Strikes on Houthi Targets Again

Chunkylad said:
Normally just follow the money trail. Who is financially damaged the most by Houthi activity or who gains the most from bombing them to smithereens?
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I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.

Or are they happy as well just to sit back and let others do all the dirty work? 🤷‍♂️
 
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Don’t worry lads our former buddies in the EU are firmly behind us (or so they say) but they’d sooner someone else do the dirty work in case of any reprisals and we’ve already carried out air raids previously so a no brainer.

Sound all too familiar? 🇪🇺 🤷‍♂️
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Is this not more likely to be a NATO decision rather than anything to do with the EU?
 
If Trump becomes president he will insist that European countries contribute more to defense spending in line with their NATO commitments. On this I happen to agree with Trump - most of Europe will support this action (and China for that matter), but are more than happy for somebody else to do it. They need to step up. Ultimately Iran are behind all of this and are probably hoping to draw the US into another proxy war. There is potential for escalation and all out conflict in the middle east. Very worrying times.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.

Or are they happy as well just to sit back and let others do all the dirty work? 🤷‍♂️
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Could be they’re insured by Western finance and they’re at an advantage when one is attacked perhaps?
 
Upwards said:
Is this not more likely to be a NATO decision rather than anything to do with the EU?
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I’m honestly don’t know.

I didn’t think NATO were involved and if they were then surely we would see many other countries involved in this particular issue but I stand corrected.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe. 🤷‍♂️
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It`s not odd at all. Chinese (and Russian) ships are not under attack from the Houthis: they have been granted safe passage...
 
spudgun said:
It`s not odd at all. Chinese (and Russian) ships are not under attack from the Houthis: they have been granted safe passage...
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So why is that then?

Are you saying it’s a case of whoever is backing Israel then only them are effected?

If that’s the case I go back to my original question then where’s the Dutch, French, German, Belgian airforces as they are all NATO members?
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
I find it rather odd why China hasn’t joined in and carried out air strikes as probably 7 out of 10 ships that pass through this area must be Chinese owned heading to/from Europe.

Or are they happy as well just to sit back and let others do all the dirty work? 🤷‍♂️
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The Houthis are backed by Iran, Iran is backed by China, if they wanted the attacks to stop then all China would need to do is say, stop the attacks.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
So why is that then?

Are you saying it’s a case of whoever is backing Israel then only them are effected?

If that’s the case I go back to my original question then where’s the Dutch, French, German, Belgian airforces as they are all NATO members?
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NATO are not actively involved in the disput, although they will provide intelligence, so the countries mentioned would be acting outside of NATO, as Britain has decided to do. Nothing to do with the EU either, so no agenda there for you to inflate...
 
spudgun said:
NATO are not actively involved in the disput, although they will provide intelligence, so the countries mentioned would be acting outside of NATO, as Britain has decided to do. Nothing to do with the EU either, so no agenda there for you to inflate...
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No my agenda is we are doing everyone else’s dirty work like in the past and like it’ll always be.

It’s easy for all these other countries to sit back and “verbally” support us.

It’s like the play ground bully at school why should you fight him if someone else offers to do it for you?

If you don't see it that way then fair enough.
 
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spudgun said:
NATO are not actively involved in the disput, although they will provide intelligence, so the countries mentioned would be acting outside of NATO, as Britain has decided to do. Nothing to do with the EU either, so no agenda there for you to inflate...
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Sorry NATO are involved not all directly but will be in some form and as you say intelligence.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
No my agenda is we are doing everyone else’s dirty work like in the past and like it’ll always be.

It’s easy for all these other countries to sit back and “verbally” support us.

It’s like the play ground bully at school why should you fight him if someone else offers to do it for you?

If you don't see it that way then fair enough.
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The other countries you mention don't have the capability to mount the strikes that we and the US do, in fact I'm not completely sure how we're able to do it.

The Belgians/Dutch have F16's that would run out of fuel somewhere over Germany, the Germans at least have Typhoons, but they don't have the tankers to refuel them so that would only take them as far as Serbia.

Only the French might have the ability to conduct strikes off the Charles de Gaulle, but as she's currently tied up alongside in Toulon that's not on the cards either.
 
Lost Seasider said:
The other countries you mention don't have the capability to mount the strikes that we and the US do, in fact I'm not completely sure how we're able to do it.

The Belgians/Dutch have F16's that would run out of fuel somewhere over Germany, the Germans at least have Typhoons, but they don't have the tankers to refuel them so that would only take them as far as Serbia.

Only the French might have the ability to conduct strikes off the Charles de Gaulle, but as she's currently tied up alongside in Toulon that's not on the cards either.
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German Typhoons do have an inflight refueling capability and can use the same tankers as the UK Typhoons as can Spanish and Italian Typhoons.
 
Lost Seasider said:
The other countries you mention don't have the capability to mount the strikes that we and the US do, in fact I'm not completely sure how we're able to do it.

The Belgians/Dutch have F16's that would run out of fuel somewhere over Germany, the Germans at least have Typhoons, but they don't have the tankers to refuel them so that would only take them as far as Serbia.

Only the French might have the ability to conduct strikes off the Charles de Gaulle, but as she's currently tied up alongside in Toulon that's not on the cards either.
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Ever thought of allowing these countries airforces to use RAF Akrotiri then?

That’s not a criticism by the way but there’s clearly ways around it.

The RAF and United States Airforce can both support in flight refuelling for them.

