The med conflict I meant was Libya. The Ark Royal and Harriers were decommissioned on 11th March 2011, UK military action started on 19th March 2011.

I guess I missed the humiliating defeat bit.

Me too.

My point being, did your military really NEED Harriers and carriers, or did they just WANT Harriers and carriers?

Falklands proved that point.

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The med conflict I meant was Libya. The Ark Royal and Harriers were decommissioned on 11th March 2011, UK military action started on 19th March 2011.

I guess I missed the humiliating defeat bit.

Me too.

My point being, did your military really NEED Harriers and carriers, or did they just WANT Harriers and carriers?

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The med conflict I meant was Libya. The Ark Royal and Harriers were decommissioned on 11th March 2011, UK military action started on 19th March 2011.

I guess I missed the humiliating defeat bit.

Me too.

And Navy experts say they could have done with a carrier and Harriers in recent Med area conflicts, rather than sending planes from Scotland.

They always want more Chris. I rephrase the question: how much more tax are you willing to pay to avoid repeating your humiliating defeat in the recent Med area conflict?

Also, which Med area conflict was that? I guess I missed the humiliating defeat bit.

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You can't save them all Chris, there isn't enough time or money or dock space

No we can't Bill, that is obvious, But the ARk Royal was rather more special than most. And Navy experts say they could have done with a carrier and Harriers in recent Med area conflicts, rather than sending planes from Scotland.

You can't save them all Chris, there isn't enough time or money or dock space. You could publish equally "upsetting" (to somebody) photos of planes, tanks, truck, fire engines, train locomotives, etc. being recycled. I felt a few moments sadness when the last drafting machines left my place of employment back in the 1980s. Where are the drafting machines and slide rules that laid out the lines of the Ark Royal? Why weren't they saved? Where does this stop?

As for the MOD people being ashamed, you should be asking did they get a fair price for the scrap metal? That is what you pay them to do.

How much are you willing to pay in extra taxes to save and maintain the old hardware? I spend a lot of time tracking down "preserved" ex-military aircraft, and often find them disolving in the weeds somewhere because they were "saved" by somebody who didn't understand the upkeep process and costs. That is probably sadder than knowing the airplane had been recycled into something useful.

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Gives them chance to start work on the sixth Ark Royal.

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

Thankyou ID. Many many people in the UK are very angry at her fate, many years before she could have served out her operational life. And yes, she could have been a floating museum, a fitting end to her service. If I ever meet certain people face to face they will regret it, I can promise you that.

+1

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Must not conflict resolve by suggesting that someone should go sit on an ice pick...

Thankyou ID. Many many people in the UK are very angry at her fate, many years before she could have served out her operational life. And yes, she could have been a floating museum, a fitting end to her service. If I ever meet certain people face to face they will regret it, I can promise you that.

Better you see the inside or her like that, rather than like this:

Why not a floating museum?

My father was in tears when the U.S.S. New Jersey was decommissioned.

I'm sorry for your loss.

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Must not conflict resolve by suggesting that someone should go sit on an ice pick...

Certain people in the British MOD and the Government, should be completely and utterly ashamed of themselves and perfectly rightly too. I wonder how they sleep at night and look their families in the face. They will go down in history as totally infamous and serve them damn well right too.

Warning - For those of a nervous disposition the following images may prove to be distressing.

Sad news