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February 18, 2009
Things that go bump .....
The collision between HMS Vanguard and FS Triomphe in mid-Atlantic is a testament to the effectiveness of stealth technology as fitted to these ships. It also highlights the dangers of using it. As usual the "safety" police are screaming blue murder about the dangers of allowing nuclear powered boats to charge about in the dark - but they miss the point entirely. No one is supposed to know where they are, except those that sent them out.
It speaks volumes that neither ship was able to detect the other and that, as a result, they ran into each other. The French ship seems to have suffered worse than the Vanguard, though both will need dockyard attention. Conventionally the UK and our other NATO partners tell each other where our ships are patrolling - not in detail, but certainly in general. How much detail is imparted is an open question since the whole point of these ships is to assure annihilation of any attacker. And telling the French with their record of passing on information to the enemy ....
A tricky question this, and one which will run and run, especially as this Labour shower of peaceniks and traitors are already trying to find excuses to close down the navy anyway. The enquiry will be an interesting one!
Posted by The Gray Monk at February 18, 2009 09:21 PM
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Comments
"interesting is a variable term"
Like most inquiries, it will be paid for, then ignored. I agree so much with your explanation of the sucessful cloaking. I can just imagine the Klingon expletive that escaped the helmsman's lips three seconds after contact.
Posted by: Colin at February 26, 2009 03:46 PM