Our AI friend:
Special Forces (SAS/SBS): The UK's Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) are widely considered among the best trained and most experienced special forces in the world. They are often regarded as the pioneers in elite tactical operations and frequently train US special forces, including Delta Force and Navy SEALs.
Submarine Technology (Hunter-Killer Subs): The Royal Navy's Astute-class hunter-killer submarines are regarded by many analysts as superior in acoustic stealth (acoustic stealth hull) and advanced surface sub-hunting compared to US counterparts.
Personnel Training and Flexibility: Due to a smaller force, the British military focuses on higher intensity, longer, and more arduous training. This results in a "higher level of infantry training" and greater versatility on a per-person basis. British soldiers are often trained to be "jacks of all trades," allowing them to fill multiple roles on the battlefield compared to the highly specialized (and sometimes less adaptable) roles in the US military.
Combat Experience (Modern): The UK has maintained continuous high-tempo operational experience over the last few decades, particularly in small-unit tactics and high-value targeting.
Surface Ship Sub-Hunting: The Type 26 frigate is considered a top-tier vessel for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), often praised for its advanced acoustic quietness.
Nimbleness and Rapid Decision Making: Because the UK military is smaller, it can act with greater agility and speed in certain tactical scenarios compared to the massive, and often slower, logistical footprint of the US military.
@no1marauder saidI sure you would like that. A strong US, and a strong Israel, keeps Islam under control.
It would behoove all the Western nations, esp. the US, to drastically slash military spending since:
A) It takes away from far more important priorities like investment in human capital and infrastructure;
B) Having a bloated military just seems like too much of a temptation for the boys at the White House to play with their toys and keep getting involved in reckless overseas adventures like the present one.
@no1marauder saidYeah, let us just let Iran do what it has always said it will do? You wrote earlier that we should leave them alone, in so many words. So pacifist indeed. No wonder you don't like Trump. He does not mix with a fairy mindset. A fairy will really hate what Trump just said, he is going to bomb hell out of bridges and everything that needs bombing if Iran does not relent tomorrow. I assume he will, but if he changes his mind, you get to say he lied. Good for you!! I hope the bombs will fly, myself.
It would behoove all the Western nations, esp. the US, to drastically slash military spending since:
A) It takes away from far more important priorities like investment in human capital and infrastructure;
B) Having a bloated military just seems like too much of a temptation for the boys at the White House to play with their toys and keep getting involved in reckless overseas adventures like the present one.
You align with Funhouse. He too wants to pull defense money into welfare and free insurance , such as that. No one would buy any private health insurance. I told him I have an idea. Those of us who can, about 290 million people, buy their own insurance, and then we will not need to have govt welfare and insurance programs , except for the truly needy, about 40 million.
Haven't heard back from Funhouse. How can he possibly disagree with that logic? YOu tell him, I have told him 50 times.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke said2026 has been a horrible year for Britain’s Royal Navy, whose strength has now — depending on how it is calculated — fallen to historic lows.
Warfare has change Mike. Catch up.
The UK remains formidable. - Even putting to the side that we are an independent nuclear power, our military is a top-tier global force, ranked among the strongest in the world with a focus on advanced technology, highly professional personnel, and elite special forces.
You look a little daft trying to belittle our capability.
The issue has caused a serious political flare-up after it emerged that the navy could not send an advanced destroyer for the defense of Cyprus after a UK air base came under drone attack on March 2. HMS Dragon finally sailed on March 10, some days after an 11-ship French fleet headed for the Mediterranean. Commentators declared a national scandal.
Many say the Royal Navy has been found wanting. The new First Sea Lord, Royal Marine General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, has staked his reputation on regenerating a capability to meet its NATO commitments in the North Atlantic by 2029, but this has involved cutting back the navy’s capability for global operations, only to be exposed by a crisis in the Mediterranean and Gulf.
Right now, the Royal Navy fleet looks like a construction site. All of the major classes of warships and support ships, without exception, are in various states of retirement, repair, construction, training, or crew regeneration. Some relatively new ships are tied up alongside but uncrewed as they await sufficient trained manpower and funding to be used operationally. It’s thought that of the force of just 13 destroyers and frigates, only around four are at sea. It’s the same story with attack submarines, where only one of the five vessels is known to be operational.
And yet the Ministry of Defence (MoD) employs 50,000 civil servants, far more than at any other time, and while the navy now numbers only around 20,000, once the Royal Marines are discounted.
It’s a grim picture. What has gone wrong to result in this seeming failure to prioritize Britain’s fighting power over its organizational structure at a time when it is needed most?
