The Ark Royals last trip docu

[Joe Fabulous]

Fucking cringeworthy, embarking US Bootneck harriers FFS.

[Daydream Believer]

There was another one a few weeks back on HMS Manchester doing anti drug running ops in the Caribbean & they had US Coastguard blokes onboard to do the boarding even though it was in international waters. Seems like we don't actually do anything ourselves anymore.

The service we knew seems to be long gone.

[Joe Fabulous]

Originally Posted by Daydream Believer

There was another one a few weeks back on HMS Manchester doing anti drug running ops in the Caribbean & they had US Coastguard blokes onboard to do the boarding even though it was in international waters. Seems like we don't actually do anything ourselves anymore.

The service we knew seems to be long gone.

Like I said earlier. Cringeworthy!

[c032745y]

Originally Posted by Daydream Believer

There was another one a few weeks back on HMS Manchester doing anti drug running ops in the Caribbean & they had US Coastguard blokes onboard to do the boarding even though it was in international waters. Seems like we don't actually do anything ourselves anymore.

The service we knew seems to be long gone.

I think that was more to do with the legal status of the boarding/arresting teams. Jurisdiction sits with Yanks. Nowt to do with capability of Jack/Royal.

To OP, you're right. I actually feel hurt when I watch coverage of the flat tops demise. My Navy had Buccs, a proper Ark & the ability to project & protect British interests abroad. We've given that up now & I feel slightly ashamed & hurt. I especially view the end of the (Sea) Harrier as a crying shame.

[Daydream Believer]

Originally Posted by c032745y

I think that was more to do with the legal status of the boarding/arresting teams. Jurisdiction sits with Yanks. Nowt to do with capability of Jack/Royal.

I did a couple of wigs/westlant deployments in the 80's & 90's & we never needed any yanks for boardings back then, particularly in international waters. If there was a joint op it would be with another vessel, not embarking crew from their navy or coastguard to do the boardings for us.

[c032745y]

Originally Posted by Daydream Believer

I did a couple of wigs/westlant deployments in the 80's & 90's & we never needed any yanks for boardings back then, particularly in international waters. If there was a joint op it would be with another vessel, not embarking crew from their navy or coastguard to do the boardings for us.

Ah knar, but in all honesty, it was a bit gung ho then, did it mesell! They're now clued into FBI intell & actually targetting suppliers with a view to prosecution, as opposed to sinking or shooting them

[Alan BStard]

I was quite happy with our ship doing the catching and leaving the paperwork for the yanks.

[Joe Fabulous]

Originally Posted by c032745y

I think that was more to do with the legal status of the boarding/arresting teams. Jurisdiction sits with Yanks. Nowt to do with capability of Jack/Royal.

To OP, you're right. I actually feel hurt when I watch coverage of the flat tops demise. My Navy had Buccs, a proper Ark & the ability to project & protect British interests abroad. We've given that up now & I feel slightly ashamed & hurt. I especially view the end of the (Sea) Harrier as a crying shame.

Same here mate. To be honest from what I have seen on recent RN docu's. The modern navy looks very light weight, and un-professional.

[Daydream Believer]

Originally Posted by Joe Fabulous

Same here mate. To be honest from what I have seen on recent RN docu's. The modern navy looks very light weight, and un-professional.

By the time I left in 92 the greenies were merging with the gunners & the pinkies were merging with the rest of the ops branch.

I stayed on in the RNR for another 7 years & by the time I got fed up with that the Navy was a shadow of what I remembered. The ex ops lads seemed to struggle with the more technical tasks & the ex techies were pissed off at spending full watches doing the old ops jobs. Everybody seemed to be stretched too thin.

Even the direct entry tiffs have gone now.

[Teed]