[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

That always brings up the question of what kind of boats. Canada has the makings of a nice middle power nation with 13 frigates, 4 submarines and multiple coastal defense ships. The problem is that they're facing an incredible navy from the South that can project power in thousand mile bubbles, and the Soviet Navy which has begun a rebuild is very powerful in its own right. It can't project power in the same way as the American's, but it can outgun and outrange anything that Canada can deploy. don't forget that the Russians also have formidable Naval Aviation assets made up of heavy fast bombers that carry extremely long range missiles.

I haven't done any kind of study on what the best naval vessels for coastal and sea zone patrol/defense are, but I'm imagining it's in some form that comprises a mix of specialized vessels and airships. Range isn't particularly relevant as it's not an expeditionary force traversing massive distances for months away from port.

I don't believe in this unless you're willing to integrate your specialized military with another nation to cover your shortfalls. We've also seen how how the rapidly shifting face of war destroys a countries ability to specialize. I think we've gotten too enamoured with the last two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which weren't as much wars as an excercise in fighting a non regular army. But the next war could be another Bosnia where you're fighting a theatre of operations where the enemy has access to heavy armour, tactical helicopters etc.

Our armed forces are already oriented to fighting piggy back from other nations (ahem, our big buddy to the south). Now, I think that's mostly due to lack of funding, but that orientation is already in place.

Along with the re-alignment of canada's physical military will have to be a policy change as well determining the types of actions we're prepared to get involved in. So called 'Police Actions' are not the role of resource rich, technically advanced country of a small population.

We saw that the American's still required theatre of operation style tactics at the start of the Iraq war, it was when they got into the insurgency that you saw what happened when you have a specialized military.

You're absolutely right. My point is that there is no way Canada should find itself involved in the kinds of conflicts where one side is lined up against the other and a captain yells 'Fire!'. If they are, it's likely because of a political misstep.

I'm confused by this, when you talk about force projection aircraft, are you talking about transports? Escorts? Ground Attack Fighters? Are youp talking about bringing in Spectre gunships?

I wasn't very clear. Projection of force from coastal areas out into Canada's sea zones. Something like a mix of man and unmanned vehicles, a smattering of fleet defense aircraft and some CH-53s for everyone in the service.

Question time: How effective are Spectre gunships on Naval Vessels?