Backstay ⛵⚓

@Gunbust09696378 None, 'cause we had a ballistic missile submarine at sea as a deterrent.

If you went to school in the 60s/70s/80s/90s How many kids did you know worried about being unable to shoot down ballistic missiles ?

Adam Brooks: "We are so weak on the world stage, we can't even send a warship to somewhere were our troops are in trouble." Watch Plank Of The Week on YouTube: youtu.be/2zOPDucoEgk @TVKev @EssexPR @DobbsandPolicy @PCBarnes123 @JournoDevs

@enviro1993 @FlightAcesHigh @thalesgroup @RoyalNavy Believed trialled a good few years ago, called Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM). No idea of the outcome (other than it obviously wasn't fitted to the in service Auto Small Calibre Guns) Referenced here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martlet_%…

@FlightAcesHigh @thalesgroup @RoyalNavy Lots of extra potential for Martlet integration. I would like to see a Bushmaster 30mm unit with Martlet on the sides for the QEs. Maybe we could develop a ground based launcher that works with a Saab Giraffe radar? Much cheaper than CAMM.

UK to buy additional @thalesgroup Martlet missiles as counter-drone weapon demand spikes. Interesting line stating the LMM has "already proven highly capable for air defence in the Middle East"; have shots been made using deployed @RoyalNavy Wildcats? flightglobal.com/defence/uk-to-…

@RN_engineers @RoyalNavy That Commander's cap is a bit close to the spanner 🤔 Know your limits 🫡⚓😉

Cheers to the @RoyalNavy mums who taught us manners, patience, and proper torque settings. 🛠️ You’re the real quality assurance team. 💐 #mothersday #AWEsoME

@OnthisdayRN The 'self appointed' @FlagInstitute would probably disagree with the implied exclusivity of this statement.

When flown from the bow of a ship, the Union Flag is known as the Union Jack. It represents the 3 kingdoms of the Union: England & Wales, Scotland (all 3 form the Kingdom of Great Britain) & Ireland though only Northern Ireland since 1921.

@PhilipIngMBE @pinstripedline Who said she was at 3 days notice to sail? If she was at R3 (and I'm not confirming she was), that doesn't mean 3 days. #ArmchairAdmiral

@pinstripedline If something is on 3 days notice to sail - it is expected to be 3 consecutive days - not 3 randomly plucked days interspersed by as many others as needed - we have lost our way militarily

A really good read on the practical challenges of getting an escort to sea quickly fully stored and equipped for high intensity operations. A challenge all navoes face. navylookout.com/hms-dragon-sai…

@DabberThoughts Or just use what we already own? army.mod.uk/learn-and-expl…

This 👇 is what we should have procured and sent to Cyprus. The whole saga regarding HMS Dragon has masked the real failing - that we don't have any medium range GBAD ...

Defence Secretary, John Healey admits the Chief of the Defence Staff, Richard Knighton didn't advise him to send HMS DRAGON to the East Med until Tuesday, 3 March last week: 3 days after war started and 20 days after US let on @HouseofCommons @ModernNavy hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-0…

@BenObeseJecty I understood it was 12 to replace the 12 remaining T42s. The Dstl modelling said it could be reduced to 8 based on the assumption we were only going to run one carrier at a time. That was based on the Force Generation Ration (2.5:1) ie you need 3 ships to keep one on task.

“The requirement for 12 ships was reduced to eight in 2004…..and finally down to six ships in 2008.” There’s a lot of talk about the state of the Royal Navy and the number of ships available. Today Defence Secretary John Healey got very agitated in the chamber regarding defence cuts under the last coalition government. He was a Minister in the previous Labour Government. It was that Government which HALVED the number of Type 45 Daring-class destroyers, and the reason why we only have six today. HMS Dragon’s late arrival to defend Cyprus is on them. publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cm…

@andrewyoung82 @FTusa284 Initially they were badly placed with the radars suffering from clutter. A bit of Radar Absorbent Material over some corrugated roof panels and most importantly, a nice mound provided by the Royal Engineers massively improved performance. All coordinated via @dstlmod scientist

@FTusa284 We used one in Iraq. Wasn't a huge success, but did make a lot of noise.

