Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72774
Hmmmmmm, would look good on the front garden a la JC's Lightning!!
12th Aug 2010 7:02 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
I seem to recall that Clarkson has'nt got a Lightning, its a Fookin big Leaf Blower
12th Aug 2010 7:35 pm
BORDER ROVER
Member Since: 03 Dec 2007
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 1105
Yes please i will have 2. Cheap at half the price. POT NOODLE NAVIGATION CHALLENGE 2010 WINNER
Club Sankey
Club pie and peas
13th Aug 2010 8:08 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72774
Hold fire on that BR, looks like lots of Tornados will be looking for new lawns soon! This would look better on the grass!
13th Aug 2010 8:24 pm
disco_steve
Member Since: 25 Aug 2009
Location: Are you sure this is the M5 ?
Posts: 1498
You may have a longer wait than you realise for the Tornado fleet to start being 'sold off'
The Typhoon is no where near multi role ready (i.e. capable of delivering the vast array of weapons currently available) it is not anticipated to be remotely ready until at least 2015+ . . . and that is ignoring any problems or design issues yet to materialise
That leaves the ageing Tornados, yes they are pushing 30 years+ . . . . BUT . . . they are the ONLY aircraft currently in the RAF capable of a multi role long range sub sonic (just) weapons delivery platform that the UK have
Have a look at this if you think the Tornado is no longer at the forefront of our defence capability
I think you will find the recent media suggesting they will go by mid next year is propaganda, oops I mean spin at it's very best, it keeps the public (tax payer) quiet as they think the government is making savings within the MOD
Light touch paper and stand well back Never get mad - get even !!
06 D3 now gone to family member and still going strong at 265k
previous vehicles:
04 D2 TD5 - (clocked 189k from new)
52 X-Trail 2.2 SVE
various euro boxes !
14th Aug 2010 11:14 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72774
Bit like a year ago when the Nimrod MR2 was our main fixed wing SAR platform, then it got binned before the MR4A is ready. Sure sign that MR4A will be scrapped as politicos can say "we could do without it". Leased Rivet Joints to do the ELINT/C&C role & the name Nimrod is history! Besides something has to go for those stupid aircraft carriers so the RN can go on its beer soaked diplomatic jollies to pretend we are still a maritime power!
Rant continues!!
14th Aug 2010 11:35 am
disco_steve
Member Since: 25 Aug 2009
Location: Are you sure this is the M5 ?
Posts: 1498
Yep
Near where I live is a DLO supplies site, literally rammed with brand new army equipment, Landrovers and MAN 4x4 trucks, Tanks, bridges you name , it's in there, and then you hear on the news how desperate 'our boys' in Helmand are for kit and equipment . . . it's disgraceful beyond belief
Millions and Millions of £'s are sat around doing nothing, more millions are being spent on state of the art buildings on MOD sites all over the place, and the government has the absolute audacity to say it is 'hard up' and needs to make cuts, and WE will feel the pinch (especially when VAT goes up in Jan)
And as for the £42 million we pay to the EU every day . . . . that's
I feel a little bit better now Never get mad - get even !!
06 D3 now gone to family member and still going strong at 265k
previous vehicles:
04 D2 TD5 - (clocked 189k from new)
52 X-Trail 2.2 SVE
various euro boxes !
14th Aug 2010 11:58 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72774
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath!! Enough to drive you to drink!
14th Aug 2010 12:05 pm
Frapp
Member Since: 19 Dec 2008
Location: Norff Zummerzet
Posts: 1653
Steve.
I know where you mean
I wonder what the chances are for a peeky around that site
FrappMember of the carrot crank club
Embarrassingly in for the 2nd round, bought another two
D3 Jack Russell carrier
D4 Landmark for towing duties
15th Aug 2010 8:23 am
MARKW
Member Since: 29 Aug 2008
Location: SW
Posts: 2390
Steve
I'm going to bite now.
If we purchased 100 LR and sent them all to Afghan, what happens when 1 gets blown up?? We need to have a strategic reserve so we can send a replacement out.
I know we have just spent a few quid on the Benneli (sp) shotgun. We have sent X amount to theatre, X amount to train with and the remainder have gone to the reserve.
Unlike civvy industry where if you break a part all you lose is time and money. In my game if you break a truck,weapon etc it WILL cost lives. Hence you see all this kit lying around doing nothing.
Also the vehicles may be destined for theatre but need an upgrade of some sorts. Look at the slack handfull of Hercs we have that are in refurb at the moment. In their standard form they are unfit for theatre. They need a complete rewire. THis takes 9 months, plus a load of other upgrades to protect the crew and cargo be it troops or equipment.
Sorry rant off, soap box is now back in the cupboardHONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
They shall not grow old as those of us left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condem. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
15th Aug 2010 10:44 am
disco_steve
Member Since: 25 Aug 2009
Location: Are you sure this is the M5 ?
Posts: 1498
I agree . . .
but why are some of those vehicles getting on for 3 years old (still effectively brand new) and this one I love, are serviced every 12 months, inc changing the engine oil, even though they haven't moved (apart from the hanger to the workshop and back)
This is OUR taxes that pay for all this ridiculous practice
my soap box is getting empty, SWMBO keeps using it for the laundry Never get mad - get even !!
06 D3 now gone to family member and still going strong at 265k
previous vehicles:
04 D2 TD5 - (clocked 189k from new)
52 X-Trail 2.2 SVE
various euro boxes !
Steve, would you want to get in a vehicle in theatre when it had been sat there for 3 years and NOT serviced? Fluids degrade, oil channels dry up and moisture gets in. You buy reserve stock so it is available on the shelf when it's needed, you can't rely on a manufacturer neatly turning out the right vehicle in 24 hours.
Do you have a drawer in your house with spare lightbulbs and batteries or do you always wait for one to blow or batteries to die then buy just the right amount and type after a few hours in the dark?I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
15th Aug 2010 12:11 pm
MARKW
Member Since: 29 Aug 2008
Location: SW
Posts: 2390
It may seem strange but the servicing schedule of mil vehicles is overkill. Every day that a veh engine is started it has a first parade check. All levels, lights, damage etc. And a last parade at the end of the day. Again going through levels, lights damage etc. If you are in a tracked veh you "halt parades". If on a long move you stop for more than say 10 mins you have a series of checks to carry out.
If you don't drive a veh in any given month it still goes through the same checks but once a month.
This is all recorded and archived. THose that buy mil vehicles should get this hstory when you buy it. It lists all the major componants changed throughout it's service life.
THis way we know that when a veh comes from storage it should be in a fairly decent condition.HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
They shall not grow old as those of us left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condem. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
15th Aug 2010 2:15 pm
BORDER ROVER
Member Since: 03 Dec 2007
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 1105
The place being discussed here is the Veh depot at Ashchurch. This is the main veh storage site for the Army, the site has humidity controlled storage facilities and its where most vehs go before they are issued to various units around the world. The maintenance that the vehicles go through there are designed as someone mentioned to keep them ready for any situation. Whilst they are in the depot they are subject to the maintenance regime as laid down in the sevicing schedule (AESP 601).
As said it looks like a lot of money just sitting about but as MARKW has touched on there is a requirement to have what is known as a War Maintenance reserve. In such ops as the 2 Gulf Wars the vehicle are deployed and held in reserve by the RLC vehicle speacialists. POT NOODLE NAVIGATION CHALLENGE 2010 WINNER
Club Sankey
Club pie and peas
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This would look better on the grass!
day . . . . that's 
