Current RN News and Updates

[Pelican]

Sir Humphrey
Pinstripedline has been going 12.5years, 673 articles, 4.5million 'hits' and roughly 1.5 million words of text, published on a near weekly basis.
This thread (and blog) set out the future direction of the blog and changes ahead.
See https://tinyurl.com/4uz6fc3a

[Pelican]

Royal Navy fleet status snapshot

In a recent analysis conducted by defence commentator Britsky (@TBrit90), the current operational status of the Royal Navy’s major combatants has been assessed.
Today, it is estimated that the Royal Navy has one carrier available, two destroyers (one deployed, one in work-up), two general-purpose frigates (one deployed, one in work-up), three anti-submarine warfare frigates (one on operations, one in work-up, one in maintenance), and three submarines (one active, two in maintenance).
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-n ... -snapshot/

Future of assault ships remains uncertain despite commitment
The Ministry of Defence has recently confirmed that both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark will remain in service, but questions linger about whether these vessels will see active deployment again.
This topic came to the forefront following written questions by John Healey, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, directed to the Secretary of State for Defence.
Healey asked https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/future- ... ommitment/

Britain has full operational control over Trident
The fact is, the United Kingdom has full operational control over its Trident nuclear weapons.
A recent article by Brian Feeney – ‘Counting the cost of Britain’s delusions of grandeur’, – incorrectly states that the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent system is not independent and claims that its use requires American permission.
According to a Freedom of Information response https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain ... r-trident/

Rolls-Royce selects construction firm for AUKUS expansion
Rolls-Royce has announced that infrastructure group Balfour Beatty will be its non-fissile construction partner to help deliver the expansion of its Raynesway site in Derby, according to a press release.
In June of last year, Rolls-Royce revealed plans to double the size of its Submarines site in Derby to meet growing demand from the Royal Navy and in response to the AUKUS agreement.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/rolls-r ... expansion/

[Brian James]

HMS ST ALBANS F83 ENTERS DEVONPORT NAVAL BASE AT DEVILS POINT 25-5-24..https://youtu.be/Mfa5UwTd7-k?si=y-H-D4KH2jjPDsQJ

[Pelican]

Britain commits £350m to Laser weapon programme

The Ministry of Defence has detailed the funding allocations for the DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) programme.

This information was revealed in response to a written question from John Healey, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.

Healey asked https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britain ... programme/

[Pelican]

National Service Numbers - An Objective Analysis of Costs

The UK is currently in the middle of a general election campaign, in which political parties are seeking to form the next government. These parties put forward ideas to form the core of their manifesto, which set out the policies they intend to adopt if they were to form the government.

It is the long-standing position of this blog that it is strictly non-political, and it will not take a view on any of the parties defence policies, nor advocate for one party at the expense of another. But this blog can, and will, provide factual analysis and assessment of underpinning numbers to provide context where it is appropriate to do so. It will not though take a view on the merits of any policies or manifesto pledges.

See https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... ctive.html

Sir Humphrey
I'm doing an objective analysis of the numbers linked to the 'National Service' proposals.
It will need 30,000 bed spaces to be found for accommodation. In 2021, the MOD spent £1.2bn on 8000 bed spaces,so it will cost around £5bn to house these people.

[Pelican]

Would mandatory National Service benefit or burden the Royal Navy?

Should they win the general election, the government have announced a plan to introduce a form of compulsory service for 18 year olds. In this article we examine whether this type of scheme would be good news for the RN.

The offer https://www.navylookout.com/would-manda ... oyal-navy/

[Pelican]

Applications to armed forces from Commonwealth citizens surge

The British Army received 16,990 applications from Commonwealth citizens last year; however, 7,880 were rejected, and 1,360 withdrew their applications.

A letter from Andrew Murrison MP to Shadow Secretary of State John Healey MP has revealed significant trends in applications from Commonwealth citizens to join the UK Armed Forces, spanning from 2010 to 2023.

The data shows https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/applica ... ens-surge/

[Pelican]

National Service Numbers - An Objective Analysis of Costs

The UK is currently in the middle of a general election campaign, in which political parties are seeking to form the next government. These parties put forward ideas to form the core of their manifesto, which set out the policies they intend to adopt if they were to form the government.

It is the long-standing position of this blog that it is strictly non-political, and it will not take a view on any of the parties defence policies, nor advocate for one party at the expense of another. But this blog can, and will, provide factual analysis and assessment of underpinning numbers to provide context where it is appropriate to do so. It will not though take a view on the merits of any policies or manifesto pledges.

See https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... ctive.html

Sir Humphrey
I'm doing an objective analysis of the numbers linked to the 'National Service' proposals.
It will need 30,000 bed spaces to be found for accommodation. In 2021, the MOD spent £1.2bn on 8000 bed spaces,so it will cost around £5bn to house these people.

National Service is a laudable idea, but why not use Cadet Forces and Scouts instead?

https://www.forces.net/opinion/national ... ts-instead

[Pelican]

UK Gov sinks Scot Gov naval shipbuilding claims

The UK Government has refuted claims that an independent Scotland would continue to build ships for the Royal Navy.
In the recently released ‘Building a New Scotland: an independent Scotland’s Place in the World’, the Scottish Government set out proposals for an independent Scotland’s place in the world.

On shipbuilding, the paper states: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-gov- ... ng-claims/

[Pelican]

Labour to pass laws to improve lives of forces personnel

Britain’s deep gratitude to veterans, armed forces personnel, and their families will be recognised with the passing of new legislation for Armed Forces communities, Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to announce today, as the country prepares to commemorate 80 years since the D-Day landings that turned the tide of the Second World War.

A new Armed Forces Commissioner will be established as an independent champion for service personnel and their families to improve everyday life.

This will be legislated for in the first King’s Speech. New legislation will also put the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law, strengthening the rights of veterans, service personnel, and their families.

Continues https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/labour- ... personnel/