TangerineBayern
Well-known member
By US and UK aircraft tonight. Why is it just us and the US carrying out these strikes when most of the shipping goes through the Red Sea / Suez Canal?
Both countries have a general election this year.By US and UK aircraft tonight. Why is it just us and the US carrying out these strikes when most of the shipping goes through the Red Sea / Suez Canal?
I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.Normally just follow the money trail. Who is financially damaged the most by Houthi activity or who gains the most from bombing them to smithereens?
Is this not more likely to be a NATO decision rather than anything to do with the EU?Don’t worry lads our former buddies in the EU are firmly behind us (or so they say) but they’d sooner someone else do the dirty work in case of any reprisals and we’ve already carried out air raids previously so a no brainer.
Sound all too familiar?
Could be they’re insured by Western finance and they’re at an advantage when one is attacked perhaps?I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.
Or are they happy as well just to sit back and let others do all the dirty work?
I’m honestly don’t know.Is this not more likely to be a NATO decision rather than anything to do with the EU?
I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.
So why is that then?It`s not odd at all. Chinese (and Russian) ships are not under attack from the Houthis: they have been granted safe passage...
I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.
Or are they happy as well just to sit back and let others do all the dirty work?
Maybe it’s time we grew some balls then and stopped importing Chinese goods?The Houthis are backed by Iran, Iran is backed by China, if they wanted the attacks to stop then all China would need to do is say, stop the attacks.
100%Don’t worry lads our former buddies in the EU are firmly behind us (or so they say) but they’d sooner someone else do the dirty work in case of any reprisals and we’ve already carried out air raids previously so a no brainer.
Sound all too familiar?
So why is that then?
Are you saying it’s a case of whoever is backing Israel then only them are effected?
If that’s the case I go back to my original question then where’s the Dutch, French, German, Belgian airforces as they are all NATO members?
No my agenda is we are doing everyone else’s dirty work like in the past and like it’ll always be.NATO are not actively involved in the disput, although they will provide intelligence, so the countries mentioned would be acting outside of NATO, as Britain has decided to do. Nothing to do with the EU either, so no agenda there for you to inflate...
It is a NATO decision but other non NATO countries use the same route eg. Greece who are not part of NATO had one of their ships attacked last week.Is this not more likely to be a NATO decision rather than anything to do with the EU?
Sorry NATO are involved not all directly but will be in some form and as you say intelligence.NATO are not actively involved in the disput, although they will provide intelligence, so the countries mentioned would be acting outside of NATO, as Britain has decided to do. Nothing to do with the EU either, so no agenda there for you to inflate...
No my agenda is we are doing everyone else’s dirty work like in the past and like it’ll always be.
It’s easy for all these other countries to sit back and “verbally” support us.
It’s like the play ground bully at school why should you fight him if someone else offers to do it for you?
If you don't see it that way then fair enough.
German Typhoons do have an inflight refueling capability and can use the same tankers as the UK Typhoons as can Spanish and Italian Typhoons.The other countries you mention don't have the capability to mount the strikes that we and the US do, in fact I'm not completely sure how we're able to do it.
The Belgians/Dutch have F16's that would run out of fuel somewhere over Germany, the Germans at least have Typhoons, but they don't have the tankers to refuel them so that would only take them as far as Serbia.
Only the French might have the ability to conduct strikes off the Charles de Gaulle, but as she's currently tied up alongside in Toulon that's not on the cards either.
Ever thought of allowing these countries airforces to use RAF Akrotiri then?The other countries you mention don't have the capability to mount the strikes that we and the US do, in fact I'm not completely sure how we're able to do it.
The Belgians/Dutch have F16's that would run out of fuel somewhere over Germany, the Germans at least have Typhoons, but they don't have the tankers to refuel them so that would only take them as far as Serbia.
Only the French might have the ability to conduct strikes off the Charles de Gaulle, but as she's currently tied up alongside in Toulon that's not on the cards either.
Since when was Greece not in NATO?It is a NATO decision but other non NATO countries use the same route eg. Greece who are not part of NATO had one of their ships attacked last week.
Joined way back in 1952 along with Turkey.Since when was Greece not in NATO?
One of the biggest contributor's with their share of GDP.
German Typhoons do have an inflight refueling capability and can use the same tankers as the UK Typhoons as can Spanish and Italian Typhoons.
