The Eutopian Military Thinktank

[Petrarca]

Like you say, we will need to move towards lighter formations in general, and the existing units already organized along those lines are perfect for such a reformation.

I think that in our discussions we came up with serious objections to using the F-16. I doubt the US would lease us the planes, given that we will have just come out from under an arms embargo. Even if we could buy them at fire-sale prices, it would burden us with an aircraft that isn't suited to our needs. Russian planes have poor electronics and would force us to buy Russian in parts and weaponry.

We don't need the capability to storm a hostile coast with the equivalent of two battalions. That is what the Wasp gives us, and there is a reason that no other fleet besides the USN possesses such large vessels. Smaller vessels- the Rotterdam being the largest I would consider- are plenty in terms of both cost and effectiveness.

I don't think hand weapons are that large of an issue. It seems like a simple enough matter for ENDTech to resolve or for the military to solicit foreign contracts. There is no large difference between the various makes anyway.

 

[HJ Tulp]

Why don't we need the ability to do a seaborn invasion?

 

[Petrarca]

Why don't we need the ability to do a seaborn invasion?

Commander, I didn't say that. What I did say was that we don't need a 45,000 ton ship to land more than two thousand Marines onto an opposed beachhead against enemy fire. It's an operation we have neither the ability to support nor the need to execute. We do not need mass of that scale; we need flexibility with smaller units. I won't have dreams of the sands of Iwo Jima encourage the idea that we need something of that scale. There are plenty of other, more sensible options for amphibious and sealift capability.

 

[HJ Tulp]

So what should we do according to you sir if terrorists from a African country attack us?

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Doesn't our capital seem a bit exposed?

Without assuming anything about the re-unification position of whatever party wins the upcoming elections, it apears that our once centrally located capital district is now inconveniently on the periphery of Eutopia. Does this think tank have a view on that?

Loic de Fourgéres, New Lancaster

 

[unmerged(24047)]

I speak on a totally personal point of view, don't take my words as in any way realted to the official Thinktank statements, but is my strong belief that the Seccessionist states will one day understand that Eutopia is our common Home, and return our Island to unity. So i think that the "exposition" of E.City is a temporary situation, and doesn't need attention or action.

 

[The_Hawk]

I agree. No one seems to want hostile relations between Tilapia, St. Esprit and the UPE, so having our capital close to their border shouldn't be a problem. Moving it away would only serve to display suspicion of our new neighbors (in addition to being horrendously expensive.)

 

[unmerged(24047)]

Goin back to our issues, and answering to Admiral Tulp, i think that we must admit that right now, if a foreign country attacks us we cannot do much to respond.

 

[unmerged(24868)]

A man stumbles in the door though he carries himself well. He is sharply dressed in a Captain's Uniform.

"Bonjour, Captain Beauregard. I do not see the point of having a military think tank without a sufficent number of military officers. Don't you agree?"

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Goin back to our issues, and answering to Admiral Tulp, i think that we must admit that right now, if a foreign country attacks us we cannot do much to respond.

We could do even less if, hypothetically speaking, all of the current concripts were released immediately from their current terms of service, instead of fulfilling their original obligation. Obviously, some that don't plan to re-enlist could be let go a month early if recruitment is ahead of plan, but just to let them go would seem a bit drastic. Has your fine institution institution had any real input into the bill that Minister Hawkton Tilly's press release says has been drafted? With the UP having a six vote slam dunk majority in the GA, it could pass before you even have a chance to testify. We had better hope the new Senate exercises some appropriate restraint.

Or do you feel that the quality and/or morale of the conscripts is so low that our armed forces are better off without them, even if no immediate replacements are available?

 

[Petrarca]

So what should we do according to you sir if terrorists from a African country attack us?

Mister Tulp, if you are going to impugn my commitment to the defense of this country then I suggest continuing with your current tone.

Proposing that hypothetical is a little insulting after I've already declared that the fleet's amphibious capability should be composed of smaller, more numerous vessels.

 

[HJ Tulp]

I'm sorry if I have insulted you sir. That was not my intention. I am seriously asking what we should do if terrorists from a african country attack us. You propose the San Giorgio class. I disagree with that. As neutral country without ANY allies we can not count on support from nations with large Amphibious capabilities. That means we have to have it ourselves. A Wasp class vessel would give us that. For flexibility we can have one or two Rotterdam class vessels. And if a Wasp Class vessel is totally out of the question I have a number of ideas to give our military the firepower it would need. Anyway in my humble opinion the Rotterdam class is far superior over the San Giorgio.

 

[Petrarca]

I'm sorry if I have insulted you sir. That was not my intention. I am seriously asking what we should do if terrorists from a african country attack us. You propose the San Giorgio class. I disagree with that. As neutral country without ANY allies we can not count on support from nations with large Amphibious capabilities. That means we have to have it ourselves. A Wasp class vessel would give us that. For flexibility we can have one or two Rotterdam class vessels. And if a Wasp Class vessel is totally out of the question I have a number of ideas to give our military the firepower it would need. Anyway in my humble opinion the Rotterdam class is far superior over the San Giorgio.

