RDF French Navy?

[Medic]

I'm not an expert on naval matters, U.S. or French, but the thing with any fleet in the Persian Gulf is that it is within striking distance of Iran. And if the U.S. fleet is built around an LHA and a couple of ships, the fleet will be in trouble if there's any aircraft capable of carrying anti-ship weapons on the other side. Yes, the LHA boast the Phalanx-system and any carrier-style vessel is most probably going to be protected by heavy anti-air capability, but LHA lacks the intercept capability vital for surviving in a hostile naval environment with enemy aerial assets. A couple of Harriers will not do much, since they are not designed to fight air-to-air as much as they are meant for attack and CAS missions. Also, ammunition supply for anything else than guns would probably be depleted pretty quickly, especially in an aircraft-rich neighbourhood and that would have most probably been well before they got to the Gulf in the first place...

[Olefin]

Medic

iran is on our side in twilight 2000 in the persian gulf

fusilier

Current US fleet strength in Dec 2000 by canon (and that includes Frank Frey's ships he had assigned for his Kenya module which he didnt release but which he did give us his notes for)

US - John Hancock, 3 older DD's, at least one WHEC (equivalent of a frigate)one SSN

Persian Gulf - one gun cruiser, one LHA with air group, one guided missile cruiser, three FFG, one LPD

Kenya - one guided missile cruiser, two DDG, one frigate, one WHEC, one destroyer

and thats without any info on Korea at all or damaged ships that might be repairable or what ships escorted the 6000 men to the RDF in Dec of 2000

so except for carriers and subs its about the same size fleet as the French who are covering the Med, the English Channel and Senegal as well

not a big point either way - but clearly the RDF module isnt talking about a carrier because there are no carrier planes mentioned either - i.e. either Rafale or Crusaders

[Fusilier]

Originally Posted by Olefin

not a big point either way

Agreed on that, since like I mentioned, I don't think it matters whether an aircraft carrier is currently deployed with the French squadron or not.

[Olefin]

I agree with you there - the French already have superior air power deployed there - those squadrons they sent there basically are bigger than either of what the US or the Russians have deployed especailly since most likely they have their full weapons loadout

Whats interesting is that the French in the RDF area are basically part of the US effort - i.e. they arent directly fighting the Soviets but their backing of Iraqi rebels and going into Kuwait really threw a monkey wrench into the Soviet plans - i.e. they cant attack thru Iraq and Kuwait unless they want to go war with France

and if there is one thing that would win the war for NATO for sure it would be the Belgian and French armies joining NATO the war on the Russians