedom of navigation.

      It must be both as Xi is sending in his army of little pinks headed by John Brian Doyle 😀

      Point on history, When did China ever end a war, you have literally never won a war.

      • Defeated the Mongols in the C14/15th. Fought the Japanese far longer than anyone else before/throughout WW2 & were on the winning side. We had a heck of as time bringing Japan to her knees, but should remember that all that time 1941-45 China kept huge amounts of Japanese forces tied down. Plus defeating the KMT in their civil war. Drew along with N Korea in the Korean war.
        Couldn’t resist though Chinese history isn’t my expertise. CCP propaganda probably rewrites loads of history to make China a perpetual winner & give widespread belief amongst its citizens to many foreign territories.

        • China the country didn’t exist in the 15th century, holding down Japanese soldiers is not winning a war and neither is chasing the KMT during a civil war to an island off the coast.

          John Brian Doyle literally works for the CCP spreading propaganda.

          • All western MSM is none other than propagandists who follow and disciples of Goebbels’s
            Go study him and the obvious stares you in the face
            China Threat please define exactly what such threat is
            Go back to my original post and see who threatens who
            Probably such is beyond your intelligence far less Wisdom of which no doubt you devoid off
            And another clown joins the circus

          • For 5000 years China consisted of 6 provinces which were unified into
            1 state over 2000 yrs ago
            And Japanese forces invaded China in the 20 th century

        • In fairness… the Ming defeat of the Yuan was more of a civil war, dynastic struggle than “China defeating the Mongols.”

          • It was more than that. They launched many expeditions to devestate deep into Mongolia itself in the C15th, nt just kicking out the Mongols at the start of the Ming dynasty in the 1360s.

      • Oh well let’s go back to the Pacific War in WW2
        Japan invaded China at the weakest point in its 5000 yr history
        Result China very quickly having been overrun changed tactics
        Scorching earth as they retreated delibaretly over extending Imperial Japanese forces till it was a logistical nightmare for Japan
        Then China deployed Guerilla tactics forcing Japan to yield conquered Cities and China hit them hard in the resulting chaotic retreat But alas Nukes dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
        But few in the West realise that over a third of Imperial Japanese military
        Resources were tied down in China
        Ask yourself if that were not so
        What would have prevented Japan
        Actually reaching India and possibly
        Australia
        China is and always been peaceful
        But lo behold Any who Threaten them and that is exactly what the Clowns in NATO are stupid enough to do
        China is well ready for you
        Proceed at your peril

      • Me is referred by you as me being
        YOU presume that means China
        Obviously you are also a clown and a presumptuous one at that
        And of all Clowns such are the most stupid and should you continue to
        Presume with regards myself
        Your sole achievement shall be to turn this excellent forum into a Circus

      • Not true they did in ancient times when they picked on weak and disorganised neighbours to create their Empire but hey one needs very long memories. But as the troll demonstrates their violent Imperialistic inclinations are through economy fuelled arrogance on a growth path.

          • Oh please come back with facts
            Which no doubt you can’t or wise enough to know when you beat and resort to attempting to induce laughter Just as a Clown would do

          • Multi account user. Used to be JohninMK, Ulya, Herodotus oh and a welsh priest and probably many more. His latest deflective writing style is to leave out apostrophes and full stops.
            Loves/craves attention.

          • I didn’t mind Ulya, at least he was honest in providing the Russian perspective on the “Special military operation”. He didn’t contribute much by way of debate but was certainly an interesting person.

          • “He” was a “She” and a Tarter apparently, of coarse it was all lies and made up tosh.
            Funny thing happened a few weeks back, I mentioned her whilst replying to “Brian Doyle” (that was “his” original name for this particular account) and low and behold, Ulya turned up just minutes later after a 3 month break.
            This appearance was expected though.
            A few months further back “He” was a welsh Priest called Wyn something Jones ( can’t remember exactly).
            It’s all very clever stuff, I find much amusement here.
            How are you enjoying the school holidays ?

          • “He” was apparently a “She”. She is always on here but mostly as a “He” and under a different guise.

          • Hmmmm 🤔 He was deffo a she, You must have missed that Outing then ? Reckon you might have been about 12 at the time though, was that before your time on here ? 🕵

          • No clue, I started here, according to the user history, 10 months ago and read the articles and comments a bit before that, maybe up to a year ago.
            If it was before then I must have missed it.
            It says you’ve only commented here for a month, how long did you spend just reading?

          • I’ve been here since the very early days, every so often I get banned so I just re-appear. I was Borg for ages but originally I was a name that now evades me. Even when banned, I still look in and read stuff.
            I’m also on NL and a few other sites but this one has way more articles.