Do I need to repeat myself, Mister Tulp? What you propose is to purchase the largest amphibious vessel in the world, for a cost of $1.5 billion dollars, so that the country can have a wildly unnecessary toy. The manpower requirements and financial expenses of having a Wasp is entirely prohibitive.

We are not repeating Iwo Jima, Mister Tulp. We can do it ourselves according to my proposal.

I think the Wasp class of amphibious assault ships are too large to be reasonable options. They weigh in at over 40,000 tons and can carry more than twenty helos and launch an entire combat-ready Marine Expeditionary Force (a heavily reinforced battalion) onto hostile shores. Two vessels equal in size to the Rotterdam class would be more than necessary to fulfill our needs to project a land presence overseas. Smaller vessels such as the Galicia or San Giorgio types would probably be better suited to our needs. And a high-speed transport such as the Jervis Bay would be a highly valuable complement to our sealift capacity.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Thoughts on the military audit

The audit recently published in Newslink gives us all food for thought. I know it is traditional, but it is really optimal maintaining three separate military services here? Also, the procurement suggestions mentioned here are, for the most part, so 20th Century. Why argue between Eurofighters, Rafales, and other manned aircraft when remotely piloted aircraft, like the Predator and improvements thereof are much much cheaper (both initially and on an on-going basis). I am not saying we can dispense with manned aircraft, but they shouldn't play the primary role. Likewise, using off the shelf technology, but with some new programs, it would possible to build a destroyer that could be crewed by just 70 men, instead of 300. That would mean smaller crew spaces, fewer supplies, etc. leading to lower cost and higher performance. Eutopia can't really afford a traditional approach at this time, or we will end up still mired with second rate effectiveness.

 

[unmerged(27050)]

The audit recently published in Newslink gives us all food for thought. I know it is traditional, but it is really optimal maintaining three separate military services here? Also, the procurement suggestions mentioned here are, for the most part, so 20th Century. Why argue between Eurofighters, Rafales, and other manned aircraft when remotely piloted aircraft, like the Predator and improvements thereof are much much cheaper (both initially and on an on-going basis). I am not saying we can dispense with manned aircraft, but they shouldn't play the primary role. Likewise, using off the shelf technology, but with some new programs, it would possible to build a destroyer that could be crewed by just 70 men, instead of 300. That would mean smaller crew spaces, fewer supplies, etc. leading to lower cost and higher performance. Eutopia can't really afford a traditional approach at this time, or we will end up still mired with second rate effectiveness.

I don't know. Automated warships and airplanes? Sounds... disturbing.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

I don't know. Automated warships and airplanes? Sounds... disturbing.

Automated warships and airplanes would indeed be disturbing, like the opening sequence of a bad science fiction film, but it is not what I am suggesting. The Predator drones are remotely-piloted by someone on the ground or at a console in an AWACS-type plane. For them, it is just like playing Flight Simulator or some air combat video game. Wouldn't that be a neat inducement to get new recruits, given that the draft is likely to be a thing of the past? The higher performance models can do things that no piloted aircraft can do, like pull 12 g's in a turn, because the pilot wouldn't survive.

The warships, would be semi-automated, but their would still be a human captain, officers, and technically adept crew, who would have a higher concentration of petty officers than traditional navies. The proposals being bandied about to abolish the draft, it appears that our navy personnel will soon match that profile.

 

[unmerged(27050)]

Automated warships and airplanes would indeed be disturbing, like the opening sequence of a bad science fiction film, but it is not what I am suggesting. The Predator drones are remotely-piloted by someone on the ground or at a console in an AWACS-type plane. For them, it is just like playing Flight Simulator or some air combat video game. Wouldn't that be a neat inducement to get new recruits, given that the draft is likely to be a thing of the past? The higher performance models can do things that no piloted aircraft can do, like pull 12 g's in a turn, because the pilot wouldn't survive.

The warships, would be semi-automated, but their would still be a human captain, officers, and technically adept crew, who would have a higher concentration of petty officers than traditional navies. The proposals being bandied about to abolish the draft, it appears that our navy personnel will soon match that profile.

This would be a good idea, but wouldn't drones like the ones you suggest be vulnerable to EMP weaponry? And what happens if the signal used to control the drones is jammed?

 

[The_Hawk]

And what happens if the signal used to control the drones is jammed?

"Actually, in the case of the Predator, it's designed to automatically return to base in the event of a loss of signal," Tilly mentions, smiling knowingly.

 

[unmerged(27050)]

"Actually, in the case of the Predator, it's designed to automatically return to base in the event of a loss of signal," Tilly mentions, smiling knowingly.

Well, in that case, I'm all for the idea.

 

[The_Hawk]

Well, in that case, I'm all for the idea.

What Per Fourgéres failed to mention is that, with very few exceptions, UAVs don't actually carry weaponry. They're all very well and good for reconnaissance and the like, but, without conventional aircraft, they're next to useless when you actually want to shoot at something.