@mike69 saidSpecial Forces (SAS/SBS): The UK's Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) are widely considered among the best trained and most experienced special forces in the world. They are often regarded as the pioneers in elite tactical operations and frequently train US special forces, including Delta Force and Navy SEALs.
2026 has been a horrible year for Britain’s Royal Navy, whose strength has now — depending on how it is calculated — fallen to historic lows.
The issue has caused a serious political flare-up after it emerged that the navy could not send an advanced destroyer for the defense of Cyprus after a UK air base came under drone attack on March 2. HMS Dragon finally sailed on March ...[text shortened]... oritize Britain’s fighting power over its organizational structure at a time when it is needed most?
@mike69 saidSubmarine Technology (Hunter-Killer Subs): The Royal Navy's Astute-class hunter-killer submarines are regarded by many analysts as superior in acoustic stealth (acoustic stealth hull) and advanced surface sub-hunting compared to US counterparts.
2026 has been a horrible year for Britain’s Royal Navy, whose strength has now — depending on how it is calculated — fallen to historic lows.
The issue has caused a serious political flare-up after it emerged that the navy could not send an advanced destroyer for the defense of Cyprus after a UK air base came under drone attack on March 2. HMS Dragon finally sailed on March ...[text shortened]... oritize Britain’s fighting power over its organizational structure at a time when it is needed most?
@mike69
The UK remains formidable. - Even putting to the side that we are an independent nuclear power, our military is a top-tier global force, ranked among the strongest in the world with a focus on advanced technology, highly professional personnel, and elite special forces.
You look a little daft trying to belittle our capability.
@Suzianne saidWe patiently await your next Democrat president to start clearing up the mess on the global stage caused by Trump and his sycophants.
They did it during WW2. Most of the same countries in Europe we called allies in WW2 are in NATO. They're still our allies, unless you're a spoiled child named Donald Trump.
The US is a great country and remains our greatest ally. You just need to get your house in order.
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@AverageJoe1 saidWhat exactly has "Iran done" EVER which threatened the security of the US sufficiently to justify a $1.5 trillion military budget (and that's a one fiscal year request BTW; again you have bad information)? If we'd stop our incessant meddling in the Middle East, we'd have no problems with Iran at all, notwithstanding bellicose rhetoric from both sides.
Yeah, let us just let Iran do what it has always said it will do? You wrote earlier that we should leave them alone, in so many words. So pacifist indeed. No wonder you don't like Trump. He does not mix with a fairy mindset. A fairy will really hate what Trump just said, he is going to bomb hell out of bridges and everything that needs bombing if Iran does not relent to ...[text shortened]... Funhouse. How can he possibly disagree with that logic? YOu tell him, I have told him 50 times.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke saidDoes that mean your country is actually going step up and do your part? Many years ago you spent 3.4% and had a much larger, better military. Time will tell how well you can now protect yourself letting your military fall. What was ground forces in 2026 73k you sent 140k to Iraq. You can’t even fill your ships with trained navy at only 20k, planes needing repair, ships, subs, and on but just keep chanting free Palestine and save Iran their innocent.
We patiently await your next Democrat president to start clearing up the mess on the global stage caused by Trump and his sycophants.
The US is a great country and remains our greatest ally. You just need to get your house in order.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke saidYep 🤣🤣
Submarine Technology (Hunter-Killer Subs): The Royal Navy's Astute-class hunter-killer submarines are regarded by many analysts as superior in acoustic stealth (acoustic stealth hull) and advanced surface sub-hunting compared to US counterparts.
As of late 2024–2025, a significant portion of the UK's nuclear submarine fleet has faced operational issues, with reports suggesting that at times all six Astute-class attack submarines were in port for repairs or maintenance, along with several of the four Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines, leaving the fleet with severely limited operational capacity.
@no1marauder saidThis one says to forget that they have murdered over 2000 Americans. Beirut, the works.
What exactly has "Iran done" EVER which threatened the security of the US sufficiently to justify a $1.5 trillion military budget (and that's a one fiscal year request BTW; again you have bad information)? If we'd stop our incessant meddling in the Middle East, we'd have no problems with Iran at all, notwithstanding bellicose rhetoric from both sides.
Marauder is likely one of those who is in favor of the liberal judges letting rapists and murderers out of jail. Am I right, Marauder? That is my logic, that if you want to let Iran go, it follows that you support letting killers and rapists out of jail.
Marauder says that going after their ass is meddling!!!!!!!!!!!!!