US wants own aircraft carrier in the Thames Estuary during London Olympics

RobitTV

The White House has offered to send a U.S. aircraft carrier to be stationed off the British coast and boost security during the London Olympics, Ministry of Defence sources claimed last night.

The suggestion is said to have been rejected by No10 because it would make the UK look ‘weak’. And last night Downing Street was silent on the claim.

But a well-placed source, with knowledge of international discussions about security for the 2012 Games, said the MoD had been offered a U.S. carrier, based in the Thames Estuary, to help defend the skies over London and eavesdrop on any terrorist ‘chatter’.

It is believed the Americans offered a 40,000-ton Wasp class amphibious assault ship, which carries up to 40 Sea Knight helicopters for the ship-to-shore ferrying of marines and equipment, as well as up to 20 Harrier II attack aircraft. It boasts a formidable battery of missiles capable of shooting down airliners in the event of an attempt to copy the 9/11 atrocities.

If the Olympics were the object of a terrorist attack U.S. special forces could launch operations from the ship to airlift American citizens to safety.

The claim comes at a sensitive time for Britain’s Armed Forces. Cuts announced by David Cameron in the Defence Review this month will lead to the axing of the Ark Royal carrier.

Last night an MoD spokesman said that plans were being drawn up for a naval vessel to offer ‘aerial defence’ in the Thames Estuary during the Games, but it was likely to be a British ship.

He said: ‘We haven’t made final decisions yet. There are a lot of options available, including Special Forces. But we are certainly capable of protecting ourselves. The Royal Navy can provide a Type 45 destroyer for aerial defence.’

Under current plans, one of the Navy’s three Type 45 destroyers - likely to be HMS Dauntless, which will come into service next year - would be moored in the estuary. It will be armed with the Principal Anti-Air Missile System, said to be capable of tracking and destroying a moving target the size of a cricket ball at a distance of 19 miles.

The ship could provide a secure, independent radio network linked to a military satellite if civilian radio communications collapsed during a terrorist incident.

A Pentagon source said last night that it was ‘very possible that there will be a U.S. naval presence’ at the London Games, although he claimed it would merely ‘fly the flag’.

starbelgrade

RobitTV, Linkless News, Ireland.

Absurdum

RobitTV wrote: »

It boasts a formidable battery of missiles capable of shooting down airliners in the event of an attempt to copy the 9/11 atrocities.

should probably keep them in NYC then :rolleyes:

CoalBucket

starbelgrade wrote: »

RobitTV, Linkless News, Ireland.

Quality

Stinicker

We should send over the Irish Air Corps to do air to air security.

RobitTV

starbelgrade wrote: »

RobitTV, Linkless News, Ireland.

Whats is Your problem? :cool:

starbelgrade

RobitTV wrote: »

Whats is Your problem? :cool:

Do you really have to ask?

TheZohanS

starbelgrade wrote: »

RobitTV, Linkless News, Ireland.

He's only in 1st year in secondary school, he'll start forming his own opinions soon.

Black Swan

The Brits have their own fleet, why a need for a foreign power?

robinph

Why would they bother with sending a boat over with it's limited capacity. It's not like they are short of bases in the UK that they need an extra poxy boat there as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_in_the_United_Kingdom

robinph

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

The Brits have their own aircraft carriers, why a need for a foreign power?

Singular, they decomisioned one last week I believe, and today signed a treaty with France to share theirs when they take the other one out of service.

Donny5

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

The Brits have their own fleet, why a need for a foreign power?

During 2012, they won't have any true carriers in service or any fast jets to fly from them.

Nulty

Link

maxwell smart

Well I'm sure the British would prefer a French carrier protecting the Olympics to a US one;)

brendansmith

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

The Brits have their own fleet, why a need for a foreign power?

USA number 1 dude
Plus we saved yor as$ in Vietnam dawg!

RobitTV

Donny5 wrote: »

During 2012, they won't have any true carriers in service or any fast jets to fly from them.

Thats why we must send over our Aircraft carrier. Link

robinph

Ahh, the Daily Mail.

There is nothing they could do from a boat that they couldn't already do from one of the USAF bases that are already there.

OPENROAD

robinph wrote: »

Ahh, the Daily Mail.

probably most linked newspaper in AH

squod

Nulty wrote: »

Link

Jaysus that's a banger! Proably gonna leave it tied to something then ''forget'' to take it home again. Aircraft carrier dumping FTW.

Latchy

robinph wrote: »

Singular, they decomisioned one last week I believe, and today signed a treaty with France to share theirs when they take the other one out of service.

HMS Ark Royle is one for the chop I think , was on board her when she visted Liverpool last year .

robinph

OPENROAD wrote: »

probably most linked newspaper in AH

Explains why there was no link to the article by the OP, they must have been ashamed of visiting the website or something so didn't want to draw attention.

OPENROAD

robinph wrote: »

Explains why there was no link to the article by the OP, they must have been ashamed of visiting the website or something so didn't want to draw attention.

Quite possibly, it always does amuse me though the stick the newspaper gets in AH

Absurdum

I wonder how they'll use an aircraft carrier to stop a few muslims with explosives strapped to themselves

robinph

Latchy wrote: »

HMS Ark Royle is one for the chop I think , was on board her when she visted Liverpool last year .

Which just leaves them with Invincible which is due to be scrapped shortly and before either of the two new ones are due to be completed. Todays deal with the French means that thy won't scrap/ refit DeGaule I think until after one of the UK's new ones appears.

Mr Benevolent

Oh wait, it's the Daily Mail. OP I hate you, you're a goddamn troll.

maxwell smart

Absurdum wrote: »

I wonder how they'll use an aircraft carrier to stop a few muslims with explosives strapped to themselves

"Smart" bombs hehe

starbelgrade

brendansmith wrote: »

USA number 1 dude
Plus we saved yor as$ in Vietnam dawg!

You saved the UK's ass in Vietnam?

How do you work that one out?

Firstly, the war wasn't a World War & thus didn't threaten world peace in any way whatsoever.

Secondly, the UK weren't involved in the war.

And thirdly, the Americans pretty much had their asses kicked in that war.

Donny5

starbelgrade wrote: »

You saved the UK's ass in Vietnam?

How do you work that one out?

Firstly, the war wasn't a World War & thus didn't threaten world peace in any way whatsoever.

Secondly, the UK weren't involved in the war.

And thirdly, the Americans pretty much had their asses kicked in that war.

ಠ_ಠ

Absurdum

starbelgrade wrote: »

You saved the UK's ass in Vietnam?

How do you work that one out?

Firstly, the war wasn't a World War & thus didn't threaten world peace in any way whatsoever.

Secondly, the UK weren't involved in the war.

And thirdly, the Americans pretty much had their asses kicked in that war.

bollox, you'd be speaking Vietnamese if it weren't for them

starbelgrade

Absurdum wrote: »

bollox, you'd be speaking Vietnamese if it weren't for them

Wa yu sai ?

AlmightyCushion

Please stop posting threads so often. We'd don't need hourly updates of what news you've heard. You should probably consider starting a blog.