Anyone remember where UK parked its C-RAM, or did we miraculously sell them all for a song?

@spj1958 @OnthisdayRN @RoyalNavy RN can't function without the RFA. If you don't understand that you don't understand support (ie engineering and logistics)

@OnthisdayRN @RoyalNavy Don't forget the RFA presence has always been there also.

#OnThisDay 1980 @RoyalNavy instituted the #Armilla patrol, the name given to the permanent presence in #Persian gulf. During 80s & 90s Leander, T21, 22, 23 Frigates &T42 Destroyers Carried the Duty and the first ship to deploy was HMS COVENTRY.

@chodpollard @FennellJW And we need the right design for modern tasking. Our T26, offshore doing ASW, has the decent mission bay, T31 will be in the littoral and her 'mission bay' is in the flight deck. We need the Common Combat Ship now (aka new MRSS)

@FennellJW I'm much more concerned about personnel and sustainment than hull numbers. Let's not forget we cannot crew or sustain even the reduced fleet we have, let alone an expanded one.

The case for three more T31 frigates must be strong, although I'd prefer Exeter, Sheffield and Southampton as names.

@JonA2i @andy9716 @DabberThoughts RAF only ever interested in air superiority. Never the other aspects of air; transport, air fields, GBAD, tactical Comms, etc. Maybe that's why it was such a shock to have an engineer as CAS (now CDS). No consideration of the wide "air system" or the infra that supports it...

@andy9716 @DabberThoughts The RAF's frontline combat power has been allowed to decline more than that of the RN, at the very time when it should have declined less, since it is more 'core' and more relevant. Its time for the Navy to suck at the hindmost teat while we rebalance. /5

@DabberThoughts @JonA2i @GarethJennings3 Doesn't the RAF have any ability to protect their airbases either?

@JonA2i @GarethJennings3 Doesn't the RAF have any AEW ... 🤭

That @GarethJennings3 is a prophet for our times... Image of a RN Merlin helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, seen here departing for the Middle East today (07/03/2026). Merlin HM2 helicopters are equipped with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) & airborne surveillance and control (ASaC).

@DabberThoughts @JonA2i To deliver the airfield defence role given to the Army #SkySabre @16RegtRA. Maybe RAF Reg are all busy on their '5 miler of death'?

"Some might be mildly amused to observe that the Royal Navy is sending aircraft to defend the RAF" Quick, someone check on @JonA2i and make sure they're ok!

@the_mantress I just don't like the colour of the uniform 😜 Don't get me started on the belts on the outside of the jacket, gloves on parade...

Hate this style of nilitary photo. The ones passing out should be front and centre in the limelight not the instructors

@IntercityFC @Kilted_Sailor @OnthisdayRN @USSMissouri Ex Sea Dart desk officer... Perhaps...

@wrightdi @Kilted_Sailor @OnthisdayRN @USSMissouri How ‘may’ you have got it?!

#OnThisDay 1991 Type 42 Destroyer HMS GLOUCESTER destroyed an Iraqi Silkworm missile bound for @USSMissouri with her Sea Dart missile system during Op. Granby. The first Gulf War.

@IntercityFC @Kilted_Sailor @OnthisdayRN @USSMissouri "Track 7767 splashed by birds" "Who's birds?" "Ours Sir"

@IntercityFC @Kilted_Sailor @OnthisdayRN @USSMissouri One of those truthful dits 👍 I 'may' have a copy of the ADAWS recording with COL. I also may have shared a copy with Gloria before he died after hearing a slight exaggerated version (like the 'are you alright Sir?' from the AAWO as he landed at the bottom of the ladder) 😜