    • You wouldn’t believe China has a 3000 year history of oppressive Imperialism starting all manner of wars would you my peace loving friend. In modern times threatening various neighbours doesn’t sound that peaceful by the way, but hey I guess the Philippines in particular must be a really scary threat to you to have to be bullied by your brave military thugs. Very surprised that such a self confident Nation needs to oppress the odd dissident on London streets too or is that just an expression of Nationalistic fervour? To paraphrase Monty Python we piss in your South China Seas.

      • China never threatened any it only Promises what will happen should any be foolish enough to threaten
        And as for the biggest clowns off all who have the audacity to attack
        Then their demise is a promise that’s always fulfilled
        I do believe Monty Python indeed followed the principles of clowning around but only so for a good old belly laugh
        The clowns in NATO are not actually clowning they are merely glove puppets of Neo Liberal Capitalism
        Deployed in a vain attempt to maintain USA hegemony and make a fortune by sending in the clowns to do the fighting for their own greedy purposes

        • Tibet 1950. No threat to China but brutally invaded & annexed.
          1979 Sino-vietnamese war, surprise invasion of Vietnam in support of the genocidal Khmer Rouge whose bloody reign had just been terminated by the Vietnamese.

          • Absolutely! You and I might think all those pottery soldiers are just a case of narcissistic OCD, but I watched Tomb of the Dragon Warrior. Its all very scary…😉

          • I continually asked of those who elect to reply to come back with facts
            Winnie the Pooh ( Disney version )
            Or any other version is Banned in China
            Disney Land still displays much of Winnie at it’s Chinese theme park
            What is banned is Internet images
            Making a mockery of President Xi
            By presenting him as Winnie the Pooh
            The ban which still stands was regarded as extremely offensive and more importantly disrespectful
            Please understand the Culture , history and beliefs of the Chinese Civilisation
            China always operates on the basis of mutual respect and gives short shrift to those who are disrespectful
            Tell me would China ever tolerate by it’s own people being disrespectful of our current King Charles
            Well i answer you
            No never would such disrespect or what The UK citezens culturally find offensive
            And China shall never ask for such respect it only gives

    • My God, he’s become self aware!
      The AI will destroy us!
      Either that, or your handler has taught you humour.
      Can you request that the next lessons are on English punctuation? It might help us understand you so that your point comes across and we can finally bow to the might of China.

      • English
        A weasel language developed by Weasels for weasel and nefarious purposes

        Go to hell with that language where it is instantly recognised for the Thourghly evil it has been used to justify over whether directly or indirectly to inflict horrible conflicts and wars upon many people’s
        By the hand of the UK and USA
        over 300 such conflicts in the last 100 yrs alone
        For example Iraq 2 totally illegal
        Afghanistan and you ignemonious
        Retreat and in your haste to depart you left behind the DNA fingerprints of the Afghans you employed to help you fight your disgusting War
        But worse still you also left behind the high tech Lab equipment that the Taliban deploy to check any DNA of those suspected of Traitorous activity effectively a death sentence for those who assisted NATO and you left behind
        And as Henry Kissinger said
        To be a enemy of America is dangerous
        But to be a friend is Lethal
        You dropped bombs upon the Afghans
        China dropped sacks of rice
        And despite having to run away of Afghanistan twice in your inglorious
        Imperial past Once more the clowns
        Ran back in and the whole world witnessed the circus as you hastily
        Fled Kabul
        And what about Laos a non combat tent in the Vietnam war , Whereby America dropped more tonnage of bombs most of which were cluster bombs and of which at least 30 % failed to explode upon Laos than the Allies dropped upon Japan in WW 2
        Even to this day 5 to 10 children in Laos will venture upon these unexploded cluster bombers and either be killed or have limbs blown off. At current level of clearance of these cluster bombs it shall take 20,000 yrs to render Hundreds of Thousands of Square Kilometres of Laos safe

        A library could be filled with the artoricitsies commited in your name
        Now come back with the Level of Chinese atrocities that can even possibly match a tiny fraction of those of the Colonial powers

        If not go to hell because your place is reserved for you

        • Considering SB is still at school, he’s doing rather well to have a place at hell already reserved. 🙄
          A little more respect for the junior of the site, please.

          • Point taken However respect can Never be asked for it can only be given
            Therefore before i give any respect
            Then that’s entirely a matter for others to attend too
            Words are just words
            Tis actions that only matter
            And those shall be your Judge and Jury

          • Please tell me you are on Facebook and that your real name is something like Kevin or Perry, i’d love to add you as a friend ! 😂

          • Question: why are there still wet markets in China despite the rise in Supermarket Chains??

