What will happen to the Harriers & the Ark Royal?

[Not your average framer]

Following yesterdays statement of UK govenment financial cuts by Goerge Osborne, I am tempt to wonder what will happen to the Harriers & the Ark Royal? We are not keeping them, so what's gonna happen to them?

I have a possible theory about this. It's not necessarily correct, but it's just the way my mind works. BTW, some years ago I used to work for a UK defence manufacturer, which may have something to do with the way my mind works.

The last UK aircraft carrier which got sold (that I known anything about) was either the Invincible or the Illustrious and it was sold to Australia. I reckon for right price they might be persuaded to buy the Ark Royal as well. So why would the UK govenment be so interested in getting the Australian Govenment to buy it?

Well, the UK is very short on gold reserves and Australia only has to dig the stuff out of the ground. Do you think they've got any gold to spare, if the deal is right? Of course, they will want the Harriers to go with it, so everyone is happy!

Then, there's the UK forces pulling out of Germany, so what's gonna fill the gap left by pulling out. The German govenment won't be pleased that it's happening and the UK tanks and aircraft are of considerable strategic value.

Is there a deal to be struck? The tanks and aircraft are again up for grabs and again I reckon that the UK govenment knows that the Germans can probably lay their hand on some spare gold reserves to do the deal!

To stabilise the future value of the pound, the UK govenment needs to reinstate the gold reserves, which Gordon Brown sold and left the UK will nothing to show for it.

Carving up some of our defence assetts may just be the only way of reinstating some of the gold reserves and this may be more important to do that most of us realise. This just might be the best move the govenment could currently make!

Any Comments?

[Roboframer]

The German govenment won't be pleased that it's happening and the UK tanks and aircraft are of considerable strategic value.

Forget Germany - a deal has been done with Ireland and I have documentary evidence, can't show the whole document as it's a bit sensitive of course

But I think the way the invoice was receipted says it all.

Receipt 001.JPG

[Not your average framer]

Another Robo classic!

[Merlin]

HMS Invincible is laid up in Portsmouth dockyard - in a 'low state of readiness'
HMS Illustrious is the active carrier at present.

[mikeysaling]

and a submarine also in a low state of readiness!

[Merlin]

Now that is embarassing. Glad I was not a submariner...

[Grahame Case]

whats even more funny is it was a coastguard chartered Tug that came to rescue them, the same one that the governmment is scrapping next year as part of the budget cuts!

[Teresa]

and a submarine also in a low state of readiness!

I know nice cars have sensors so men can reverse park without hitting anything.surely the sub had them! Men! good education, navy, hi spec sub,still can't park it !When god created man SHE was only practicing !

[mikeysaling]

[youtube]5rqWUlGw31I[/youtube]

[Not your average framer]

HMS Invincible is laid up in Portsmouth dockyard - in a 'low state of readiness'
HMS Illustrious is the active carrier at present.

So which was the carrier which was sold after the Falklands war? I always thought it was the Invincible.

[Roboframer]

From this link ..... http://www.military-today.com/navy/invincible_class.htm


"In February 1982 it was announced that the Invincible was to be sold to Australia as a helicopter carrier to replace HMAS Melbourne, leaving only two carriers in British service. However, the deal was cancelled after the Falklands campaign, to the relief of the Royal Navy, as it was realised by the government that three carriers ought to be available to ensure two in service at any one time"

[Not your average framer]

Hi John,

Thanks for clearing that one up for me.

It also seems that we have three aircraft carriers after all, even though the media announcement concerning the Ark Royal was implying the this would leave the navy without any conventional aircraft carrier capabiliy.

Unless I've misunderstood, is the Ark Royal (which they are getting rid of) the most recently built and most up to date of the three of them? If so, something here does not make much sense to me.

Why don't we get rid of the oldest one instead? Have I missed something here?

[Roboframer]

It also seems that we have three aircraft carriers after all, even though the media announcement concerning the Ark Royal was implying the this would leave the navy without any conventional aircraft carrier capabiliy.

The gist is that sure we have the ships, but until 2019, not the capability to launch planes from them. Google key words - it's all there, it's recent news.

[Newframer]

Going to use 'copters instead