I'm not even sure a CSG is a better tool here than land basing tbh, given the strains on the fleet.

ofc political messaging is v.good with a CSG deployment to be entirely fair.

For what it is worth, I think the RAF response has so far been pretty good in the Med and Gulf. The GBAD issue is big yes, and we need to fix it.

But RAF aircraft have operated with relatively few leakers, maintained a high tempo and the transport fleet has reacted quickly. decent performance.

crazy energy in that, do not envy the crew!

I don't understand why people are reporting her leaving next week- she looks to be pretty imminently ready to go if she is already bombing up to me.

Are people misinterpreting arrive next week?

I wanted to say something deep but I am very tired so please imagine I said something insightful

tbh I expect it has more to do with wealth and education than anything else

Behold, the radical left

Most recent read: The Defence Of the Realm, MI5's official history.

Very interesting read about an organisation without afaik any direct US equivalent - FBI has a greater LE role - but worth a read for those into intelligence etc.

Bit dense at times though, can be a hard one.

we should make like, a shitload of HEU.

Defence reporting is in a really bad way, even mainstream outlets appear to be quite often borderline useless.
Other thing that surprises me a lot is the lack of research tbh- does no one use contracts finder anymore??
There are bastions of good reporting, but few and far between.

Why AI generated images are going to damage quality defence reporting

AI slop is being used by ‘quality’ and ‘fanboy’ defence blogs and news websites as well as mainstream media. It’s terrible news!

A rant 🧵

I find it notable that it lacks the rear panel that we see on most submarines, such as astute in the example below- presumably because of there not being sufficient topside space?

Recently Victorious put to sea with what appears to be a new, slightly thinner flank array after her refit, which would suggest to me that they have received an array from the later 2076 sets. It is unclear to me if the bow array was changed in this refit.

3/4

Slightly later in life they received a flank array, the so called "thick" flank array, likely the same array that was used on the original 2076 sonar suite, these are often misreported as armour to protect the missiles- but they are very much flank arrays. A very strange omission for a 90's boat 2/4

The Vanguards are very interesting in that they launched with a version of sonar 2054 that lacked a flank array, with 2054's principle sensors at the time being the type 2043 bow array, the type 2082 acoustic intercept and the type 2046 towed array sonars. Below is a "naked" Vanguard class. 1/3

Boy I'm sure those containers have nothing cool in them

Glad to be of help, the offset tubes seems really counter intuitive at first but makes sense once you see it without the bow faired in

212CD is one hell of a good looker honestly, excited to see some in the flesh at some point!

SSNA happens no matter what as the RN need new SSN's

Zero chance it has lol

From front to back you can see the weapons embarkation hatch (rectangle), the FWD escape trunk, the diver lock out (on the fin), and just about see the aft escape trunk. I think the cruciform planes are a mistake, as 212 has X-planes and I see no reason to change them. 3/3

212 uses an unusual torpedo discharge system that relies upon 2 large cylinders outside the pressure hull to displace water, meaning no HP air is released and no bubbles are produced, it is supposedly to reduce the launch transient of the weapon. Tales up loads of FWD space. 2/3

New renders of type 212CD dropped, front you can see the HFA window (centre), offset tubes like 212A to accommodate torpedo discharge system and it's overall rather unique bow profile 1/3

Tbh this strikes me as a nothingburger report- they have no "plans" until they do.

Something to be said about how bad we are at communicating, because "no plans" really seems to mean "say nothing" until they seemingly blindside with new plans later.

Need to decide what to read next, about to finish The Bear and the serpent (Adrian Tchaikovsky) and will finish The hyena and the hawk in short order.... decisions decisions...

In fairness, that isn't rare

This basically tbh, I have major doubts too

Life is mad rn, got a whole rake of posts half baked but just don't have the time!

Yeahh...

But even with what is coming, it still isn't even close.

I really need to get better at tuning my 3D printer, new filament and its a total clusterfuck lol