Germany and other Nato Countries readiness.

[Averageman]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/07/germany-military-hardware-disrepair-exposure

German military faces a major challenge from disrepair
Leaked parliamentary report details the shocking state of European nation’s military hardware



Tuesday 7 October 201405.01 EDT
Last modified on Tuesday 7 October 201406.39 EDT

When Germany dispatched a naval ship to the Horn of Africa last month for joint anti-piracy operations with other European powers, the vessel arrived without a vital mission component. Its Sea Lynx helicopters – meant to search for seafaring thugs – were back home in Germany, grounded due to maintenance problems.

For Germany’s military, hobbled helicopters were only the beginning. A parliamentary report leaked to the German press last month and obtained by the Washington Post detailed the shocking state of disrepair of Germany’s military hardware. Only one of its four submarines is operational. Only 70 out of its 180 GTK Boxer tanks are fit for deployment. Just seven of the German navy’s fleet of 43 helicopters are currently flightworthy. For a country that has professed a willingness to play a greater role in world affairs, the bad news just kept coming. Last month German instructors en route to Iraq to train Kurdish fighters were stranded in Bulgaria due to an aircraft malfunction. The defence ministry is considering renting extra planes if mechanical problems– which have already led to flight delays – hamper Germany’s ongoing mission to aid Ebola patients in west Africa

Makes you wonder just what the O/R rate is in NATO now doesn't it?

[Eurodriver]

After seeing so many deadlined American vehicles, weapons, optics, etc both in country and CONUS, I am not moved by this article much. Shit breaks. It breaks even more when you have "deadlined" vehicles that still operate, but are only "deadlined" per criteria established by higher-ups that don't even use the equipment

[OH58D]

This is what happens when Socialist Utopias spend all their money on welfare programs instead of defense. In reality, they didn't have to because the United State always provided the deterrent to the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. As we shrink and focus OUR attentions elsewhere, Europe is really on it's own. BHO despises a lot of these former Colonial Powers who enslaved his people on the dark continent.

[TAZ]

NATO was always the USA. Maybe on someone's PowerPoint the table had more legs, but the reality of the matter is that the USA was the muscle.

I also don't think this is just Germany. The USA probably has the very same issues. It's just that we have more shit as backup.

[Averageman]

When they tore down the wall and the Russians skipped town the Germans who were at first very happy found that reuniting was an expensive adventure. I think they are still repairing the economic burden, but I believe there was an agreement that they would have to spend X% of their GDP in order to remain in NATO.
I don't think many of the NATO nations actually have stuck with that promise and kept up with their Military promises, especially since the end of the Cold War. I would guess they are members in name only and hope that the U.S. will step in with the hardware, soldiers and cash if they find themselves in a bind. I'm pretty sure it isn't just Germany, I believe the English are in much the same shape. After all why spend the money?
I see a bleak future for NATO if things don't change.
As far as out own O/R rate goes I understand how it works and how it is supposed to work. Two different issues.

[brickboy240]

Looking back through history....do we really want Germany to be ready and have a really strong army?

...just sayin'

[HD1911]

This is what happens when Socialist Utopias spend all their money on welfare programs instead of defense. In reality, they didn't have to because the United State always provided the deterrent to the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. As we shrink and focus OUR attentions elsewhere, Europe is really on it's own. BHO despises a lot of these former Colonial Powers who enslaved his people on the dark continent.

Dead on.

[Sensei]

Dead on.

In related news, Greek citizens have enjoyed the highest number of paid vacation days of any European country...

[Campbell]

This is what happens when Socialist Utopias spend all their money on welfare programs instead of defense. In reality, they didn't have to because the United State always provided the deterrent to the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. As we shrink and focus OUR attentions elsewhere, Europe is really on it's own. BHO despises a lot of these former Colonial Powers who enslaved his people on the dark continent.


^^^This

[GlockWRX]

After seeing so many deadlined American vehicles, weapons, optics, etc both in country and CONUS, I am not moved by this article much. Shit breaks. It breaks even more when you have "deadlined" vehicles that still operate, but are only "deadlined" per criteria established by higher-ups that don't even use the equipment

I think the severity is the difference. We may have a large fleet of broken vehicles and deadlined equipment, but we can still field a credible force. Is 75% of our submarine force laid up? Are over half our Abrams tanks inoperable? Is more than 85% of our Naval helicopters grounded (or is it 'decked')?

When you shrink your military to such a small scale, the loss of even a few important assets can cripple you.