During my 20 odd years at sea in the Royal Navy, there were two things you simply did not say. One was “I think corvettes are great, we should have loads of them” and “why don’t we bring back diesel-electric submarines”.
The reasoning was simple – do not do or say anything that might jeopardise exquisite platforms, such as nuclear powered submarines, aircraft carriers and high-end warfighting escorts. And it wasn’t just banter. I know at least two officers who had their careers ended for suggesting (in writing) that a modular corvette would be a useful thing to have. I suggested in my undergraduate degree thesis that getting rid of our diesel submarines was a mistake. If I had pulled a stunt like that as a commander, it would have ended badly.
The notion makes sense. Why wouldn’t the Navy want the best kit – platforms that can cover the entire spectrum of conflict from influence operations through the grey zone and up to a shooting war?
The problem comes when you want the best kit but the system doesn’t give you enough cash to support those noble ambitions. In the case of Defence, that sum has been insufficient now for over thirty years which is why in nearly every service and branch we now have some really good stuff but nowhere near enough of it.
During my 20 odd years at sea in the Royal Navy, there were two things you simply did not say. One was “I think corvettes are great, we should have loads of them” and “why don’t we bring back diesel-electric submarines”.
The reasoning was simple – do not do or say anything that might jeopardise exquisite platforms, such as nuclear powered submarines, aircraft carriers and high-end warfighting escorts. And it wasn’t just banter. I know at least two officers who had their careers ended for suggesting (in writing) that a modular corvette would be a useful thing to have. I suggested in my undergraduate degree thesis that getting rid of our diesel submarines was a mistake. If I had pulled a stunt like that as a commander, it would have ended badly.
The notion makes sense. Why wouldn’t the Navy want the best kit – platforms that can cover the entire spectrum of conflict from influence operations through the grey zone and up to a shooting war?
The problem comes when you want the best kit but the system doesn’t give you enough cash to support those noble ambitions. In the case of Defence, that sum has been insufficient now for over thirty years which is why in nearly every service and branch we now have some really good stuff but nowhere near enough of it.