http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Royal_Navy_deployments What extra capabilities or ships do people think the Royal Navy needs to continue to meet it's current and possible future requirements? 3 carriers 2 LHD 2 ASW fast helicopter destroyers 2 LPD 4 LSD 2 Mobile artillery ships 6 AAW cruisers 6 AAW destroyers 6 Multi-purpose destroyers 16 ASW frigates 12 Multi-role modular corvettes 10 SSN 10 SSK 4 SSBN 6 Fast at sea replenishment ships 4 Solid supply ships 2 tankers 2 Icebreakers 4 Off-shore patrol ships 6 Missile boats 20 In-shore patrol boats 16 minesweepers 1 ship repair vessel 2 hospital ships 8 Sea lift cargo ships 2 Multi-purpose survey vessels 2 Ocean survey ships 1 Coastal survey ship F-35B 80 AEW Osprey 10 V-22 Osprey 6 CH-35K 40 Merlin 76 Lynx Wildcat 72 Sea King SAR 12 Viper 20 This is what I think the Royal Navy needs to sustain it's current operational requirements and possible future operations.
I would also setup a reserve fleet of HMS Ocean, 3 Trafalgar class submarines, 6 Type 23's, 4 Sandown class minesweepers and 1 Wave class replenishment ship.
British men are no longer willing to fight so they really don't need any of that stuff. But if Britain did need it, unlike the United States, it could manufacture it. >>>MOD EDIT: OFF TOPIC<<<
Possible future requirements are any probable operations the Royal Navy might have in it's current area of operations. Which is basically everywhere apart from the North Pacific and Chinese sea's. The key areas are the North sea, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, South Atlantic and the Gulf of Arabia. So anything you can see happening on all those parts of the world would be a possible future requirement beyond the current requirements in those areas. For instance I think a possible defensive war with Russia in the North sea is likely, so I have increased the number of submarines to 20 overall, 12 operational or on standby, 2 Fast ASW helicopter destroyers for submarine hunting, 16 new ASW frigates and 16 new minesweepers. Plus the reserve fleet which would be useful against the Russians. Then I think it is probable, but less likely that the Royal Navy will need a amphibious assult capability, still I think it is probable so I have the 2 new Mobile Artillery ships and 2 new LHD's, along with the CH-35K and Viper helicopters. Then I think it is possible, but not very likely at all that the Royal Navy will need to launch a pre-emptive and sustained nuclear ballistic missile strike, so I have 4 SSBN's. So I am not sure what the future requirements will be, however you can grade the threats according to probablity and build your armed forces around those probabilities to cover as many as possible.
Actually, I would argue even more for this capability then even for carriers. Ships of the USS America class are actually based upon an update of the USS Wasp class Amphibious Assault ships. One advantage is that these are multi-mission ships. They can operate as carriers, as ASW, and to transport troosp and equipment to a war zone. And they also make awesome ships for SAR and disaster relief missions. And more then anything else, these are the missions your ships will be doing. "Defense" is more nebulous, the deterrence is their biggest effect. But Disaster Relief is needed pretty much somewhere every few months. Typhoon in India or SIngapore, Earthquake in Greece, Volcano in Montserrat, amphibious warfare ships are normally the first ones sent because all that warfighting equipment they have is also badly needed for disaster relief. Remember, the military is not just about killing and fighting, it is also about saving lives.
I would scrap the QE class carriers and get 5 American class ships for the same price and increased multi-mission capability. As you say. I have often said the QE class aren't really carriers, they are LHA's able to transport 2,000 troops and operate 40 aircraft. True having 70,000 ton LHA's makes them a huge targets and they would be less effect than the America class. Of which the US is now planning 11, which is incredible. As for the LHD's to replace the two LPH's, I would say the navy would want something like an enlarged Canbarra class able to operate the F35-B and Osprey if needed. Able to transport 1400-1500 troops, operate 20 helicopters and amphibious hovercraft from a deck well. It would be a vast improvement on the capability the Royal Navy has now. You also have the fast ASW helicopter destroyers which could transport 300 troops and operate 8 Merlins. These and the LHD's would cover and improve the disaster relief capabilities that are currently done by the LPH's. There is also HMS Ocean in reserve. So is it not fair to say that the amphibious assult capability would be much better than what the Royal Navy has currently and the best capability in Europe, even with the Russians building 4 Mistral class ships and French having 3 of their own. The greatest enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.
