According to a response to a Freedom of Information request just one Joint Warrior exercise is scheduled to run next year, between the 1st and 13th of October.
“Just one JOINT WARRIOR Exercise is currently planned for 2022 covering the period 1-13 October 2022.”
Joint Warrior is a UK-led multinational exercise that involves numerous warships, aircraft, marines and troops from allied nations around the world. The exercise traditionally takes place twice per year on and around the Scottish coast, the first in April and the second in October.
https://twitter.com/geoallison/status/1458820823800856582
Why does the UK host Joint Warrior?
According to the Royal Navy website, this massive multinational war exercise involves warships, aircraft, marines and troops from UK, NATO and allied forces.
“The exercise doesn’t only allow participating units to hone their specialist roles within a larger war-style setting – it also helps foster vital links between the UK, NATO and other allied militaries. The aim is to provide a complex environment in which the participants can train together, honing tactics and skills in preparation for deployment as a Combined Joint Task Force.”
The scenario for each Joint Warrior is designed to reflect contemporary political tensions – such as the War on Terror and the threat posed by ISIS – and to simulate the hostilities that might result from them. The ultimate aim? “To assure maximum preparedness in the face of any threat.”
Hasn’t this happened before?
It emerged in 2018 that only one Joint Warrior exercise would take place that year due to concerns of overstretching forces as they undertake ‘other commitments’.
You can read more about that here.
There may be lots of CDEL in the pot but unless you have enough RDEL to operate there isn’t much point.
As noted at HCDC last week TDEL is going down by 0.4% in real terms with RDEL where the large reduction hits.
As an FYI the UK hasn’t exercised at Divisional level since 1989.
OMG acronyms. I don’t have a clue. Can you explain it longer word format for us that are uneducated in military speak lol
Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) with Resource DEL (RDEL) being the operating costs and CDEL being Capital budget. I think the point being made was that it’s all well and good having the capital to buy new equipment, however you also need the budget to operate and maintain it.
You could argue that the “Fitted For But Not With” debate would indicate that neither budget is sufficient for current requirements… just a thought?
I suspect it’s also partially that the RN timed all their refits/repairs etc to max the carrier task force this year, for all the PR stunts. We realistically don’t have enough ships to keep that up and so things have to be cut to allow everything to revert to normal.
We’ve got no money.
I think that there’s always money around, unfortunately just not enough in the places we’d like.
UKDJ community: “MoD needs to stop hiding behind jargon and start effectively communicating its mission to the public”
Also the UKDJ community: “ABCDEFGHIJK..”
The MoD spend all of their time hiding behind something – they continue to play a “Paul Daniels” game – distracting with one hand whilst slowly doing something with the other. The capital budget will soon get eaten up by topping up programmes that are late and over budget (36 of 36 programmes are amber or red), inflation (which is running above the 1.8% CDEL increase), defence inflation (new kit in the UK costs lots of money) and the inability to manage new programmes so that they are delivered on time, to budget and against the user need. RDEL is… Read more »
Based on a variety of factors inflation is rising really fast, in particular, if the price of oil doesn’t fall soon there will have far reaching effects all over the defence budgets, as well as our own personal spend. If we follow the US, where domestic inflation is around 6% already, we have some pain on the way.
Around a week ago one commenter on here mentioned, almost in passing it seems, that our CGS21 F35s were already back in the UK. There was no pick up on that comment, as far as I’m aware, and I can find no other reference to same after a search. I hope untrue of course, but anyone with further knowledge either way, since it links into operating budgets?
Gavin, Hi that was me . I was reading some articles on defence when I came across that bit if information. It was reported that apparantly 10 F35Bs had returned to RAF Marham to take part in some exercise. However I am having myself some trouble nailing this down as I can find no mention of any RAF exercise at the moment that involves fast jets. So either the news article had got it wrong or there is something missing.
As far as I’m aware QE still has her 18 x F35Bs aboard.
