British patrol ship sinks ‘massive red killer tomato’

Thanks again. I was wondering if there’s ever a recycle and refill and go again program.
Yes that coir looks a bit rough underfoot
Not something you’d have in your living room for sure!

The rate of fire can be increased.

I’ve only read these Bushmasters can do 100 to 200rpm, wheras 600-1100+rpm is required for AAA, the higher preferably. Hence when the light AAA station was occupied by Bushmasters for the first time several decades ago, AA capability was reduced.

They would be fitted pretty much over night if ship was being deployed into a hot zone, and the RN really thought they needed them. Better still, let the escorts do the job they are purpose built for, and the carrier’s primary weapon systems. Aircraft. Nothing moves within 500miles + without the carrier group being aware of it.

Whatever anyone says this annoys me. I have seen pictures of the British Pacific Fleet defending against air attack. The carriers were firing off against the attackers along with the escorts like nobodies business.

Because its 2023 and not 1944. And we have escorts with world class air defence systems. The RN practices the layered air defence system. They know what they are doing.

They are, actually, the best defended airfield we posses, considering the RAFs stations have no GBAD cover.
And they move. And are hard to target.

Exactly mate. When AIS is turned off. And running electronically silent. Warships very difficult to find.

What about the threat a multiple attack by drones? As these are an ever present risk. For instance when the QEC are in dock or alongside.
I would always plan for the unanticipated, the Ukraine war being an eye opener to everyone.

Yes but we are not at war with Russia. The QE would not be alongside if a drone threat was imminent. That’s why we use intelligence services and monitor threat levels across the globe. A carrier would simply not be in range of small drones. And the Fleet can cover hundreds of miles of airspace. Drones simply don’t sneak up without anyone seeing them. That being said. Our warships do practice engaging swarm attacks.

Hi Robert,

I don’t wish to beat a dead horse here but why then are the QE’s the only class of carriers operated anywhere, that don’t have any point defence missile system? Does the RN know something every other country doesn’t? Even the French have Aster 15 on the Charles de Gaul. Can’t other nations’ carriers groups also see out 500+nm?

The only reason I see why the QEs don’t is – money; or lack thereof.

thats because in those days air defence was essentially manually sighted 20mm to 5.25inch guns…you had to see the aircraft to shoot at it so every ship was effectively responsible for its own air defence, you could put a destroyer or air defence cruiser like a Dido along the axis of threat close in but that was it, If it overcame the CAP it would likely overcome any escort related air defence. Look at the fate of force z, especially prince of Wales it bristled with AA guns and launchers ( well over 100) it died anyway…modern air defence is about killing the threat from way beyond visual range and way beyond radar horizon. Your far far better some other first having your CAP kill the threat hundreds of miles away, second your AAW ships killing it way beyond visual range, finally a inner escort or goalkeeper killing it as it comes into the radar horizon…having your carrier defend itself means you have aready probably lost, as your air ops are out the window until your clearing all the mess away. The very reason that after the Falklands the invincibles lost their AAW capacity was because it was decided it was better to maximise the carriers ability to act as a carrier and not as its own AAW. Finally the very best air defence a carrier has is its ability to move and just how vast the ocean is…most people forget it’s actually really really hard to find anything in the ocean and really easy to hide in that vastness, a ships radar for instance generally only had an horizon or around 20miles and it’s no better for low flying aircraft….it’s only when your up very high and radiating can you find things easily ish and then everything can see you before you see them and the CAPs will kill you before your anywhere near the carrier.