Thread by @navalhistorian

1) Useful #new article by @NavyLookout on the state of play with the @RFAHeadquarters, going through issues such as crewing difficulties, @RFAFortVictoria & the lack of the Fleet Solid Support replacement, the mothballing of the Wave Class & consequent strain on the Tide Class.

2) There does, however, seem to be a rather concerning issue highlighted in the passage on the Bay Class amphibious landing ships, relating to the date at which the conversion work to @RFALymeBay for her to operate at the heart of Littoral Response Group (South) will be completed

3) Littoral Response Group (South), centred on what is now known to be @RFALymeBay & @40commando, to be based at Duqm, Oman, is *the* big ticket, permanently deployed naval presence in Britain's Indo-Pacific tilt & is supposed to deploy in 2023 according to the Integrated Review.

4) If the *contract* for @RFALymeBay's conversion work is not issued until the end of that year, the chances of the work being completed to deploy that year is effectively zero, leaving the deployment of a key element of Britian's Indo-Pacific tilt either delayed or extemporised.

5) This is, of course, a fairly substantial *if* still. The dates in & around the National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh were extremely vague,& it should be possible to still send @RFALymeBay or @RFACardiganBay initially with the existing, temporary hangar

6) Another (albeit perhaps less likely) temporary alternative, given the @KorpsMariniers are reportedly to be embedded in Littoral Response Group (South), might also be to initially use one of the @Kon_Marine's Rotterdam Class landing ships, which possess full hangar facilities.

7) Nonetheless, Littoral Response Group (South) is a major, naval element of Britain's Indo-Pacific "tilt", & its progress & any potential delays to it are a matter of concern.