Thanks. My puzzlement was that ’21’ still had Oman in the exercise frame and we don’t know what else until Gib i.e. not an end of deployment fly off, especially if the US Marines were maybe still contributing. Not essentially a capability issue, perhaps, but neither the best impression, if were so. Tangenting on the subject of Marines, as is my unfortunate way on topics, I came across this in Navy News magazine penned last month, which puts another possible slant on the Twentynine Palms stormlet:- ‘Away from the main exercises…, a team from 40 Commando are heading to the… Read more »
Talking of which:
https://www.forces.net/news/raf-and-us-fighter-jets-team-mass-air-exercise
Back in the Invincible class day’s, it was the norm that the jets would only operate from the carrier for the main bulk of the planned exercise. The vessel might deploy for 4 months, but might have the Harriers on-board for only 8-10 week’s or less. Helicopters would stay for the full trip, but the jets would be back in the UK long before the return to Portsmouth.
Really and where did you learn that? not to my knowledge and I was on two of them and they embarked soon after sailing and departed only when close to home.On the odd occasion but without the support team not really possible.
Robert Blay served on all three carriers apparently as a Harrier mechanic according to him, posted in another thread? You would think he of all people would be aware of this?
I will be interested to hear his reply to you on this point.
That would be interesting. I served with 800 NAS with FA2’s and all we sent home early were an advanced party so they could take the kit home to VL. Trying to get the kit off mid tour is not an easy thing, but then the RAF for example never did like going to sea.
As Nigel has replied below, I served on all 3 Invincible class carrier’s, plus 899NAS and 800NAS and later at RAF Cottesmore till late 2011. Then enjoyed 18 months at Faslane with the RM before I left the RN.
Was on Invincible operating off the former Yugoslavia we picked up the Squadrons after Sailing and they disembarked prior to entering Portsmouth Full deployment 8 months The reason LOX has tòo be Ditched prior to Entrance to Harbour
Very interesting Tommo, always good to hear the facts from those who have served!
My late uncle served as a Royal Naval Draftsman all his working life and worked on the electrical designs for many RN Warships over the years including HMS Invincible.
Many thanks Nigel ,you must be proud of your Uncle, nothing wrong with the electrics were I worked Vent party Air conditioning Although my trade was a quarters armourer
The business end of things that go bang I take it! and yes, he was an inspiration to all who knew him by the way he conducted himself and his dedication to his work and family.
👍🗯
👍 cheers Nigel
Invincible was my very first sea draft. Joined her January 2001. Sailed to Norway and the artic circle for 6 weeks if memory serves me well.Missed my then girlfriend terribly 😆
Yugoslavia was a bit before my time, but i heard many dits about those deployments.
Yeah, CDR’s office writer POWrn legged it with £30,ooo ,Lord David Owen turned up and broke the News that our presence there was not UN, or NATO but EU we all went Who!!!! That deployment was called the Groundhog Day deployment Rob
I could well imagine.Was it 6 month deployments? Still with the Sea Harrier FRS1? I was alongside in Malta on Illustrious when 9/11 happened. A three month med trip turned into a 7 month deployment, with about 7 port visits to Salalah 😬 Did get to spend Christmas in Mombassa, so it wasn’t all bad. I had crocodile kebabs for my Christmas lunch 😄
We sailed June 93 received the lustie had Christmas in Malta returned to Pompey end of Feb 94 twelve weeks later back out there again Groundhog all over again
Relieved not bloody received Auto predictive txt strikes again Robert
Don’t worry, easy done. Yeah bet that was heavy going. especially with only 12 weeks back in pompy. Life in a blue suite eh. 😄 I hated it when people said that.
Then it was full deployments unless your draft was at an end so the crew was always cohesive none of this Snowflake 4 months draft then crew change god your still wet behind the ears after 4mnths whatever next mixed billets and your kids can come too
😄 I think some of the new routines are not a bad idea, especially if they help retention. It’s a different world now.
Can’t see that continuing if God forbid the next Full blown conflict lasts longer than 4mnths (nose too the grindstone and get on with it) Sorry for the downer Rob
That’s ok pal, I get what you mean. But I think anyone in todays Armed Force’s knows when they need to crack on, and get on with it. Some very professional lads and lasses today. It was still very much the drinking culture when I was in. Today it’s more about going to the gym. But I’m sure they still enjoy themselves.
Did hear that Jnr Rates now have wine as well as Beer And do their own doebying now that We’ve lost our fine Chinese laundry man
I had heard about the wine, I’d be pretty happy with that to be honest. Ah the old doeby bag!. five pounds 54 on the Crown Mr Blay! 😆
I Take it there’s no Cobbler or Taylor any longer unless there now a branch of the Ops department Radar, Sonar, Gunner, Cobbler Taylor
I don’t remember a cobbler or taylor on-board. Unless your oppo was handy with the sewing kit.
