mick miller Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) How does it work with the Americans then? A marine force that combines air, land, sea - successfully. Our entire armed forces is less than the total number of America's marine force. Stupid idea, it'll never work. Total U.S. Marines 2016 - 184,000 Total UK armed forces 2016 - 144,000 You have core 'specialists' which, you know, specialise. Edited April 12, 2017 by mick miller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 It could work we used to have training days where they would say right he,s dead do his job and you,d be driving an apc ,working a genny,or even cooking nosh for all .A general everyone is a rifleman ,combat first aid trained first with say driving training for warrior,Land Rover and 4 tonner so u have a massive pool of soldiers who can then be "specialist " in their own field but as per the marine routine soldier first ,soldier second all else afterwards .A soldier who fixes trucks or sights or computers should be able to fight and protect his comrades and not need a company of "grunts" to look after him imho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Did you see the pile of scrap Putin sailed past us recently? A good shot with a catapult would have seen them off One could say that at least, it did sail by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 Did you see the pile of scrap Putin sailed past us recently? A good shot with a catapult would have seen them off Anybody remember the 'Tiger Codes' - Tiger 177 I think it is would work over the radio for the Kuznetsov "are you making smoke or just starting your engines?". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 The big problem for the navy and armed forces along with the NHS, Education and most govenment departments is we are not prepared to pay the amount of money they need. 40 years ago income tax was about 30% of a working mans wage and funding for the services was good. Now we pay around 20% of our wages in tax. The maths no longer work to keep these services running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) I have maintained, for years, that to keep an army, navy and air force seems an expensive folly. The many layers of officer's and administration could be trimmed in one fell swoop by simply creating a comprehensive marine force that combines the best elements of all three services. Sure, we'd lose umpteen historical regiments with all the associated history and ceremony but by heck, would we save a tonne of money that could be plowed into improved equipment and better facilities for the serving soldiers, airmen and sailors. Mind you, I can't see those in charge being in favour of that. Is this another daft idea of mine or not? (I have similar thoughts regarding the emergency services by the way. One central service with a few specialists in any particualr discipline but with enough training to cover the other emergency requirements - for instance, why does an RTA require ambulance, police and fire service all in attendance?). You have to remember that most of the money spent on defence is money spent within the UK on goods and wages so is neutral as far as the effect on the UK economy is concerned. It all comes back in tax eventually and injects cash into the local economy on the way Better to pay a soldier to be a soldier than to pay him to sit on the dole and get depressed. A soldier cannot spend his wages without paying VAT on practically everything he buys and then the shops have to pay tax on their profits. So what is the real cost of defence? Edited April 12, 2017 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 You have to remember that most of the money spent on defence is money spent within the UK on goods and wages so is neutral as far as the effect on the UK economy is concerned. It all comes back in tax eventually and injects cash into the local economy on the way Better to pay a soldier to be a soldier than to pay him to sit on the dole and get depressed. A soldier cannot spend his wages without paying VAT on practically everything he buys and then the shops have to pay tax on their profits. So what is the real cost of defence? You could apply the same argument to any public sector service or even to benefit payments. The problem is that the private sector has to pay for these and the burden is too great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypig Posted April 12, 2017 Report Share Posted April 12, 2017 I have maintained, for years, that to keep an army, navy and air force seems an expensive folly. The many layers of officer's and administration could be trimmed in one fell swoop by simply creating a comprehensive marine force that combines the best elements of all three services. Sure, we'd lose umpteen historical regiments with all the associated history and ceremony but by heck, would we save a tonne of money that could be plowed into improved equipment and better facilities for the serving soldiers, airmen and sailors. Mind you, I can't see those in charge being in favour of that. Is this another daft idea of mine or not? (I have similar thoughts regarding the emergency services by the way. One central service with a few specialists in any particualr discipline but with enough training to cover the other emergency requirements - for instance, why does an RTA require ambulance, police and fire service all in attendance?). Because you don't want me when you are having a stroke...! Or worse sorry we don't have a fire engine as the crew are interviewing a victim of crime. Or worse the firefighter can't wash your windows on his day off because he is tired from patrolling on a night shift feather than sleeping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 (edited) You could apply the same argument to any public sector service or even to benefit payments. The problem is that the private sector has to pay for these and the burden is too great. Not really its because the armed services appear to be doing nothing during peace time so cuts can be made without a visible consequence. You can't do that to other public services or benefits. Edited April 13, 2017 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Someone asks where does all the money go? Well as far as I believe principally the NHS, Education and old age pensions. Unfortunately the public will not countenance reductions to these budgets to provide a properly equipped standing army/ navy/ Air Force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Did you see the pile of scrap Putin sailed past us recently? A good shot with a catapult would have seen them off This! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 Someone asks where does all the money go? Well as far as I believe principally the NHS, Education and old age pensions. Unfortunately the public will not countenance reductions to these budgets to provide a properly equipped standing army/ navy/ Air Force. Well, on behalf of us old uns I apologise for paying in for 45 years, costing £300 to educate, having been ill a few times and living log enough to draw the pension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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