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Apart from being a mobile missile platform and "ferry", sea runway service what does the RN do these days? I don't know when last there was an engagement between two opposing naval forces, for example the Battle of Trafalger, so what's the gig? The submarines are the nuclear deterant and the Royal Marines are as active as ever in their regularly redifined role.

I know that there is mention of drug wars and aid but the Navy just seems fairly anonymous these days. Maybe it's just poor PR on their part and not inactivity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/#

Scroll down to the right hand side and click on the story about HMS Cumberland.

I think this may explain a little about the role of the RN

Conflicts and peacekeeping – both national and UN operations (Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Iraq)
Humanitarian aid (Caribbean hurricanes, Mozambique floods)
Anti-drugs patrols (especially the Caribbean)
Search and rescue (almost every day)
Patrolling UK fishing grounds and oilfields
Oceanographic surveys and protecting the maritime environment
Helping the UK community (Foot and Mouth crisis, firefighters’ strike)
Providing the nation’s nuclear deterrent

And of course not forgetting the transportation of troops to Iraq which is still ongoing.

Oddly timed, do you think the Admirals follow this site and felt a need get some exposeure.



How do the RN assist in peace keeping?

I'm curious because, what with all the stuff about Trafalger, I wondered what sort of Navy someone could expect to join today. It seems the days of sea warfare in the conventional sense are behind us.

If by conventional you mean two fleets drawn up again'st one another pounding away with cannons then yes those days are long gone but I think its also fair to say that the days of Waterloo, two oppposing armys drawn up and fighting it out till one side surrenders or dies, have also long gone. Any of todays modern forces face a varied and ever changing role.
Think of a ship like HMS Ocean she is basically a floating base for the Royal Marines to operate from she carries landing craft helos the biz. Most modern conflicts ie Gulf 1, Gulf 2 see our troops operating from friendly countries. But imagine the Falklands when the islands were in enemy hands. All offensives had to be launched from the sea. This could not be done without the Royal Navy. Never under estimate Jack because he's a bit cuddly and wears bell bottoms. Having a Royal Navy task group parked off your coastline is always a good way of showing that we mean business in our affairs abroad.

OMSS, those bastards in the Isle of Man better wake up ffs.
I love Jack. Some of my best friends are Matelots and they never stop asking themselves "What the fark am I doing this shyte for"
Allegedly, it all becomes clear in the end

believe me the royal navy is still kept very busy!

Hallsy wrote:believe me the royal navy is still kept very busy!

Hehe thats true. There's always room for a bit of FOST between deployments