          • 😂 everyday is a school day on here. ( I don’t really think Toby J is still of school age personally )

          • Hi mate.
            I know, you smell rats and double accounts in all corners!
            I tend to take people at face value until proven otherwise, as, why not.
            I’m me, I’d hope most on this site are them!!

          • It’s my specialist subject though, being in a certain line of business, this and a few other sites provide a wealth of entertainment that keeps me amused !

          • Nah, I’m still in school holidays, moving into Sixth Form.
            I used to call myself that but decided to go with the flow and have a username like everyone else.

          • As a bloke of 72, I have no Idea how it might have felt for me too at your supposed tender age.

          • I don’t know what about me you sense is suspicious.
            You’d have to be a really odd person to get a kick out of pretending to be a child.
            Nothing I say will convince you further (I can feel how odd my arguments sound) so I won’t reply to any further comments. I would be interested in how you arrived at that conclusion though.

          • I’m very observant and I read peoples stuff from when they first appear on here.
            You said you were a year off leaving school so I assume you are saying that you are @15 ?
            Your contributions suggest not.

          • I love JBD, he does the best comedy posts on here.
            I sometimes wonder if he is actually a CCP shill or just someone with a very twisted sense of humour.
            Thanks for the support DM, means a lot 👍🥇

          • Even I’m starting to see second accounts and fake profiles all over the shop. 😳
            I don’t think it’s healthy.
            I’ve no idea what he,she, it is, I’ll leave that to Baker and his Mole hunting squad.
            I just know I don’t agree with what it posts.
            Some of us at least are actually real on here mate and use our real names. Me, geoff ( no capital ),Robert B, and David L.
            Klonkie is also genuine, his names actually Chris.

          • I try not to think too much about the people writing comments and just engage with the debate, which includes avoiding any reference to political parties etc.
            I’ve understood for a while that there is a “hard core” of UKDJ hobbyists like yourselves who generally have something to contribute to most discussions. Hadn’t realised you were using your real name though, the profile pic threw me off.
            I have said before that I wonder what a “UKDJ convention” would look like in terms of demographics and backgrounds.
            Bit weird to have my identity questioned by Baker but it probably happens to most people at some point.

          • Yes. I understand why some current and ex military types don’t use real names if they’ve been involved in certain activities.
            I’ve nothing to hide, I’m a real person.
            As for rhe pic, I’m a big Tolkien, LOTR, fantasy genre fan and I like the Gandalf/Mithrander character.

          • Identity is nothing, I used to get my gender questioned here!!!😄😚

        • And yet, here we are, talking in English.
          Go and look up the history of the language on Baidu or whatever it is you use and then tell me how on earth it has been “developed”.

    • Try the last Chinese-Vietnamese war. Do believe China kicked that one off! Plus they were lobbing artillery shells over the border until relatively recently. Not to mention the numerous incidents caused by China trying to enforce their nine dash line South China Sea territory grab.

      Perhaps you need to reappraise your assumptions on the friendly CCP and their stoically peaceful nature!

      • Sth China sea grab
        Firstly tis not a grab
        Go check the facts
        China has documented proof beyond all doubt and in some instances going back more than 1500 years that the various small islands and shoals are irrefutably
        Chinese
        With regards Tawain do not believe a single word that spews forth from the forked tongues of Western War Mongers

        The Taiwanese issue is unequivocally a civil war that still has to conclude
        So there are only the following possible solutions
        China surrenders
        Tawain surrenders
        China and Tawain by negotiation
        Return Tawain to the Motherland
        Tawain attacks China and wins
        China by force retakes Tawain
        Take you pick which of above shall
        Finally conclude this Civil War
        If a clown then most certainly a cataclysmic choice will be made

        As for The Tawainese Straights these are without any doubt Sovereign Chinese waters so how does one grab that which already belongs to you
        China has demonstrated tremendous restraint here
        There last year alone over
        10000 military incursions to Sovereign Chinese waters and Air Spaces by US forces and their lackeys
        Now how would you like similar for
        UK space to endure similar incursions
        How long could you restrain yourself

        Ah but Respect you so devoid off

        China has passed into Law with regards bringing this ongoing Civil
        War to a successful conclusion f

        1 The civil war MUST be concluded by 2040. but by way of strenuous efforts to do so by peaceful negotiations
        Should that fail then full and total Military force

        2 By statute any Chinese citezens
        Whether from the Mainland or Taiwan who resist shall be treated
        As Traitors and shall be subjected to the Full force of The Law

