From Newsgroup: soc.history.war.misc

Bart Earnshaw (on facebook)
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oendSpstor2
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I see a lot of debate online at the moment about the Strait of Hormuz.
Maps. Distances. Who controls what.
What makes me smile slightly is that during my time in the Royal Navy I actually spent many months patrolling those waters in the 1980s and 90s, protecting commercial shipping moving through that corridor.
Back then the Royal Navy maintained a permanent presence in the region.
There wasnrCOt just one ship. Quite often there were two frigates or destroyers on patrol, and there would usually be mine counter-measure
vessels operating in the Gulf as well.
When one ship finished its deployment, another would arrive to relieve
it. There was always a British naval presence somewhere in those waters.
It was simply understood that keeping those sea lanes open mattered.
When yourCOve watched those tanker routes day after day, you realise
something very quickly.
The Strait of Hormuz isnrCOt just another stretch of water.
ItrCOs one of the great pressure points of the global economy.
Which raises an interesting question today.
What changed?
What made our governments decide that we no longer needed to maintain
that kind of presence in one of the worldrCOs most important maritime
choke points?
And how did we end up in a situation where Britain now struggles to
project naval power into the region at all?
We will seerCarCa

comments include

Ian Sim
I had this thought this morning watching the news. Politicians who made
the decision to stop the Royal Navy in the Gulf should be held to
account. But we all know nothing will happen and a few bob has been saved.

Bart Earnshaw
Ian Sim 100% agreed

Mike Still
Ian Sim surely that's exactly the piont. They have been held to account.
For the last 40 years the British people have voted for the gov which
they believed would deliver . The best services for the lowest Tax's. If
you vote for short term policies. That's what you get. Sadly the days
when the British people. Actively engaged with politics by that I mean
debated in the pub. Joined political parties were part of trade unions.
Etc. largely stopped in the 1970s,1980s

Alan Roadnight
Ian Sim To be given to the workshy?

Steve Kirk
Ian Sim Correct Ian, a few bob saved and gone into the pockets of a
select few. That's why we are skint.

Phil McCann
Did four Gulf patrols on different Leanders in the 80s and 90s. The
primary motto of the Royal Navy is the Latin phrase "Si vis pacem, para bellum", which translates to "If you wish for peace, prepare for war".
This has obviously been forgotten!

Stuart Whitley
Well said. The navy has been in decline since after the Thatcher years.
Its the fault of all Governments over the past 40 years. As we still
have overseas territories and bases our Armed Forces should be able to
provide sufficient cover. Shame on all you Politicians. Stuart X Royal
Navy when we used to have 26 Leander class Frigates plus Rothesay's,
Tribal's, Type 21's and not to mention Aircraft Carriers and Destroyers,
all of which could operate anywhere in the world.

Lynn Fliger
I had to chuckle when I read this because my thoughts went to the words "British Navy", you got to face the facts, there isn't any British Navy,
Its a small collection of boats for old men to play with and their
communist PM to try to get rid of. 2 Aircraft carriers, 4-6 destroyers,
a hand full of Frigates, and a bunch of, face it, "fishing boats". There
are only 2 Navies, the USA and China. Russia maybe a little, but it is
pretty rusty. (Russia is basically a 3rd world power with nukes) Iran's
navy does not exist today. It is suicide speed boat which are dangerous
for sure and a nuisance that will take some time to be dealt with. Most effectively I believe by collapsing the government and negating support
such that the operators of the boats can walk away without fear of
reprisal from their government. I do not believe the operators of the
Iranian boats do their jobs willingly.

Adam Martin
Nice one Bart Efai
Fellow RN vet
HMS Hurworth , Granby 1990
ItrCOs totally shameful , Putin must be pissing himself
We canrCOt put the one carrier (the other is in long term refit ) to sea
with out a foreign escort to keep it safe ,,,,,,
We canrCOt even put a destroyer in the med with dragging it out of dry dock Would be surprised if the nuke boats were the same
Paper tiger is putting it lightly


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From Newsgroup: soc.history.war.misc

On 3/15/26 16:24, a425couple wrote:

Bart Earnshaw (on facebook)
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Follow
oendSpstor2
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I see a lot of debate online at the moment about the Strait of Hormuz.
Maps. Distances. Who controls what.
What makes me smile slightly is that during my time in the Royal Navy I actually spent many months patrolling those waters in the 1980s and 90s, protecting commercial shipping moving through that corridor.
Back then the Royal Navy maintained a permanent presence in the region.
There wasnrCOt just one ship. Quite often there were two frigates or destroyers on patrol, and there would usually be mine counter-measure vessels operating in the Gulf as well.
When one ship finished its deployment, another would arrive

another post on facebook

Mr Mogg's Convivial Tea Room [pro Reform UK]ryo -+
Francis Salvesen
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Shamed into putting an aircraft carrier to sea!
FInally, after much cajoling from the British public and our allies in
the Gulf, the Labour Government has decided to put one of our new
aircraft carriers to sea, rather than keeping it rCyprojecting powerrCO in
its Portsmouth base!
Hopefully the government has also scratched around to find sufficient anti-missile missiles as well as longer range missiles. Perhaps there
will even be some aircraft on board, if we have any leftrCa..I doubt the aircraft carriers each have a full complement of aircraft ordered or manufactured yet, but we may have a dozen or so jets borrowed from our
other aircraft carrier, currently in rCyrefitrCO in Scotland.
It would be a good time to remind Milliband about the propulsion system. Sadly, we did not build our aircraft carriers with nuclear power. So
they use diesel. Quite a lot of diesel, actually. The maiden voyage used
a whopping 10 million litres of fuel. That is roughly 10,200 litres per
hour. So it might now be time to instruct Milliband to licence more
North Sea oil drilling. There are massive new oil discoveries awaiting Government permission. Clearly we need the oil - it is a strategic
resource and nine believes we are actually going to rCygo greenrCO anytime soon, even if the Green Party thinks so, when it has smoked enough of
the dope and other drugs it wants to legalise. Lucky our Navy doesnrCOt
take drugs, or it might not perform very well!
As usual, the Government has not prepared the aircraft carrier in
advance or the rest of its carrier group. It wonrCOt be ready to set sail
for another five days or more. Healey, who is apparently the Defence Secretary, has not had the foresight to keep the majority of our navy operational - most of the ships are in for refits or rCymaintenancerCO. No doubt some school teacher could teach Healey about basic scheduling! The
man should have been sacked ages ago, but then the Prime Minister is not
very good at selecting people, is he?
Anyway, the embarrassment of having the Greeks, Spanish and even the
French protecting Cyprus, let alone all our Gulf allies has finally hit
to the Starmer regime. Perhaps the Chancellor will now realise that
inflation will be sharply higher, due to oil and gas prices, and will
not spend so much money on people with rCymental health issuesrCO; imagine
if the navy sailors phones in to complain of that, rather than getting
on with their jobs!
It is embarrassing, though, that our Government has to be shamed into
acting, by the very allies we have defence commitments to protect, as
well as the USA and Israel.