Ever thought of allowing these countries airforces to use RAF Akrotiri then?
That’s not a criticism by the way but there’s clearly ways around it.
The RAF and United States Airforce can both support in flight refuelling for them.
Let’s not forget we carried out the bombing of Port Stanley airfield over 40 years ago so distance isn’t a problem
Clearly it’s never been brought up I’m assuming.
Yes I understand that but i don’t think France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Spain, to name but 5 airforces have the same issues?Since the Germans don't have their own tankers, my guess is that in-flight refuelling isn't something that their pilots are practised in, and I don't think that's a skill you want to learn during a live mission.
In fact, I was wrong, although the Germans don't have a dedicated tanker they do have aircraft that fill the role, so yes, as ever, the rest of Europe is happy to freeload.Yes I understand that but i don’t think France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Spain, to name but 5 airforces have the same issues?
All Typhoon aircraft especially for the 4 Nations of UK/GE/SP/IT have an inflight refueling capability and as such the aircrew are fully trained in operating the system which is obviously very difficult and challenging especially at night time. At a good guess l would say that none of these countries have dedicated tankers but will have other sources.In fact, I was wrong, although the Germans don't have a dedicated tanker they do have aircraft that fill the role, so yes, as ever, the rest of Europe is happy to freeload.
In any event, it's good training and experience for our pilots, so why let the Germans spoil the fun?
Portsmouth I think.Where are our carriers, must be a better option than flying all the way from cyprus?
As others agree, good question. Where are the Middle East airforces? Egypt spent a fortune on buying aircraft from us.By US and UK aircraft tonight. Why is it just us and the US carrying out these strikes when most of the shipping goes through the Red Sea / Suez Canal?
We are the biggest suppliers of arms to the Saudis bombing Yemen, and the second biggest aid donors to Yemen to enable recovery from the bombing. Go figure.Normally just follow the money trail. Who is financially damaged the most by Houthi activity or who gains the most from bombing them to smithereens?
Trying to prove ourselves relevant. Harking back to Empire for the Tory voters.Nothing but a political move of self promotion from little Rishi to try and make himself look hard.
Oh and that Sleepy Joe told him he had to do it.
More millions spunked away.
It might sound daft but I’m not sure the F-35’s are fully cleared for war just yet hence why the Typhoons are being used and they are not carrier based aircraft hence why we’re using the base at Akrotiri so little point in any of the carriers being there really.Portsmouth I think.
I'd suggest moving a handful of fast jets from Cyprus is probably a little bit cheaper and easier than moving and 65,000 ton CV from the UK to the gulf.
Could be, but either way, there doesn't seem to a great deal of point in sending QE 8,000+ km when we've got an air base within range of the target already.It might sound daft but I’m not sure the F-35’s are fully cleared for war just yet hence why the Typhoons are being used and they are not carrier based aircraft hence why we’re using the base at Akrotiri.
Same situation like when we carried out air strikes in Libya we used the Tornado and not the Typhoons which we’re just coming into service.
The Yanks are using cruise missiles and F-18 Hornets from the carriers not their F-35’s.
Typhoons were used in Libya JaffaIt might sound daft but I’m not sure the F-35’s are fully cleared for war just yet hence why the Typhoons are being used and they are not carrier based aircraft hence why we’re using the base at Akrotiri so little point in any of the carriers being there really.
Same situation like when we carried out air strikes in Libya we used the Tornado and not the Typhoons which we’re just coming into service.
The Yanks are using cruise missiles and F-18 Hornets from the carriers not their F-35’s.
Didn't we carry out air strikes in Syria/Iraq against ISIS some years back? Probably getting mixed up with that only I remember the Tornado being used for sorties for the very last time not long before it was retired.Typhoons were used in Libya Jaffa
Both of our carriers are docked at Portsmouth. The Navy currently doesn't have the support vessels or personnel to escort and protect them. A massive embarrassment for the UK.Where are our carriers, must be a better option than flying all the way from cyprus?
Tornado GR4s did the 'heavy lifting' in Libya and Typhoons were in support, and you’re also correct the GR4s were also deployed against ISIS before being retired.Didn't we carry out air strikes in Syria/Iraq against ISIS some years back? Probably getting mixed up with that only I remember the Tornado being used for sorties for the very last time not long before it was retired.
The last ones were retired in early 2019 but they were being phased out since around 2017 so sure the last attacks by them were around 2015/16.