        And as for the so called red dash lines
        In reality these are the 2 Nd Great Wall China has constructed and as it was for the 1st Great Wall it’s entirely defensive
        China has openly declared that any who crosses their Wall ( Red lines )
        In a serious aggressive manner
        Then that shall solely be regarded as not only interference in Chinese
        Internal affairs and that includes Tawain but as A Act of War
        Therefore as such China shall immediately Declare war upon all
        Involved and such declaration shall be issued as one of Unconditional
        Surrender and China will fight to the Last man standing and forever and a day

        Make no mistake about this
        And that’s exactly why i call The Clowns in NATO to think very very carefully of the path they have chosen to navigate
        Clowns who play with fire
        Can but only end up burnt

          • Simples
            If you have suicidal tendencies
            Enlist , Take the King’s Shilling
            Then Should NATO elect to cross the Red Line / breach the 2 Nd Great Wall volunteer for action

            Or
            Enlist for HMS Trident Submarines
            And When Missile Launch ordered
            Then if unlike the 100 % test launch
            Failures since 2016 Whereby it was
            Launch then Plop
            Should the Missile be armed
            Good chance Launch , Plop followed by BANG

          • Question: if China is so wonderful, then why is their infrastructure so poor?? and also why is their belt and road initiative such a disaster??

          • Go check UN resolutions re Tawain
            And then the documents over centuries regarding Tawain being part of China
            And as for Sth.China sea islands
            Then you need to go back over 2000
            Yes to find out what belongs to who
            I know the facts go ye and find them

          • Really are UN resolutions are merely
            Fabrications
            Then why Tawain barred from joining UN or any other International
            Organisation that is affiliated to the UN in any manner
            And official Historical documents
            Signed by Numerous previous Emperor’s over thousands of years are fabrications

            Well then in the interest’s of impartiality
            So are The Magna Garta , The American declaration of Independence and The Good Friday
            Agreement are also fabrications and the signatures upon them are forged
            Time to lower the Stars and Stripes
            Above the White House and replace with the Union Jack
            Guess all you want my name is the same one as upon my birth certificate
            Ah but that also must be a fabrication
            Just like the agreement for Britain to hand back Gibraltar to its rightfull
            Owners Spain

  12. I have done a fair number of 6+month deployments as part of the Rebel Alliance( FF/DD force) or as a Deathstar (Command Flagship).
    Units from all nations drop in and drop out throughout. It’s not a massive issue.
    When On a T23 we escorted the French Carrier as part of her group for a while then left to do our own thing. I have done escorting for USN groups. On a Deathstar we had nations dropping in and out all the time.

    Lots of speculation about which RFA Stores ship is going…There may be a surprise guest attending of the BAY variety …

  13. Let’s hope there’s enough ships to make up a decent CSG and the Suez and Gulf remain open. Hope the T45s might have their CAMM and NSM and even the T23 its NSM.

    • Yep already read it.

      SSN availability is a nightmare. The nuclear regulatory authority is the primary reason followed by successive Govts of all ilk’s. The RN cannot put them in dock because the docks are not up to the latest spec. It’s a big driver for get some floating drydocks back to Faslane to clear the maintenance backlog.

      The Regulatory Authority didn’t just move the goal posts a little bit, it relocated them into another Universe and required all sorts of additional requirements to be in place to allow a boat to refit. All of this was highlighted in the 90s and successive Govts have kicked it into the long grass or used it as a readymade savings pot to cut as and when needed.

      The requirements are available here- https://www.nuclearinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Devonport-briefing.pdf.

      Will they fix it in time? Who knows?
      Throw enough money at something and you can fix anything. However, time is a big constraint, and the nuclear watchdog won’t accept any risks no matter how infinitesimally small they are.

    • I read this earlier and also a few weeks back somewhere else, dire situation by all accounts, just like T23 , T45 and RFA.
      Let’s hope this newly elected bunch of eejits can sort it out.

      I won’t hold my breath though.

  15. Regardless of the other ship deployed Norway’s continued involvement in these and other deployments is always welcomed

  16. Norway is the only European nation that has never forgotten what the UK did for Europe during WW2 with Royal Marine Commando raids and civilian rescue. Norwegian soldiers fought their war from the tip of Scotland and boy did they get some revenge. From the whole of the UK we thank the beautiful people of Norway for the huge Christmas Tree you gift our Island evey year which looks absolutely beautiful in Trafalgar Square.

  17. I have a picture in my head of the Norwegian drafting office being inundated with draft requests to get on this deployment. High North or Far East?
    hmmm…Hard choice!

    Drafty looking like Joker in The Dark Night.
    Snaps a pool cue in half ” We only have so many places available on the Frigate going on the Far East deployment …so …Try outs!”

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