Just to set the record straight…A few months ago the ‘Government’ did a defence review and a number of ships were earmarked for withdrawal, some on here said they were only fit for for scrap.
Well, this morning I have received my monthly copy of Naval Reviews and one item caught my eye that said the Minister for Defence Procurement has started options to sell the two large amphibious vessels Albion and Bulwark in a government to government sale. Brazil is being touted as a potential buyer…’ with a history of snapping up unwanted RN ships…Arthur Daley ship sales…?
What a waste of assets.

An island nation of 60m people with virtually no navy, and a regular army which in total wouldn't fill Wembley, but we're going to protect Ukraine. Is there an upper age limit for today's Home Guard or will I have to go for a medical exemption when the time comes for action? Who do you think you are kidding Mr Putin.......

You two need to get rifle fit......

How many would fight for king and country nowadays, around 900000 young Russians who could afford to bailed out.

more like how many would take being conscripted to do it. its not as if there is an enemy waiting 20 odd miles away on a beach ready to attack there country. there will always be people who will join up who know there could be a possibility of dying thousands of miles from home but i,d guess for many of those king or country o not come high in the reason they do at the moment anyway.

In the Oxford Union debate of 9th February 1933 they passed a motion that…’This house would not under any circumstances fight for King and Country.’.
Turned out to be a load of bollocks, when reality kicked in.

2025 now Snowy, people I think are a bit more educated nowadays and won’t allow themselves to be used as cannon fodder for a cause which has got nothing to do with them in their eyes.

You mean they take their freedom for granted. Always someone else's job to uphold it.

‘Educated’…nowadays, you can’t be serious.

People’s attitudes soon change when their way of life is threatened….the alternative is never palatable.

Thats exactly what i thought, When Illiteracy levels are through the roof.

How this got diverted to fighting for your country I don’t know…I was pointing out that equipment which is relatively new in their terms was being sold to us as much scrap…. This proves it wasn’t
The Tories sold the large amphibious vessel HMS Ocean to the Brazilians not that long ago….surplus to requirements …
We actually have more Admirals than ships, that doesn’t surprise me at all.

Apparently we don't need defence anyway, according to some. It takes care of itself.

People are gormless, they actually think nasty things can’t happen to them, as though the whole world is online and far away from their comfort bubble .
The European Liberals have spent too little on defence, they think they can charm their way out of trouble…oh dear.
It’s a wake up call, don’t turn over, it’ll be too late then .

In 1914 the South Africa vets said that the BEF weren’t trained to their standards.
WW1 vets training recruits in 1939 said that they had it easy compared to them.
WW2 soldiers said that the post war national servicemen were a waste of space.
Cold war era recruits had an easy ride according to their old school instructors
Then we had Korea, Malaya, Dhofar, Ulster, the Falklands and somehow all these young lads managed to win when their training had been a piece of cake according to the old sweats.
Obviously those who fought in the gulf and Afghanistan had been through a cosy arrangement in training by the standards of my generation and as for todays soldiers, they can do what they want when they feel like it and would have had a breakdown faced with the training staff I had.

Somehow the youth of every generation seem to do what’s expected of them against all odds and I don’t believe it would be any different today.

I predict defence spending will be up to 5% within the next 5 years, to be spent fighting aa threat that isn't there, but the neo-liberals now running the show in Europe, including the UK, want it to be there.

Where will this extra money come from, in a country that is supposedly bankrupt? all of us pay more in taxes or further cuts to public services? or we could sell of the NHS or further crucify those on benefits.

Is this what people go to work for? is this what people really want?

true, but the big difference could be if their country faced attack more than helping another some will have to google where it is just for politicians who decide it.

I agree Mr I, young folks have always been slagged off by their elders

And our Army currently has more horses than tanks. FACT...!!!

Good. Tanks are just drone fodder. New vehicles needed.

Were drone fodder, the Russians appear to have found a very simple solution as most things usually are.

Mind you, horses are cheaper than tanks.

Yeah they've been outthought again. The tank wrecking is back on. Looks like they've had their day. Some harsh lessons being learned on the ground over there.

they are waiting for a plug in electrically powered tank to be invented.

Better working on hot air and bullshit power.

Why not? It's all about sustainabile energy after all.

Not really, if it was China and the US would be leading the way rather than sitting at the back of the pack.

that will be called the milliband mark 1 or the tried and tested rachel version.

that will be called the milliband mark 1 or the tried and tested rachel version.

It was a joke on the BS and hot air thing. Unending supply and all that.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘Gun Battery’…and Triple A used to be ‘Anti Aircraft Artillery’…now it’s a battery pack.

Disappointingly, I thought this thread was going to be about our switch to a back three.

You must have lead a sheltered life

If it had been the thread would have been "Defence cut to shreds" wouldn't it?