LadyInBed
Well-known member
If you had a problem in French Waters and the RN were cruising in the vicinity would you expect them to come to your assistance?
It is dangerous to make assumptions, as that is a subject we will be censured for discussing.I assume it’s in context with the refugees.
If that's the incident, I think it was, the request was passed back to the UK to approve their taking action and it was denied. I met the senior commander in charge of anti-piracy in the area shortly afterwards. No-one was more cross then the Marines who were ready to go and take action or him who was not permitted to release them... (I'm fairly confident it was this incident that we were talking about.) It makes the armed forces look cowardly and toothless whereas the opposite is true. I can't comment further as it involves naming politicians!If the RN ship received your mayday, they would help, or make sure that help was on its way, but they might not be able to stop and rescue you. Just like any other vessel. So I wouldn't expect them to 'come to my assistance' by default, no.
There was a RN warship in the offing and aware, when the Lynn Rival was taken over by Somalian pirates.
If that's the incident, I think it was, the request was passed back to the UK to approve their taking action and it was denied. I met the senior commander in charge of anti-piracy in the area shortly afterwards.
Yes exactly, it was the RFA Wave Knight, and the Marines observed the seizure of the yacht and crew but were not allowed to help, this has reminded me to get the Chandlers' book, an account of the whole sorry episode.If that's the incident, I think it was, the request was passed back to the UK to approve their taking action and it was denied. I met the senior commander in charge of anti-piracy in the area shortly afterwards. No-one was more cross then the Marines who were ready to go and take action or him who was not permitted to release them... (I'm fairly confident it was this incident that we were talking about.) It makes the armed forces look cowardly and toothless whereas the opposite is true. I can't comment further as it involves naming politicians!
Blockading British flag vessels in French fishing ports? Bit political though.Is there a lot of piracy in French waters?
Not as far as I’m aware. I’ve no idea why you’re asking this.Is there a lot of piracy in French waters?
It is dangerous to make assumptions, as that is a subject we will be censured for discussing.
I'm going to guess that the OP had an incident with the French authorities in mind. If that's the case, I reckon that would be a firm no. To intervene then in French waters would be getting pretty close to an act of war. I know there's a few here who think it would be a good idea to go to war with the French, but ...
Not as far as I’m aware. I’ve no idea why you’re asking this.
3. Your reply in post #5If you had a problem in French Waters and the RN were cruising in the vicinity would you expect them to come to your assistance?
I met the senior commander in charge of anti-piracy in the area shortly afterwards.
Except I quoted Gary Foxes post about Somalian pirates to make it clear I was commenting on the incident he had referenced. I wasn’t talking about French waters or responding to the OP. I’d rather hoped the quote function made that clear?I'm asking this because...
1. The thread title.
2. Post #1
3. Your reply in post #5
If you had a problem in French Waters and the RN were cruising in the vicinity would you expect them to come to your assistance?
So would I .Back to the question:
That rather depends. If my problem was that I couldn't find my glasses, then no.
If my problem was that my boat was in distress, with grave and imminent danger to life, and "in the vicinity" means that the RN vessel was the closest to me and able to render timely assistance, then yes of course I would expect them to come to my aid.
Except I quoted Gary Foxes post about Somalian pirates to make it clear I was commenting on the incident he had referenced. I wasn’t talking about French waters or responding to the OP. I’d rather hoped the quote function made that clear?
Whatever…
I'm going to guess that the OP had an incident with the French authorities in mind.
I'm going to make another assumption, that you misunderstood my post. I'd like to think it wasn't deliberate. In the event of a vessel in distress, I would expect any vessel to do whatever it could. My act of war would be the RN intervening when the French authorities are "having words" with a British flagged vessel in French waters. Gunboat diplomacy is so unfashionable these days...If a small dinghy is full of people in French waters, and the Royal Navy responds to rescue people from the dinghy, then that, in your opinion, is "getting pretty close to an act of war".
The loonies have taken over the asylum. This forum is becoming more ridiculous by the moment. There is no way that the French, in the current political reality, would remotely think that the UK was committing an act of war.