Let’s not forget we carried out the bombing of Port Stanley airfield over 40 years ago so distance isn’t a problem

Clearly it’s never been brought up I’m assuming. 🤷‍♂️
 
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TangerineBayern said:
German Typhoons do have an inflight refueling capability and can use the same tankers as the UK Typhoons as can Spanish and Italian Typhoons.
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Ever thought of allowing these countries airforces to use RAF Akrotiri then?

That’s not a criticism by the way but there’s clearly ways around it.

The RAF and United States Airforce can both support in flight refuelling for them.

Let’s not forget we carried out the bombing of Port Stanley airfield over 40 years ago so distance isn’t a problem

Clearly it’s never been brought up I’m assuming. 🤷‍♂️
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Since the Germans don't have their own tankers, my guess is that in-flight refuelling isn't something that their pilots are practised in, and I don't think that's a skill you want to learn during a live mission.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Since the Germans don't have their own tankers, my guess is that in-flight refuelling isn't something that their pilots are practised in, and I don't think that's a skill you want to learn during a live mission.
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Yes I understand that but i don’t think France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Spain, to name but 5 airforces have the same issues?
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Yes I understand that but i don’t think France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Spain, to name but 5 airforces have the same issues?
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In fact, I was wrong, although the Germans don't have a dedicated tanker they do have aircraft that fill the role, so yes, as ever, the rest of Europe is happy to freeload.

In any event, it's good training and experience for our pilots, so why let the Germans spoil the fun?
 
Can you imagine if the PM embargoed any imports from China.

Firstly we would literally grind to a halt within days as almost every single thing we buy every day has China all over it (even food because of packaging etc).

Secondly Michelle Mone would set up a production plant company that she gets no benefit from and win a massive tender to import whatever we need (and that’ll be from China but she will be shocked to find that out as she thought her plants were in Kilmarnock)
 
Lost Seasider said:
In fact, I was wrong, although the Germans don't have a dedicated tanker they do have aircraft that fill the role, so yes, as ever, the rest of Europe is happy to freeload.

In any event, it's good training and experience for our pilots, so why let the Germans spoil the fun?
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All Typhoon aircraft especially for the 4 Nations of UK/GE/SP/IT have an inflight refueling capability and as such the aircrew are fully trained in operating the system which is obviously very difficult and challenging especially at night time. At a good guess l would say that none of these countries have dedicated tankers but will have other sources.

defence-industry.eu

Fighter jets train air-to-air-refueling above Germany

On February 6, 2023, an A-330 MRTT aircraft conducted air-to-air refueling training over Germany with eight Eurofighters providing training for both jet pilots and refueling crews.
defence-industry.eu defence-industry.eu
 
Other countries should be doing more to stop the Houthis, but appear content not to do so & instead watch us & the US face future retaliation. Netherland appear to be the only other EU country involved. This was reported after the first airstrikes, although the degree of their involvement wasn't reported.
"The joint statement said the strikes were carried out with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands."
 
Nothing but a political move of self promotion from little Rishi to try and make himself look hard.

Oh and that Sleepy Joe told him he had to do it.

More millions spunked away.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Portsmouth I think.

I'd suggest moving a handful of fast jets from Cyprus is probably a little bit cheaper and easier than moving and 65,000 ton CV from the UK to the gulf.
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It might sound daft but I’m not sure the F-35’s are fully cleared for war just yet hence why the Typhoons are being used and they are not carrier based aircraft hence why we’re using the base at Akrotiri so little point in any of the carriers being there really.

Same situation like when we carried out air strikes in Libya we used the Tornado and not the Typhoons which we’re just coming into service.

The Yanks are using cruise missiles and F-18 Hornets from the carriers not their F-35’s.
 
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
It might sound daft but I’m not sure the F-35’s are fully cleared for war just yet hence why the Typhoons are being used and they are not carrier based aircraft hence why we’re using the base at Akrotiri.

Same situation like when we carried out air strikes in Libya we used the Tornado and not the Typhoons which we’re just coming into service.

The Yanks are using cruise missiles and F-18 Hornets from the carriers not their F-35’s.
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Could be, but either way, there doesn't seem to a great deal of point in sending QE 8,000+ km when we've got an air base within range of the target already.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
It might sound daft but I’m not sure the F-35’s are fully cleared for war just yet hence why the Typhoons are being used and they are not carrier based aircraft hence why we’re using the base at Akrotiri so little point in any of the carriers being there really.

Same situation like when we carried out air strikes in Libya we used the Tornado and not the Typhoons which we’re just coming into service.

The Yanks are using cruise missiles and F-18 Hornets from the carriers not their F-35’s.
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Typhoons were used in Libya Jaffa
 
TangerineBayern said:
Typhoons were used in Libya Jaffa
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Didn't we carry out air strikes in Syria/Iraq against ISIS some years back? Probably getting mixed up with that only I remember the Tornado being used for sorties for the very last time not long before it was retired.

The last ones were retired in early 2019 but they were being phased out since around 2017/18 so sure the last attacks by Tornados would have been around 2015/16 on these ISIS positions.
 
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Didn't we carry out air strikes in Syria/Iraq against ISIS some years back? Probably getting mixed up with that only I remember the Tornado being used for sorties for the very last time not long before it was retired.

The last ones were retired in early 2019 but they were being phased out since around 2017 so sure the last attacks by them were around 2015/16.
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Tornado GR4s did the 'heavy lifting' in Libya and Typhoons were in support, and you’re also correct the GR4s were also deployed against ISIS before being retired.
 
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