Actually, I need to clarify. When I say "never reached 600" I mean during
Lehman's "600-Ship Fleet" era. It had been above 600 before that, but not
since the Vietnam era.
>> But oh well, this isn't the real forum for political debate, unless of
>> course, we use these real world observations and apply them to scenarios
>> we can play out 8-)
>
> Wise words, my friend. I transgressed their spirit a bit by using a couple
> of capitalized nouns, with the intent of then beating a prudent
> withdrawal, which I will now observe.
>
> Navy (I see no need to specify whose, there is only one, plus the eternal
> RN) never reached 600, has been below 400 since 1993, and below 300 since
> 2003. (Note that counting "battle force" ships is a bit of a game, but
> statistics always wander around). It's money, the continued unending
> spiral of dollars per pound of aircraft, ships, and lifetime costs of
> personnel. There was a short story in Analog magazine when I was in high
> school, something like "The Short History of World War 78." The idea is
> that by then each nation can only afford one weapons system, and "world
> wars" are fought out medieval champion style between each nation's sole
> weapon to resolve disputes. At the time I thought it was a joke. Now I am
> convinced that it is going to be true.
>
>> Is anyone truly surprised that this event followed immediately on the
>> Heels
>> of our erstwhile leaders decision to effectively mothball US forces as
>> an
>> effective deterrent force? Our army to be reduced to pre WW2 levels
>> after
>> the Marines and Air Force have already been downsized. And now our Navy
>> to
>> be Gutted? Cut down from 600+ ships to ~300? And Obama was quoted in
>> conversation with Medvedev in 2012 as saying "..... I will have more
>> flexibility on that AFTER I am re-elected." Sort of goes hand in hand
>> with
>> our missle reductions too doesn't it.
>> But oh well, this isn't the real forum for political debate, unless of
>> course, we use these real world observations and apply them to scenarios
>> we
>> can play out 8-)
>> Reminds me of a 'high level' traveler episode I ran where
>> traveller political realities were the actual topics of the game. some
>> sessions had to stop when everyone began realizing that current events
>> where such fertile grounds for Imperial(ism) expansion.
>> Imagine a navy Baron/Knight in charge of an exploration ship
>> encountering
>> a
>> space level tech society who is expansionist in its own right. what is
>> the
>> Moral Philosophy of the people vs the motivations of the leadership? in
>> this campaign the people were friendly, open and tolerant. The
>> Leadership
>> came off that way too. but after being in system for a couple months,
>> the
>> PCs began to realize that the Leaders of the system were effectively
>> leading the populace on for personal gain.
>> which lead me to a surprising revelation, the more open the
>> civilization,
>> the more easily it can be 'lead'. an overwhelmed/oppressed society, is
>> naturally more paranoid, resentful and suspicious of all things leaders
>> represent.
>>
>> --
>> "Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay
>> for
>> it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and
>> their
>> kids pay for it."
>>
>
>
Lehman's "600-Ship Fleet" era. It had been above 600 before that, but not
since the Vietnam era.
>> But oh well, this isn't the real forum for political debate, unless of
>> course, we use these real world observations and apply them to scenarios
>> we can play out 8-)
>
> Wise words, my friend. I transgressed their spirit a bit by using a couple
> of capitalized nouns, with the intent of then beating a prudent
> withdrawal, which I will now observe.
>
> Navy (I see no need to specify whose, there is only one, plus the eternal
> RN) never reached 600, has been below 400 since 1993, and below 300 since
> 2003. (Note that counting "battle force" ships is a bit of a game, but
> statistics always wander around). It's money, the continued unending
> spiral of dollars per pound of aircraft, ships, and lifetime costs of
> personnel. There was a short story in Analog magazine when I was in high
> school, something like "The Short History of World War 78." The idea is
> that by then each nation can only afford one weapons system, and "world
> wars" are fought out medieval champion style between each nation's sole
> weapon to resolve disputes. At the time I thought it was a joke. Now I am
> convinced that it is going to be true.
>
>> Is anyone truly surprised that this event followed immediately on the
>> Heels
>> of our erstwhile leaders decision to effectively mothball US forces as
>> an
>> effective deterrent force? Our army to be reduced to pre WW2 levels
>> after
>> the Marines and Air Force have already been downsized. And now our Navy
>> to
>> be Gutted? Cut down from 600+ ships to ~300? And Obama was quoted in
>> conversation with Medvedev in 2012 as saying "..... I will have more
>> flexibility on that AFTER I am re-elected." Sort of goes hand in hand
>> with
>> our missle reductions too doesn't it.
>> But oh well, this isn't the real forum for political debate, unless of
>> course, we use these real world observations and apply them to scenarios
>> we
>> can play out 8-)
>> Reminds me of a 'high level' traveler episode I ran where
>> traveller political realities were the actual topics of the game. some
>> sessions had to stop when everyone began realizing that current events
>> where such fertile grounds for Imperial(ism) expansion.
>> Imagine a navy Baron/Knight in charge of an exploration ship
>> encountering
>> a
>> space level tech society who is expansionist in its own right. what is
>> the
>> Moral Philosophy of the people vs the motivations of the leadership? in
>> this campaign the people were friendly, open and tolerant. The
>> Leadership
>> came off that way too. but after being in system for a couple months,
>> the
>> PCs began to realize that the Leaders of the system were effectively
>> leading the populace on for personal gain.
>> which lead me to a surprising revelation, the more open the
>> civilization,
>> the more easily it can be 'lead'. an overwhelmed/oppressed society, is
>> naturally more paranoid, resentful and suspicious of all things leaders
>> represent.
>>
>> --
>> "Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay
>> for
>> it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and
>> their
>> kids pay for it."
>>
>
>