Granny001 posted a very interesting er post in Naval News V about the future of the RCN component of the CF
Using Granny001's post as a starting point
Full disclosure: I like the idea of our friend and ally having a powerful Navy
I miss these Fantasy Fleet discussions which stopped in 2005 when we all went boring and sensible
So I have no interest in picking holes in the feasibility of this plan
Amendments (or ‘amendments’):
For war fighting you need boats, you want to sink skimmers or deters the opposition's boats you need boats. Ideally they'd be SSNs but I shall make a pretence at realism by sticking to SSKs
Your MPAs are not going to last forever and I think the US and Russians have it right, Naval Aviation makes sense for operating MPAs
Your model does not include area air defence at a distance (tbf neither does current RCN)
I’m not convinced that you need quite so much expeditionary capability nor that it makes sense to have two separate classes
Don’t fall into the trap that the RN has by using expensive, high cost of operation assets for routine patrols, increase the number of patrol boats (handily this will also increase the number of posts for training the COs of your big units)
Since this an aviation fan forum
AEW is not only a Force multiplier but also vital to avoid being shot out of the sky
This force model is going to need political will and capital; let’s buy some from both Canadian parties by agreeing to a fudge which gets the RCAF lower hours airframes with twin engines
I don’t know enough about RFAs to comment on your AOR plans so I’ll leave them alone
So my suggestion
4 Juan Carlos LPD (2 on each coast)
18 SSK (9 on each coast)
24 Saab Swordfish MPA
(as with P3, half with ASW kit and half without for SAR, ASuW, Training, etc; 6 of each type on each coast)
16 T26 with Standard SM6 (8 on each coast)
12 Arctic Patrol (6 on each coast)
12 Saab Globaleye (4 on each coast, 4 in the middle)
All of the low hours classic F/A 18s possible from Australia, Finland, Spain
Using Granny001's post as a starting point
Full disclosure: I like the idea of our friend and ally having a powerful Navy
I miss these Fantasy Fleet discussions which stopped in 2005 when we all went boring and sensible
So I have no interest in picking holes in the feasibility of this plan
Amendments (or ‘amendments’):
For war fighting you need boats, you want to sink skimmers or deters the opposition's boats you need boats. Ideally they'd be SSNs but I shall make a pretence at realism by sticking to SSKs
Your MPAs are not going to last forever and I think the US and Russians have it right, Naval Aviation makes sense for operating MPAs
Your model does not include area air defence at a distance (tbf neither does current RCN)
I’m not convinced that you need quite so much expeditionary capability nor that it makes sense to have two separate classes
Don’t fall into the trap that the RN has by using expensive, high cost of operation assets for routine patrols, increase the number of patrol boats (handily this will also increase the number of posts for training the COs of your big units)
Since this an aviation fan forum
AEW is not only a Force multiplier but also vital to avoid being shot out of the sky
This force model is going to need political will and capital; let’s buy some from both Canadian parties by agreeing to a fudge which gets the RCAF lower hours airframes with twin engines
I don’t know enough about RFAs to comment on your AOR plans so I’ll leave them alone
So my suggestion
4 Juan Carlos LPD (2 on each coast)
18 SSK (9 on each coast)
24 Saab Swordfish MPA
(as with P3, half with ASW kit and half without for SAR, ASuW, Training, etc; 6 of each type on each coast)
16 T26 with Standard SM6 (8 on each coast)
12 Arctic Patrol (6 on each coast)
12 Saab Globaleye (4 on each coast, 4 in the middle)
All of the low hours classic F/A 18s possible from Australia, Finland, Spain
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