New carriers may have to be severely downgraded in size

[Contractor]

Do we really need all the Admirals, Generals and senior Crabs that we currently employ? The senior posts never seem to be reduced whenever there is a Defence review, only the guys at the sharp end up find themselves on the scrap heap.

[Sisyphus]

Oh so true, Contractor

Next time you're in the library have a look at the Navy List (or Army/RAF)

There are more Commanders than Sub Lts., more Majors than 2nd Lts, etc. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if there were more Admirals than Subbies. Must check next time I'm there.

[Guest]

These carriers are the bedrock of the our defence policy for the next 30 years and its VITAL we fund them adequately. Warfare is becoming more expeditionary in nature and we'll need an offshore base capability much more than we need 232 bleeding Eurofighters. So if money has to be found then i say the Eurofighter order should be cut by at least 15% to pay for it. Remember theres another defence White Paper on the way, which means the axe is going to fall somewhere...it might as well be the RAF as i dont see any real role for them that cant be carried out by the Fleet Air Arm apart from air defence of the UK

[Darren]

so as long as they can handle the rafale, have excellent cooking facilities so the french admiral in charge won't have to lower his standards we'll be ok.

Thease two carriers are essential for the future of the Royal Navy but by the looks of things they won't have enough escorts for them to be used so they will end up committed to the EURO Navy and commanded from Brussels.

[Tab]

I don't think it is really worth talking about at the moment, the Labour Government first brought up this idea when they came into power. They then slashed the TA to pay for these carriers, and they have been slashing the Armed forces ever since to pay for the carriers, or so they say, but up to now they have not ordered a single rivet to build them. I personally think that this is all just one big smoke screen for them to slash the armed forces and we will never see the damn things built.

[Darren]

agree totally. And If the telegraph was correct in august they will slash whats left in november. when the army drops bellow 100,000 it ceases to be an army and becomes a defence force so UKDF here we come. It will also mean we won't be able to do anything without the americans or euro army.