PARAS & ROYAL MARINES TO MERGE??

[Paul S.]

... we as an island surrounded by sea do not posses an aircraft carrier for fixed wing aircraft even though we have aircraft that can use one, I think our newest one uses choppers a chopper is ok if your hunting a sub I guess.
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I view all the statements made on defense spending by any Govt past/present or future as circumspect they love taking our taxes but the disparity is perks verses equipment......the soldier deserves the very best of everything a country can give him/her as they are the ones putting themselves in harms way give them the best chance of eliminating the enemy and coming home to their loved ones again.

Mate, my eldest granddaughter's husband was an engineering officer in HMAS CANBERRA. He told me that the flight deck isn't strong enough for the weight (and landing force) anything but helicopters. That means that helicopter gunships with their limited linger, range and capability would the only close air support an opposed landing could expect if the ship was operating independently and beyond the range of land based RAAF close air support.

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[mrclark303]

Mate, my eldest granddaughter's husband was an engineering officer in HMAS CANBERRA. He told me that the flight deck isn't strong enough for the weight (and landing force) anything but helicopters. That means that helicopter gunships with their limited linger, range and capability would the only close air support an opposed landing could expect if the ship was operating independently and beyond the range of land based RAAF close air support.

Paul, if that's right, then that is outrageous and and a scandalous waste of Australian taxpayers money.

Canberra and her sister have been built with ski jumps (not bolted to the flight deck, but part of the intrinsic design) to enable them to operate F35B's, the jump serves no other purpose.

Should Australia procure a number of B models, then Canberra and her sister would be very useful and capable light multi roll aircraft carriers.

As Ron quite rightly says, Australia is an Island nation.

Like the UK its entirety dependent on its main line of supply, ie the sea.

After a very long wait, the UK has finally woken up to the need to operate Aircraft Carriers again and is in the process of commissioning two 70,000 ton vessels.

The UK has decimated its conventional defences to fight the War on terror, a grave mistake and one that will one day bite us on the arse.

If I was a US taxpayer, I would be very unhappy at having to guarantee and fund Defence for the entire Western world!

[Paul S.]

Paul, if that's right, then that is outrageous and and a scandalous waste of Australian taxpayers money.

Canberra and her sister have been built with ski jumps (not bolted to the flight deck, but part of the intrinsic design) to enable them to operate F35B's, the jump serves no other purpose.

Should Australia procure a number of B models, then Canberra and her sister would be very useful and capable light multi roll aircraft carriers.

As Ron quite rightly says, Australia is an Island nation.

Like the UK its entirety dependent on its main line of supply, ie the sea.

After a very long wait, the UK has finally woken up to the need to operate Aircraft Carriers again and is in the process of commissioning two 70,000 ton vessels.

The UK has decimated its conventional defences to fight the War on terror, a grave mistake and one that will one day bite us on the arse.

If I was a US taxpayer, I would be very unhappy at having to guarantee and fund Defence for the entire Western world!

I fully agree on all points.

Re: CANBERRA and the F35s - I sent my grandson in law video of the F35 carrier tests when he was first posted aboard CANBERRA knowing that her flight deck had a 'jump jet ramp'. The ship was still going through her post commissioning work-ups and certifications at the time. That was when he told me she wasn't fixed wing (F35, etc.) capable because the deck wasn't strong enough. My immediate thought was, 'Well that's f*cking great isn't it?' Yeah, it's great having a ship that can deliver and amphibious force, but it's a lot better if the ship can defend and support the ashore force. Basically, it rules out anything operating independently of land based or carrier borne aircraft if the operating against a significant opposing force.

But then, I'm not the bloke at the top of the pile in the ACT who makes the decisions and signs the cheques.

Mind you, CANBERRA performed sterling duty when she went up to Fiji after the cyclone went through.