List of Royal Navy Ships to be decommissioned.

[TLAM Strike]

HMS Ark Royal (December 2010). Carrier, just done
HMS Chatham (January 2011), Type 22 Frigate
HMS Campbeltown (April 2011), Type 22 Frigate
HMS Cumberland (April 2011), Type 22 Frigate
HMS Cornwall (April 2011), Type 22 Frigate
RFA Bayleaf (April 2011), Tanker
RFA Fort George (April 2011), Stores Ship
RFA Largs Bay (April 2011), LSD
HMS Illustrious (2014), Carrier

The decommissioning of Largs Bay seems strange, she is almost brand new.

[GoldenRivet]

what do you want to bet the world goes to hell in a couple of years and most of those require recommissioning ?

[TLAM Strike]

If things get that bad I'm sure the US Navy has some mothballed Destroyers left over from the Cuban Missile Crisis they could loan you, those would be just as effective as those Type 22 frigates I think.

I'm sure we got some spare A/B model Hornets that your air force pilots can fly as well...

[bookworm_020]

All those sailors who won't have a ship! Tell them to come to Australia, we have a shortage of sailors in the Navy here and they would be most welcome!

[XabbaRus]

Type 22, old Type 45 can do the flag stuff.


The only one weird in that is Largs Bay.

[papa_smurf]

Atleast HMS Ocean is been kept in service, although at the cost of HMS Invincible, so we will still have a ship capable of delivering troops and helicopters to a warzone.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by papa_smurf

Atleast HMS Ocean is been kept in service, although at the cost of HMS Invincible, so we will still have a ship capable of delivering troops and helicopters to a warzone.

That's presuming we will still have an army.....Hell we've more admirals than ships in the navy now!!

[the_tyrant]

I loved the cute little harriers, so does this mean they are all decommissioned with the carriers now?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

That's presuming we will still have an army.....

I'm sure they could be used to transport units of our army or marine corps.

Worse comes to worse you can put those red coat guys with funny hats that guard the queen on it.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

I loved the cute little harriers, so does this mean they are all decommissioned with the carriers now?

Depends on what Harrier you are talking about.

The Harrier GR1-3/AV-8 A&C Harrier/AV-8S Matador is still in service with the Royal Thai Navy only, The Spanish, USMC, and RAF versions are all retired.
The Sea Harrier is retired in RN service, the Indian Navy still has about 8-10.
The AV-8B Harrier II is still in service with the USMC, Italian Navy, Spanish Navy.
The Harrier II GR5-7 has been retired in Joint RAF/RN service
The Harrier II GR9 will be retired in April next year and are currently "Inactive"

[Oberon]

The USMC retired their Harriers too? I guess that's one of the things that factored into the FAA withdrawing their Harriers.
Still a shame but the F-35, once in service, should be a rather nice piece of kit.

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Hell we've more admirals than ships in the navy now!!

Funny in the old days they'd have been on the beach on half pay by now as well.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Oberon

The USMC retired their Harriers too? I guess that's one of the things that factored into the FAA withdrawing their Harriers.
Still a shame but the F-35, once in service, should be a rather nice piece of kit.

No, the USMC had two Harriers...
The AV-8A and C Harrier, basically a GR1 Harrier with the GR3 engine.

The AV-8B Harrier II, basically a more capable (all weather/Day and Night) American modification that formed the basis for the UK's GR5/7/9 Harrier II.


Edit: People would be screaming if we retired the Harrier right now. We got 10 flight decks that the Harrier is the only Fixed Wing fighter that can operate off them.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

I'm sure they could be used to transport units of our army or marine corps.

Worse comes to worse you can put those red coat guys with funny hats that guard the queen on it.

The Guards Regiments are probably the safest in the current financial climte but I wouldn't put it past the current government to trim them down eventually.

Looks like we'll soon be heading back to the days of Lend Lease

[Cohaagen]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

The AV-8B Harrier II, basically a more capable (all weather/Day and Night) American modification that formed the basis for the UK's GR5/7/9 Harrier II.

Actually a joint US/UK modification of the original Harrier, springing from an original British proposal.

If things get that bad I'm sure the US Navy has some mothballed Destroyers left over from the Cuban Missile Crisis they could loan you, those would be just as effective as those Type 22 frigates I think.

Given the condition, design and eventual cost of the last US destroyers we got, I doubt the Royal Navy considers you have anything suitable to replace a mature, combat-proven class ("combat" not including driving them into Iraqi minefields, USN-style).