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[Lizzie_Zoom]

For those interested in history, the Great War, and like me debating how, why, and the justification for that war, on BBC2 next Tuesday, Sir Max Hastings (one of my favourite historians) starts a series on "The Necessary War"

This will no doubt explain the reasons, that I personally believe, that Britain could, and should, have avoided involvement in this war, or at least only have defended it's sea lanes using the mighty Royal Navy, with perhaps the blockade of any ports along the northern edge of Europe supplying the war on land. 

[Andy B]

..... or at least only have defended it's sea lanes using the mighty Royal Navy, ....

I doubt there are enough ships left these days to defend Hollingworth Lake now ....... there weren't many left when I left 20 plus yrs ago, seems there are even fewer now.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

..... or at least only have defended it's sea lanes using the mighty Royal Navy, ....

I doubt there are enough ships left these days to defend Hollingworth Lake now ....... there weren't many left when I left 20 plus yrs ago, seems there are even fewer now.

Ah, but in 1914 the Royal Navy was about pure numbers, enough to take on two navies at once, and the fire power of it's Dreadnoughts in particular, but over relatively close quarter engagements, up to a maximum of about 15 miles for the five Super Dreadnoughts of the Queen Elizabeth Class.

In 2014 it is all about the mighty, overwhelming, long distance fire power of each unit, with ultimately the Trafalgar Class submarines being able to take out whole cities of any enemy nation.

How times have changed!  One Royal Navy unit now has the fire power equivalent to all the combined navies of the past. 

[Andy B]

....  One Royal Navy unit now has the fire power equivalent to all the combined navies of the past. 

But so do 'they' 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

....  One Royal Navy unit now has the fire power equivalent to all the combined navies of the past. 

But so do 'they' 

True, but it is good to know our fire power is still a tremendously potent deterrent that can still maintain the MAD balance

[Lizzie_Zoom]

After a promising start with Sir Max actually offering up arguments against my opinion that British involvement in what became the Great War could, and should, have been avoided, the counter-argument to Sir Max viewpoint is going to be in another documentary piece by Professor Neil Ferguson The Pity Of War on BBC2 @ 2100 tonight.

He argues that Britain's decision to enter that war was a catastrophic error.