So you're saying we just need a really big tennis racquet? We could whack bombs back into Europe.

There is only ever 1 trident sub at sea at any time out of 4 built so it seems a spectacular waste of money.

The reason Tony Blair gave for continuing is not that its effective but that not to have it would diminish our place in the world order and he couldn't face standing up in the Commons and saying he had decided to scrap it.

So Jezza more power to your elbow.

Well there is that, Trident only protects up until someone fires a nuclear missile, and then it only allows you to retaliate if you know who that's going to be, as the missiles need to be targeted and the sub in range.

Which was fine when it was the soviet union, as it was in the submarines operational range, and the only real nuclear threat likely to strike at NATO or the UK.

That isn't going to be the case in the future. And it become problematic broadcasting retargeting data to a submarine, as it exposes its location (meaning any sensible enemy is going to sink your submarine first, then launch its missiles).

Back in the cold war it was much harder to pin point vessels based on communications (and in case they could Trident submarines maintained a complete radio silence when on operations).

Now days, that technology is pretty common place and likely accessible to any nuclear nation. Extensive Electronic Warfare counter-measures are an option, but that's an uncertainty. Having the missiles in silos is simply a better option all round.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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A weapon of mass debation?

Haha. I think a lot of armies have probably used fake weaponry to scare the opposition in the past. I think we should invest in giant fake weapons that have shelter for homeless people inside. I'm not a lefty, but that'd keep everyone happy right?

You might want to hear some of my less palatable views before ticking that box. That's the problem with people saying good stuff. They say bad stuff too. Makes voting a blinking minefield.