Falklands

Interesting, do you know who he served with?

The Islanders were very grateful, however the cost was dear.

I guess that was aimed at me?

What a nonsense comment

At the moment we got one of the most advanced tanks (challenger 2) in the world (joint with the abrams)

The most advanced nuclear submarine in the world (astute class/ trident)

One of the most advanced fighter jets (euro typhoon jet)

And two massive new aircraft carriers on the way..

So apparently we are a shadow of what we were 30 years ago?

Except that it was outside our ZOE.

1) Leopard 2(German), Leclerc(France), T-90(Russia), Merkava(Israel) are all as good if not better than the Challenger 2.

2) The Russian Borei class will be better than the Astute class by a country mile.

3) Russia and the US both have 5th generation fighters.

4) China, Russia and the US will all have aircraft carriers better than the two Queen Elizabeth class carriers.

As for Howard's comment, it wasn't nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the UK has been punching above its weight for too long now and is finally coming to grips with itself. The UK has been in decline since the end of WWII and has yet to stop. With the bulk of the military in Afghanistan, every sector receiving cuts, I doubt the UK would be able to wage another war.

It's just that you vastly underestimate the logistical scale of sending a single destroyer to the South Atlantic, let alone a carrier, two attack submarines and tens of thousands of men and women. (Not that that would be anywhere near a large or powerfull enough force to capture an island over 8000 miles away)

Not to mention the fact that our carriers are old as ****, regularly break down. I am assuming you are reffering to the Type 45 destroyers, and not the 42's, because i can assure you that the 42's would not last a minute in modern combat, their missile system was designed in the 60's and is all but useless against modern weaponry and countermeasures, they would be nothing but a shield to take what was fired at the carrier. Infact that is now their sole purpose when sailing as part of a taskforce and they carry a piece of equipment which enlarges their radar signiture to that of a capital ship.

It's just nowhere near as black and white as command and conquer.

(However i think the possibility of Argentina trying to retake the Falklands is remote, they seem quite dedicated to peacekeeping and the UN now. Apart from the odd reference by some populist nobody, which is quickly forgotten)

1) Leopard 2(German), Leclerc(France), T-90(Russia), Merkava(Israel) are all as good if not better than the Challenger 2.

2) The Russian Borei class will be better than the Astute class by a country mile.

3) Russia and the US both have 5th generation fighters.

4) China, Russia and the US will all have aircraft carriers better than the two Queen Elizabeth class carriers.

As for Howard's comment, it wasn't nonsense. The fact of the matter is that the UK has been punching above its weight for too long now and is finally coming to grips with itself. The UK has been in decline since the end of WWII and has yet to stop. With the bulk of the military in Afghanistan, every sector receiving cuts, I doubt the UK would be able to wage another war.

Pointless list, do you have any proof to support your claims?

What a nonsense comment

At the moment we got one of the most advanced tanks (challenger 2) in the world (joint with the abrams)

The most advanced nuclear submarine in the world (astute class/ trident)

One of the most advanced fighter jets (euro typhoon jet)

And two massive new aircraft carriers on the way..

So apparently we are a shadow of what we were 30 years ago?

He was a Royal Marine - 40 Commando.

More men died than they expected, that's true. There was also a ridiculously high suicide rate post-war from both sides, but my dad himself has no regrets and would do it all over again.

Ah yes we have equipment equal to that of the three current superpowers and occasionally slightly below.

Russia is still developing its fighters.

How shocking for an island.

Next time you quote Wikipedia you should check the list. That is a list of the ships we lost.

This is a list of what the Royal Navy alone sent to the SA:

So he was at the sharp end then. Yes it's sad and true that more Falklands vets have taken their own life.

The father of a mate from college was in the Para's during the Falklands, he had some harrowing tales too.


Some very tragic tales too.

There are so many good books by vets.

One is called "A Soldiers Song" by a guy called Ken Lukowiak, who served with 2 Para during the Falklands. If there is a book on the Falklands to get, it's this one.

Another is called "Sod this for a game of soldiers." The Author served with 3 para.

I'll admit for a tiny island the UK is doing well, however to call it virtually invincible is preposterous.

It's meeting its demise.

30 years ago, Britain had one of the most advanced tanks in the world... (Chieftain) except we had more of them.

Some of the most advanced submarines in the world except we had more of them.

In 1979 Britain had four aircraft carriers, two of which could launch strike aircraft, tankers and proper fighter aircraft.

We had almost twice as many ships
1980: 4 SSBNs, 11 SSNs, 17 SS/K, 3 CVLs, 2 LHD, 1 CG, 13 DDG, 54 FF/G, 36 mine warfare vessels and 22 patrol ships: 162 overall
2009: 4 SSBNs, 8 SSNs, 3 CVL, 3 LHD, 7 DDG, 17 FFG, 16 mine vessels, 23 patrol ships: 88 overall

Britain is, on paper, set to have a powerful navy when we get CVF, all the Type 45s, and the Astute Class. We do not have them yet and as everyone who is interested in Arms Procurement knows, the guarantee of something coming into service is nonexistent until it actually does.

With all these cuts, will we even see 2 of the Queen Elizabeth carriers?