Comments on: Max Hastings has a pop at the Royal Navy http://www.economicvoice.com/max-hastings-has-a-pop-at-the-royal-navy/5003614 The Economic Voice weblog Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:54:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kate Nesbitt – first Royal Navy female MC « The Economic Voice http://www.economicvoice.com/max-hastings-has-a-pop-at-the-royal-navy/5003614/comment-page-1#comment-609 Kate Nesbitt – first Royal Navy female MC « The Economic Voice Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:37:04 +0000 http://www.economicvoice.com/?p=3614#comment-609 [...] are ready to step up to the mark to be counted and do their job. The recent operation involving the RFA Wave Knight and Mr and Mrs Chandler, which attracted some adverse comment about the Royal Navy, was not a failure of front line staff [...] [...] are ready to step up to the mark to be counted and do their job. The recent operation involving the RFA Wave Knight and Mr and Mrs Chandler, which attracted some adverse comment about the Royal Navy, was not a failure of front line staff [...]

]]> By: Kari Reinikainen http://www.economicvoice.com/max-hastings-has-a-pop-at-the-royal-navy/5003614/comment-page-1#comment-585 Kari Reinikainen Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:11:21 +0000 http://www.economicvoice.com/?p=3614#comment-585 As noted in previous comments, Wave Knight is not a warship, but a naval tanker and its crew are civilians and not naval personnel. The tone of the article is well in line with the general principle of the said publication, whereby everything is run down. They appear to frequently lament the lack of respect people in their view show, yet one can ask what exactly is it that the said publication respects? In any case, the Rules of Engagement are a key issue here and by allowing warships to pursue and destroy pirate' vessels and accepting that this could lead to pirate casualties, the issue could probably be tackled more efficiently. The current half-hearted action of not just RN but at least European navies in the region in general seems to focus more on enshrining the human rights of the pirates and avoiding litigation etc. As noted in previous comments, Wave Knight is not a warship, but a naval tanker and its crew are civilians and not naval personnel.

The tone of the article is well in line with the general principle of the said publication, whereby everything is run down. They appear to frequently lament the lack of respect people in their view show, yet one can ask what exactly is it that the said publication respects?

In any case, the Rules of Engagement are a key issue here and by allowing warships to pursue and destroy pirate’ vessels and accepting that this could lead to pirate casualties, the issue could probably be tackled more efficiently.

The current half-hearted action of not just RN but at least European navies in the region in general seems to focus more on enshrining the human rights of the pirates and avoiding litigation etc.

]]> By: James Daly http://www.economicvoice.com/max-hastings-has-a-pop-at-the-royal-navy/5003614/comment-page-1#comment-576 James Daly Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:28:53 +0000 http://www.economicvoice.com/?p=3614#comment-576 The previous comment is quite right. The RFA's are not equipped or trained to fight Pirates, and if succesive Governments had not cut the number of Frigates and Destroyers we would not be expecting tankers to go in all guns blazing. Even a Royal Navy ship would not be able to go in all guns blazing at will. And while it is of course unfortunate that kidnappings happen, sadly anyone sailing off the East Coast of Africa is taking their fate in their own hands at the moment. The previous comment is quite right. The RFA’s are not equipped or trained to fight Pirates, and if succesive Governments had not cut the number of Frigates and Destroyers we would not be expecting tankers to go in all guns blazing. Even a Royal Navy ship would not be able to go in all guns blazing at will. And while it is of course unfortunate that kidnappings happen, sadly anyone sailing off the East Coast of Africa is taking their fate in their own hands at the moment.

]]> By: David Bryan http://www.economicvoice.com/max-hastings-has-a-pop-at-the-royal-navy/5003614/comment-page-1#comment-571 David Bryan Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:13:31 +0000 http://www.economicvoice.com/?p=3614#comment-571 Wave Knight is not a Royal Navy vessel, it is a Royal Fleet Auxilliary. These vessels are deployed to support the Royal Navy. Wave Knight is actually a tanker - she is armed (albeit lightly). RFA's are expected to go into harms way, but are manned by civilians (merchant seamen). The RFA ships belong to the MOD. They undertake essential and potentially dangerous work in support of the fleet. Max Hastings is missing the point. This situation wouldn't have arisen if the Royal Navy was equipped with adequate numbers of fighting ships (frigates and destroyers). RFA's now find themselves being deployed to the fill the gaps. This wont be the first time nor will it be the last. In my view the rise of the Pirates can be attributed to our own fleets decline. Wave Knight is not a Royal Navy vessel, it is a Royal Fleet Auxilliary. These vessels are deployed to support the Royal Navy. Wave Knight is actually a tanker – she is armed (albeit lightly). RFA’s are expected to go into harms way, but are manned by civilians (merchant seamen). The RFA ships belong to the MOD. They undertake essential and potentially dangerous work in support of the fleet. Max Hastings is missing the point. This situation wouldn’t have arisen if the Royal Navy was equipped with adequate numbers of fighting ships (frigates and destroyers). RFA’s now find themselves being deployed to the fill the gaps. This wont be the first time nor will it be the last. In my view the rise of the Pirates can be attributed to our own fleets decline.

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