Steve Cassidy
Two-tier, free gear Efao, Never here rLeN+A unless the coast is clear, Insincere, most unclear,Nothing adheres to Nasal Knight Keir.
Took heat from our old Efa| A Knight should protect and be bold!
Then War on our Farmers! EfUL What's wrong with you Starmer?
Is he queer? Which way will he steer?
We've all had enough of Nasal Knight Keir!
El-Fattah is here EfN+, He's delighted to hear!
Betray our Brexit? Efc4Efco Then it's time for his exit.
When will we be rid of Nasal Knight Keir?
Our money spent abroad has no end,
Excuses against spending here, drive us all round the bend. Efn4
Black hole Efo| you say,Yet anywhere but here, you throw our money away.
You borrow from Peter, to pay it to Paul.
Our future generations Efa?rCiEfa-rCiEfaorCiEfao will pay for it all.
Brings 'gimmegrants' here, Efc| We say, "Out", rcoN+A He says "No fear!" -
You gave 750 Mil' to Macron.That little Frog Efc?Efc| EfE+ is having you on! What made you think he would help?Efno
The Brits EfA|<aUo<aUo<aUN<aU<<aUo<aU+ stabbing boats,-The French Efc?Efc| want their scalps! Efn4
We have veteransEfAerCirOCN+A that live on the streets, Yet illegal economic migrants get free treats! Efn4Efn4Efn4
Give away Chagos AND pay! Efno That's our loss and theirs,
British, Efc4Efco they want to stay. Calls Nigel a liar, his own pants Ef-# on fire EfoN .
A much despised creature EfEi that brings us to tears!
What will it take to get rid of Clown Efni Keir?
Obsessed with 'sausage,' Efi! - 'What's going on here?'
Stopped Elections we hear. - Can't be right, lets be clear.
Wants Digital I.D. He's taking the pee! EfAaEfAa F F S be gone with you,
Nasal Knight Keir!
A dimwit we fear And yet he's still here!
A treacherous fool Efn- - should be hung by the ears! Efae
Do us a favour, just do one Keir!
Then War on our Pubs, Efi+ where some get their grub. Efic
How many will close? rCo Only God knows.
WerCOre taxed to the limit! EfA# rCo ThatrCOs working well rCyinnit? Efno
No trial by Jury we fearEfa< A principal of Justice rUuN+A that we started here!
'The Rape Gang Inquires seem dead!EfAC
How many of those areas are Labour led?Efno
Led a Witch Hunt EfoOrCirOCN+A against our troopsEfAerCirOCN+A for free.Efn4Efn4Efn4Efn4 You're
the lowest of the low, it's so clear to see.Ef-|
Now those same boots EfN+ on the ground there, and here Ef-u
For once, put us first Efc4Efco, defend 'our' borders Keir!
New deals with The EU Efc-Efc| with Farage clause Efn4 The depth of your treachery has no bounds of course!
Pursuing Net Zero Efa+N+A Ed Millipede your hero.
An expensive fool's Efna errand, No benefit and no end
Chinese Efc?Efc| Embassy rc-N+A Over Top Secret cables? Efno
They'll tap in and listenEfae pTheir spies EfN+ are that able!
Won't ban Halal, or the Burka, Or decide upon the definition of worker.
An animal right conveniently ignored,
And a security risk rUaN+A much abhorred.
Won't ban Sharia. Only room for our Efc4Efco laws here.
The most hated PM EfA- since records began, You're hated more than that
bloke in Iran Efc<Efc+
Won't defend Cyprus as Nato demands,
Or back our allies, you've made your last stand!
Do right for The Country, Stand down 'Wet Wipe Keir!'
More flip flops Ef-| than a mosque Efoi entrance hall, less popular than flatulence in a space Efa?rCiEfUC helmet and incurable Liarbetes! EfnN WrUoN+ArLeN+AEfAarLeN+AEfAarLeN+AEfAa


Wayne Spring
Too late. USA says dont bother they dont need us. Total embarrassment

Craig Evans
We went from an empire to a sad stained wet wipe

Edward Ryan
Batshit Starmer actually hoping it will all be over before the carrier,
and the destroyer leaves the port

Marcos Smith
Retrospective deterrence

Mitchell Mitch Mitch
This government really have no idea what itrCOs doing. Literally
everything they do is wrong. Seriously, there has to be a dissolution of government, a vote of no confidence, something to change the government.

Pete Anderson
I feel sorry for the honest seamen who are being shamed by our goverment !!

Peter Leary
that is incompetent socialism for you they know all the answers except
the ones that are practical and matter, also they are good at lining
thier pockets

David Kolbig
I wouldn't worry britain. Gr|?ece has stepped up to protect you

Mary Aikenhead
The Black Pig is on its way
https://youtu.be/5t04p5EZdEQ?feature=shared
Captain Pugwash - Mutiny on the Black Pig
YOUTUBE.COM
Captain Pugwash - Mutiny on the Black Pig
Captain Pugwash - Mutiny on the Black Pig

Bill Butler
Trump may not be certain on whose side the vessel is being sent to join: Churchill ordered the sinking of the French fleet during WW11 when he
lost confidence in the French govt and thought it likely they would turn
their fleet over to Germany.

Martin King
Not prepared for war at all- readiness is a pillar of navy Army and
Airforce but the UK government has obviously decided it no longer needs
a military force that can defend the nation at will- in this case will
send a ship but it will take a week to get it ready and find enough
sailors and weapons to have it more than a large paperweight- seems like
the military in the UK is no more than a parade show piece these days-
only good for marches and flybys on special occasions.
1w
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