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Uk defences

(130 Posts)
fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 12:08:07

The Uk navy is the most depleted since 1642.

If the US decides to stop funding NATO, where does that leave the Uk and Europe?
Especially against a possible landgrab by Russia, in the Eastern Countries of Europe. At some, maybe not too distant point.

And this assumes that the US doesnt help Russia.

We could be left in a quite precarious position.

Hopefully and prayerfully, things wont get to the worst case scenarios.

petra Sat 28-Mar-26 16:37:51

Allira

Doodledog

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

I imagine that a lot of things are secret from all who don't need to know. Why else do we have MI5 and MI6?

I am more than capable of 'a quick google', but I imagine that state secrets are not readily available on there. Do you somehow know differently?

There is really no need to be so dismissive. Are you deliberately setting yourself up in opposition to everyone?

That is why I used that emoji 🤫 which fancythat misunderstood.
Perhaps 🤐 might be clearer.

If she/he has somehow stumbled across State Secrets by accident, then really, she needs to not spread them on social media.

I don’t think there’s any fear of that. 😂

petra Sat 28-Mar-26 16:26:43

plus how many secrets are really secrets nowadays
What do people think goes on at Vauxhall Cross.
Our SIS didn’t build that huge complex just to entertain foreign dignitaries.
I met a spy in the 80s through a friend.
We were in a yacht club in Burnham on Crouch. Our friend saw someone at the bar he recognised. He went over to talk to him. When he came back to our table he explained who he was.
In the 80s my friend was on nuclear submarines. One night he was told to prepare the inflatable to take someone ashore.
That was the man in the yacht club. They dropped him off at an east European country.
He always referred to Vauxhall Cross as the office 😉

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 16:25:16

I dont know those emoijs Allira.
Doesnt help I cant see them properly at all, either!
They all look the same to me[and I dont know what they mean either], no matter how hard I squint.

From ^Allira I am getting accused of knowing too much[which is strange when she quotes that I dont know things[s

And from Doodledog that we dont know things.

I think I will leave things there!

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 16:21:14

Everyone

Really?
Are you kidding me?!

I do know things are not always as secret as people would like to think.

The dark web is just a mini example.
And no I dont go on there.
Hackers.
People who talk who shouldnt.

I will say no more.

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 16:16:32

Doodledog

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

I imagine that a lot of things are secret from all who don't need to know. Why else do we have MI5 and MI6?

I am more than capable of 'a quick google', but I imagine that state secrets are not readily available on there. Do you somehow know differently?

There is really no need to be so dismissive. Are you deliberately setting yourself up in opposition to everyone?

That is why I used that emoji 🤫 which fancythat misunderstood.
Perhaps 🤐 might be clearer.

If she/he has somehow stumbled across State Secrets by accident, then really, she needs to not spread them on social media.

Doodledog Sat 28-Mar-26 16:09:12

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

I imagine that a lot of things are secret from all who don't need to know. Why else do we have MI5 and MI6?

I am more than capable of 'a quick google', but I imagine that state secrets are not readily available on there. Do you somehow know differently?

There is really no need to be so dismissive. Are you deliberately setting yourself up in opposition to everyone?

Elegran Sat 28-Mar-26 16:04:08

" Casdon Sat 28-Mar-26 14:19:37 It is happening already."

It has probably not been loudly advertised to the world, because in an uncertain global atmosphere it is not advisable to publicise too thoroughly exactly what your armaments are.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:58:33

Soldiers on the ground and debating bravery are useless leftovers from the past,

Cant agree with that bit.

That is what Trump may do.

He cant "finish things off" , whatever that means, without them.

Looks like they wil go in.
The situation over there is getting worse, as regards the sea at least.
Ships and drones and whatever else you quoted is only doing things up to a point.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:55:56

And so what if someone doesnt know something.

We find out. Or dont.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:55:18

Allira

^That is 3 times with that emoji.^

Actually, it's not, look more closely

Then I have no clue.
Oh well.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:54:53

Allira

^I dont know what it means^

Exactly this!

Nope. Still dont get the emoji. It can mean that. can it?

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 15:54:33

That is 3 times with that emoji.

Actually, it's not, look more closely

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:54:28

^I imagine they are frustrated and say no more than a bit of research would tell us anyway.
^

Quite.

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 15:53:46

I dont know what it means

Exactly this!

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:53:18

Allira

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Of course it does! But don't post anything, they are Official Secrets 🤫

Hackers can hack into just about anything.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:52:32

I dont understand you previous comment either.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:51:54

That is 3 times with that emoji.
I dont know what it means.

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 15:49:38

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Of course it does! But don't post anything, they are Official Secrets 🤫

Granatlast007 Sat 28-Mar-26 15:43:30

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

I imagine they are frustrated and say no more than a bit of research would tell us anyway.

Looking at Ukraine and now the Iran situation, it's clear that modern warfare is a totally different business with satellite surveillance, drone warfare, ballistic missiles which can be aimed relatively accurately towards a target 000s of kilometres away and propaganda, Russian submarines snooping on coastlines, surveying cables to cut.

Few of us can know more than the tip of the iceberg of the details. Soldiers on the ground and debating bravery are useless leftovers from the past, AI based tactical warfare is what happens and civilians are unfortunate die by chance.

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 15:33:36

fancythat

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

🤔 again

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:28:00

Is money wasted, not spent wisely or should we be paying more in tax?

Probably all of it.

Though it also depends on how much defences other Countries have.

I was surprised to read today how advanced the Israeli armed forces are.

I was going to make the thread about other Countires' defences as well.
But didnt.

fancythat Sat 28-Mar-26 15:23:55

^What I genuinely don't understand is why people, often 'top brass' types from the armed forces and security services so often tell us (and therefore the world) that we are vulnerable to attack, and how we would struggle to survive if Russia or Iran decided to launch an offensive.
^

I imagine a quick google informs anyone.

Plus, how many secrets are really secrets nowadays?

Allira Sat 28-Mar-26 15:18:24

Granatlast007

Allira

fancythat

Where does it say that?
Pretty sure it doesnt.

And what about education?

I would rather not have to report you petra.
So I wont for now.

🤔

Absolutely, the navy and armed forces have been downgraded in a world which seemed safer not so long ago. So many things needing funding, no one wanting to pay taxes, we seem to be living a dangerous divine where people announce they only want to pay for what they themselves use (eg, why should I pay for education if I don't have children), but expect top quality infrastructure, mended roads, services provided, governments who leap to bring you home immediately if you happen to have holidayed somewhere where trouble has broken out and so on.

Expectations have gone through the roof with a whole load of shouting and demands and little attention to reality.

Well thanks to Russia and the orange man, a reality check has arrived, I wish we could all take a step back and think about supporting instead of shouting.

Obviously, as we go about our daily lives, we worry about the things that impact on us such as wrecking a car wheel on a pothole full of water, not being able to access NHS care, the debt that some young people are accumulating gaining an education ewtc.

I really don't know why, in a country which is supposedly wealthy, we can't provide good services, including maintaining a modern and fit-for-purpose Armed Forces as an insurance in an unpredictable world.

It's not just this Government, it is successive Governments at fault.

Is money wasted, not spent wisely or should we be paying more in tax?

Norah Sat 28-Mar-26 15:10:26

Doodledog I am the first to acknowledge that I am in no position to know the truth, but equally, I think that the general population never (and should never) know the truth about things like defence and national security. Everything we are told, our enemies also know.

I don't know anyone who is in forces, or any GN with knowledge, however, it seems considerably too many 'talking heads' talk too much.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 28-Mar-26 15:02:27

Doodledog totally agree 👍