Big ships normally had a Chinese ghetto , Laundry crew ,a Cobbler, and a Taylor, having a bespoke Civvies suit when your 19 on the pull was the biss or Nos 1s with Hong Kong and Singapore embroidered inside Cuffs that you’d turn up too impress Middies under training put them in awe even if the furthest place you’d gone was Rosyth hee hee
Yeah I didn’t get a tailored suit! missed out on that one. I did enjoy wearing tropical Nos1’s. Went out in NYC in 2007 in Nos1’s. We got a lot of attention, was great fun. Happy day’s eh. Good memories.
When ever No6s trops got worn ,ashore and alfter fisticuffs with either your Oppos or the Natives you’d get them dhoebyed and There’d be the iron rust blood rings all over them thank stores for Grat issue lord knows how many No6s I went through
I was a good lad me. 13 years, and didn’t have to visit the reggy once. But I did get arrested at the gate of RAF Fairford for being naked on the minibus back in 2006 at the Air Tattoo 😅🤣
Snap ,did lose my IDCard on the repperbahn in Hamburg got off when I told them Pickpockets lifted it and had informed the politeza (big fib ) Never tried too impress Crabfats though not that way hee hee
I believe I was swapping uniforms with a nurse 🤣 the yank plods let’s go after 10mins. I had a great time, I just new when I’d had enough drink, unlike some of the other lads.
If it had been Our Reggies and there was nothing in QRRNs about being naked on a Minibus , their ace up the sleeve was That you had brought the Navy into disrepute anything too get some poor Sod in the SxxT
They were pretty understanding to be fair and saw the funny side. I don’t think I was the first drunken Matelot they had come across 😄
Or the last we seem to get everywhere without trying
Very true. Have a good one pal 👍
Just off to return the beer keys to the duty RPO then pipe down just reminiscing 👍
Drunk the fridge have we 😄🍻 Always that hidden slab in the back gultch
👍🤔
Not abnormal I believe, the air wings depart US carriers when they head back for maintenance either to other commitments or maintenance themselves
👍
Spent many an hour on Joint Warrior, best time was driving around north Scotland putting up inflatable fake tanks for the exercise, got to stay in a few remote cosy scottish pubs and barns!
QE in refit to mid 2022, POW standing up as national carrier with air wing training until summer 2022 – so no joint warrior until the autumn.
What will be done during the QE refit?- seems very early in her commissioned life for a refit, unless it is for minor work only.
Routine Inspection and re-certification , and a good coat of fresh paint id guess.
Hi Graham, QE is a big complicated piece of kit that has been very busy this year. There is bound to be quite a fault list by now, obviously no show stoppers. Plus the RN runs a preventative maintenance model so they’ll be doing the equivalent of changing the oil, brake pads and topping up the washer bottle… They may also take the opportunity to install ‘updates’ and any known minor fixes… Basically, anything on a 65,000ton lump on machinary takes time and in peace time is worth doing properly so that if and when a conflict comes along you… Read more »
The run stopped running a purely preventative maintenance system years ago. PMS involved taking something apart at a fixed time because the schedule said to take it apart. It did not consider usage or performance of the kit. Nowadays its a Reliability Centered Maintenance system . All kit has been “what if’d” with regards to the risk of not doing certain maintenance under the old PMs timeliness. It works very well. It’s based a lot more on kit performance and MTBF data. Yes some mandatory safety items remain on a short timeline but a lot of other things have maintenance… Read more »
Thanks GB, Great post and informative as ever. I’ll try to remember the term Reliability Centered Maintenance. I understand the concept and it makes perfect sense – and is more cost effective. Aviation has used similar approach to maintenance for ever. Different checks and inspections having to be carried out after certain numbers of hours flown, based on fatigue life and (for mechanical systems) MTBF. Some components would also have to be replaced after a number of hours e.g. the Typhoon canards are a sealed titanium component that had to be replaced after a certain number of flight hours as… Read more »
Gunbuster as this will be QEs first DD maintenance period , Hull inspection ,Prop seal measurments for wear and tear and first fix Rabbit runs hee hee
Well QE has just steamed around the world so will need detailed engine inspection & repair, repaint down below (anti-fowling), flight deck probably recoated & a deep clean of other ship spaces. Maybe she’ll get an upgrade or two too.
