Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[cockneyjock1974]

For our man on the ground




Also hope we hear something about Cammel Laird soon, their section's must be about ready.

Soz Jdam/folks i'm in Tuscany till nxt week (with the most piss poor wifi connection) so will miss it i'm afraid when I get back I will do some digging to see where the blocks are housed etc.

When I flew out the plane passed over Cammel Lairds, it's quite the land mark even from the air.

CJ.

[SDL]

looking at the AIS site, the barge is very close to the bridges

[cyrilranch]

looking at the AIS site, the barge is very close to the bridges

I Think she has Docked Now

[cyrilranch]

I Think she has Docked Now

all from https://twitter.com/#!/QEClassCarriers

[Jdam1]

Some great pics there, also the forth rail bridge is looking good with all the white panels off it.

[SDL]

As it arrives at Rosyth, we get another look at where it came from...

[Briani]

Soz Jdam/folks i'm in Tuscany till nxt week (with the most piss poor wifi connection) so will miss it i'm afraid when I get back I will do some digging to see where the blocks are housed etc.

When I flew out the plane passed over Cammel Lairds, it's quite the land mark even from the air.

CJ.

You need to time your holidays better in future CJ..We'll let you off this time but don't let it happen again.

[cockneyjock1974]

You need to time your holidays better in future CJ..We'll let you off this time but don't let it happen again.

Hahaha will make it up with LB02 mate!

Nice spot Cyril great pics cheers

[Conqueror]

All the debate about aircraft to be carried and the problem the government is facing, results from the crass decision to get rid of all the Harriers. If only a more pragmatic decision had been taken to reduce Tornado and Harrier numbers to achieve the savings rather than eliminating the Harrier, Illustrious could have run on as a strike carrier until relieved by Queen Elizabeth, completed without a ramp, in 2016 operating Harriers. She in turn could have been relieved by at cat and trap fitted Prince Of Wales operating a mix of Harriers and then F35 until numbers of the latter had built. Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth could have been fitted with cats and traps and the harriers sold as F35C numbers had grown. Then with a shift from defending Germany and Afghanistan to expeditionary warfare, the UK would operate one of the QE class as the primary strike carrier with the other as a back up or in the LPH role and when in refit the LPH role would be undertaken by a replacement for Ocean. In other words for much of the time, the two QEs would be operational but when either is in refit the ships company would transfer to an LPH so that the UK always has two operational flat tops available.

I am certainly attracted to the idea of purchasing some F18s but the problem for the Government is that from 2016 until at least 2020 the UK will be operating a 65,000 ton aircraft carrier that does not have a fixed wing capability unless they go down the F35B route. One option would be to buy one squadron of F35B plus a few extra for training. These could then serve in the rampless QE for her first 5 years. The rest of the F35 order would be for F35Cs which would be carried by PoW and QE after she is fitted with cats and traps in the early to mid 20s. The option of buying fewer F35Cs and some F18s would still be available. Once both carriers are F18/F35C capable, the F35Bs could either be sold or retained by the RAF and used for surging to enhance carrier numbers at short notice thus reducing the carrier training load for F35C aircrew. Given that there must be considerable commonality in parts between the F35B and C, running the two in service wouldn't add significantly to the support costs but it would enhance our capability and flexibility particularly in the short term.

Your idea seems to be eminently sensible. Since it now seems that we "have" to have the F-35, I was afraid that it was only me that could see the benefits of the F-35C over the F-35B. Is there some reason that the Bs couldn't be deployed on the same carriers as the Cs? Surely it doesn't need a mental giant to recognise that the aircraft with the greater load capacity and range is the better option? Not that the majority of our British politicians have ever progressed beyond the mental pygmy stage! And there is also the small matter of cross-decking. Whose carrier(s) are the RN/FAA most likely to want/need to land on? Will it be a French (more time in maintenance/repair than at sea) carrier or a U.S. carrier?

For jonodavies12: If you still have to meet your MP, perhaps you could explain to him that having the most capable aircraft that can land (and take off) from other carriers with the same aircraft is infinitely preferable to being able to land on a single carrier that is rarely at sea.


I still reckon that I would prefer a navalised Typhoon. For the sake of the common maintenance and parts. And also because I am still incredibly concerned by the continuing refusal of the U.S. to give the U.K. the software source code. The last time I looked U.K. F-35s will still have to be taken to Italy or the U.S. for source code upgrades. "Nice" as the F-35 "might" be, an aircraft that is not operating at its optimum because an "ally" refuses to give you parts....... Is that a good idea? I'm not sure I'd even consider the F-35 under current U.S. conditions. I'd be inclined to tell the U.S. that it's a buyer's market!

Just as a thought, why not have some F-35Bs for the use of the Royal Marines as immediately available air cover for a Royal Marine Expeditionary Force?

[cockneyjock1974]

Can anybody tell me what the f**k this is all about?

Mr Hammond said: ‘Clearly, fitting cats and traps to one carrier is an expensive proposition. Retrofitting them to Queen Elizabeth would be a more expensive proposition and that’s one of the issues we’ve got to take in to account.’

this is from the Portsmouth news apparently. I'm at my wits end with this uncertainty as I'm sure others are. Make a decision and poxy well stick to it, it's not rocket science.

Big plenty C model gives more bang for buck, expensive outlay guarantees 50 years service without heap big upgrade costs. Apologies for the rant guys I'm up to my back gnashers with this now.

[Jdam1]

I think the problem CJ is that in order to get the C they are going to have to spend the money now, if they go for the B they will spend the money over the how long it takes to buy the aircraft.

This has to be the key point and the reason they are taking so long is that ever one on this planet is telling them to go for the C, as much as we like to rag on the RAF they are getting a better aircraft for less money to buy and operate so it’s win win for them, the Navy is getting two very good ships with very capable aircraft, the army couldn’t care less and allies are telling us to go for the C.

With the talk of the CDG being unable to land F-35C the MOD now need to upgrade both carriers, 800 mill for POW and 800 mill for QE plus another 200 mill because of how far she is in construction. That’s were the 1.8 billion is coming from.

This has to be about not wanting to spend the money in the short term, I can’t think of any one that could be against the C.

[SDL]

Babcock Rosyth, HMS Queen Elizabeth by asp1969, on Flickr

[cockneyjock1974]

Thanks Jdam I couldn't agree more with your assessment, it's penny pinching at the highest level
.
@SDL looks like somebody else is using the Newton view point for pictures lol.

[Briani]

Good close up take in Febuary by asp1969.



Looks like somebodys not been watching their patch very well.

[CarrierFan2006]

Thanks Jdam I couldn't agree more with your assessment, it's penny pinching at the highest level
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@SDL looks like somebody else is using the Newton view point for pictures lol.

There was an update on the Phoenix Think Tank Twitter feed the other day about a "Senior Conservative Defence Strategist" commenting on the price of Dave C being far less, and the need to spend less for a bigger bang. Here's hoping...

Interesting video here... http://youtu.be/mYwHgk3J-Jw

It's not carrier specific, so apologies to our resident OT Gestapo, but it tells an interesting tale... This stuff should be shouted from the rooftops.