Derek 2.0

The Black slaves traveled along highways to Central Canada? I always thought they took subways to Eastern Canada.......learn something new everyday...

Now that HMAS Canberra has been commissioned, the "discussion" encompassing the RAAF/RAN FAA purchasing additional F-35s, in this case the "B" STOVL variant, to operate off of her is heating up: From conversation with a retired RAN FAA Skyhawk driver, in my shared opinion, at some point, the RAN's LHDs will embark F-35Bs with Kangaroo roundels......even in such a limited capacity, organic fixed-winged maritime air brings tremendous capabilities to a medium sized navy such as the RAN.......or the RCN..... Of interest, the first commanding officer of HMAS Canberra is a Canadian by birth........

I guess its subjective......what might seem normal to the likes of you or I could seem "wacko" to another...

I've too read that, and don't doubt that the USMC would benefit from several extra full size decks, on a design more optimized for STOVL usage and cyclic fixed winged ops. Like USN carriers, the Royal Navies can operate a largish air wing, but in practice found a smaller wing on a large deck was more efficient........Also, with the British, their carriers will act as a large deck LHA.......suffice to say, the QEs will have interesting air wings going forward....

And I'd expect an additional ~10-12 aircraft to be bought in LRIP 9 to allow the initial joint RAF/RN FAA squadron to be stood up, likewise further personal from each service to be seconded to the USMC/USN to (re)gain carrier experience, so as to seamlessly (re)introduce carrier strike with the entrance into service of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales...

I said: They are deploying with British forces, well deployed, said forces will rotate from forward deployed treatment units to RFA Argus (this is the purpose of Argus, likewise the members of the Royal Marines, SBS, RAF and Fleet Air Arm, to support and provide relief to forces ashore). Canada can't deploy on its own, because we don't have the required training nor specialized equipment to operate safely in such an environment......hence why we're deploying in support of the British and not on our own....... And you were far from right, you suggested Canada should deploy DART/Field Hospital on our own hook, nowhere was it suggested Canadian Forces be deployed in support of an ally, an ally that can safely operate in such environments. Not only will a small cadre of Canadian Forces members receive specialized training prior, but also be granted real world experience well lending (indirect) humanitarian aid......this of course, in a controlled environment, will be a net-gain for the Canadian Forces.

Are you suggesting they aren't working with the British in Sierra Leone? From your link: Kerry Town TU was built and staffed by whom? And said British units are supported by whom? To add, the the RAF infectious aeromedical unit is already forward deployed to Ghana to support the joint British-Canadian mission....

Quite a difference between your suggestion earlier, versus training and deploying them with another experienced military, aboard a hospital ship, to treat Western healthcare professionals in what accounts as a modern, isolated, first world hospital.......Why do think we had no ability to evacuate infected personal prior, and why now do we?

Of course, said personal are receiving pre-deployment training from the British and then playing junior partners to the British (Deploying aboard a British Hospital ship and British field Hospital), whom as mentioned numerous times, have experience, training and equipment to operate in such environments, to treat Western healthcare workers in a controlled environment............quite different circumstances then your suggestion to "deploy DART" and "deploy a Canadian Field Hospital"...

Good point......what evidence do those that feel a grave injustice was just realized have and are remiss in submitting? I mean, if the Grand Jury was wrong, it should be easy to prove it.....

The PSNI/RUC of course had/have to contend with much more than teenage punks........hence carrying firearms, be you a Provo, cop or regular Joe only makes sense.......When in Ulster

And who will they vote for? The new Veterans Charter was tabled by the Liberals, and supported by both the Tories and NDP........

Based on the Libyan mission, similar in size and scope to the current Canadian mission in Iraq, I expect (based on 6 months to a year in length) this mission will cost several hundred million dollars outside of sunk costs.......As to the Governments response post 6 months, I'd expect the choice to be based on the "climate" within Iraq at that time.

Again, both myself and BC2000 are discussing several direct facets, in detail, that focus on this topic. Neither of us are insulting each other (or anyone else for that mater), we're not attempting to troll/bait other members, nor are we (as far as I know) breaking forum rules. Our focusing in on the costs Canada will pay, likewise the methods employed by the coalition in targeting ISIS from the air, coupled with modern technology utilized in reducing collateral damage are very much on topic...... This will be my last response to you on the mater, as I won't further partake in your attempt to derail and/or bait members in this thread.

Both methods of targeting ISIS and costings were asked/brought-up by other members (Big Guy and Eyeball) relating to this topic......we (myself and BC-2000) are discussing the topic at hand....Do you have anything worthwhile to add?

Israel doesn't look at a nuclear Iran as a political issue, to be leveraged to gain votes at home, but as an imminent threat that threatens its very existence, if the treaty bears no fruit, Israel can't not bomb Iran........

The latest as of ~5-6 years ago.......if there has been any block upgrades, we should get those also, as we've prepaid contractor support into the early 2020s (once the Hornet are replaced by the F-35).

It hasn't stopped SNIPER from being installed on the B-1 and B-52H, nor the F-35.......I don't doubt the physics of lasers in bad/humid weather, but it doesn't appear to have effected its employment.......Could you be thinking first-gen LANTIRN? Of course, the bulk of the Canadian contribution to ISR in Iraq will be from the CP-140(M)s in theater......

I had issues with it in the past, but I too agree that it is currently performing well, namely when the advice handed down (ignore the "trolls") is heeded.

Canada has no shortage of mk 82s and 84s, I don't know if JDAMs have been deployed or not (or if they will)......based on the the approval in the House to deployment I would guess they haven't, unless we prepositioned some in Kuwait prior........The SNIPER pod no workee in bad weather? Odd, the SNIPER pod is used on everything in your inventory and allowed the A-10s to be reborn an all weather attack aircraft.....I haven't heard anything negative about it in bad weather or night.

To add: An interesting load-out, with the sole AMRAAM.....I guess the newly founded ISIS air force plays into the threat matrix

100k seems rather high, both Paveway and JDAM kits are closer to 1/2-1/3rd such figure.......with that said, the referenced Canadian purchase in 2011 was for JDAMs, with only a handful used near the final stages of Operation Mobile, so your 100K per figure could also include introductory costs of adding the JDAM to the RCAF inventory.

For Canada? I would estimate once you've removed sunk costs, based on our military action in Libya, several hundred million dollars in additional allocated funding......but of course that depends on the length and continued scope of the mission.

I would be interested to know what forms your opinion that the "West" is consigned to a nuclear armed Iran? The development of such, if it doesn't beget an Israeli first strike, is a nuclear armed Saudi Arabia in short order, leading to an increased regional (nuclear) arms race between the three camps....The threat of an American military intervention is largely empty due to the current administration, but an Israeli strike shouldn't be discounted as hollow.

In past instances, that could very well be true (when the West isn't bombing baby food/medicine factories, places of worship, wedding/funeral parties and schools full of children), but presently in Iraq, allied forces are relying heavily upon their own ISR assets, such as UAVs, dedicated aircraft (like our CP-140s) and special forces on the ground to provide real-time telemetry targeting data for strike aircraft.