It is a programmed refit. Known about for years.
I think there is an upgrade due of her data switches to 1G plus as I think most of the existing are 10/100. That was commented on a long time ago by RN.
I’m guessing the usual hull inspection and anti fouling.
Recoat the F35B landing spots?
Bedford array?
30mm auto cannon?
Upgrade waterproofing of some of the main HV switching cabinets?
Did you mention 30mm autocannon…it will be good to see them in place and what model. I’d thought they could also go for the 40mm and even some CAMM. I wonder if the POW will get fitted out with these prior to any refit period. Does anyone here know?
We had 3x30mm Goalkeepers on the old Invincible plus 20mm Gamb-o1
One does wonder if the plan is to fit them with 40mm rather than 30mm. MSI’s 30mm mounts can take 40mm cannon. We know the mounts were ordered and we know there’s a few cannon kicking around after the Warrior debacle. It would be interesting to see if the two could be integrated under a ‘government-furnished equipment programme’ to give the QEC a nice little boost.
Just conjecture on my part. But the lack of 30mm makes me think something’s up!
Lusty ,there must be so much 30mm Ammunition around that has too be expended but I doubt if thers as much 40mm
Oh aye, that is until someone goes after a ‘killer tomato’ haha. Just a thought though – I can see 40mm being used on more platforms thanks to the introduction of T31.
Did my training on the old 40/60ts firing of the old (lead break up )shot Ammo Fraser and Cambridge Gunnery range must be so contaminated with lead that no Tomatoes could grow there hee hee
I’m thinking about opening up a lead mine there! Might earn a couple of bob.
Tomatoes off the menu then Lusty
For sure mate. I’ll be having my fish Friday with curry sauce!
You can thank that condiment on the Empire whoops I’ve gone non PC again
You won’t hear any complaints from me mate.
Enjoy ,your multicultural Cuisine Lusty
Thanks, mate. 😀
is the T31 getting the new 40mm? probably cant afford to shoot it with the cost of ammo!
I believe only a small amount of ammunition has been ordered to cover the initial training/trials period. The cannons for T31 are new builds – MK4 variants specifically. The Army was/is going to use the CT40 cannon, which is slightly different when compared to the naval gun. The ammunition for the CT40 can’t be used with the MK4 and vice versa. From a logistics and training perspective, this would make things all the more complicated. Within a few years, we’re going to have arguably seven main cannon/gun types, not including two different 30mm systems. We don’t need to add another… Read more »
In 1988 we were testing out the single 30mm ,down at Cambridge the 30mm muntions used were warrior 30mm which seemed too have less charge in the cartridge ,couldn’t extract spent cartridge next round , breech explosion blew the BFM and top cover off previous Rd hadn’t left the barrel . Had too give evidence at on the spot enquiry Poor Aimer ,Anti flash well charred
Jeez. Brown trousers too by the sounds of it?
Everyone had leaky bladders running round looking for Fire extinguishers
That means we can add ammonia as well as lead to the contamination list! haha
LoL If we hadn’t found those fire extinguishers there would have been a ready stream
😂
Drill, He HEI HEIT a few bobs worth ,I wonder which munition company (British) if any will get the contrct if any?
I believe Thales / CTAi have produced a marinised CT40 turret.
Jesus our top carrier is still running 10/100 networks, that must really restrict the data flow for missle engagements or tracking and shooting missles down!
Ladies need money spent on them, who knew?
Wait ’til she hits her 40s… hope that’s in an excel sheet at HM Treasury.
David In 40yrs , and all this being Carbon neutral excel will be long gone , it will be Quill and Parchment, under Candle light, Thanks Greta
How’s your archery skillset?
Have too be a crossbow I’ve only got the use of one arm Shame Old yew Bow draw of 120lb
Somewhat off-topic, but in the photo accompanying George’s tweet, what are the classes of the six ships?
I recognize the USN’s Ticos and Burke, Google tells me F358 is the Danish HDMS Triton (Thetis-class).
What are the rightmost two ships that look similar, save for the mast?
Holland class Opv on the right, not sure about the one without the mast as it looks the same otherwise.
Thank you, with that information I was able to see that P840 and P842 are both Holland-class OPVs, and that P842 (HNLMS Friesland) got her mast fitted at a later date.
FFBNW a main mast, can you imagine the meltdown on here if the RN did that?!
Indeed, Rob 😂