Reply With QuoteJdam it was 2 weeks exactly, sponson's 3 and 4 - 04.11.11 & 18.11.11. I hope we get one this week it will demonstrate that things can be stepped up if needs be.
CJ
CJ can you remember what was the shortest gap between lifts?, we might get one this week you never know.
Also BAE in Portsmouth will be safe until 2014 after the referendum in Scotland.
Jdam it was 2 weeks exactly, sponson's 3 and 4 - 04.11.11 & 18.11.11. I hope we get one this week it will demonstrate that things can be stepped up if needs be.
CJ
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...of-Hormuz.html
Wish the QE was finished and operational for this - first CVF deployment with an airgroup is scheduled for... 2020? This deployment of HMS Westminster makes 3 for the RN in the area right? Daring, Argyll, and Westminster... Significant force.
Best as always
[QUOTE=USS Alabama;5990204]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...of-Hormuz.html
Wish the QE was finished and operational for this - first CVF deployment with an airgroup is scheduled for... 2020? This deployment of HMS Westminster makes 3 for the RN in the area right? Daring, Argyll, and Westminster... Significant force.
I would feel a lot more confident if I knew that they were actually on a war footing and carry a full compliment of missiles.
When HMS Westminster was recently carrying out ops off the coast of Libya,it was confirmed that she was only armed with 4 Seawolf missiles,out of a maximum compliment of 32.
So this time I hope the powers that be are not sending our vessels into a potentialy hostile area,without the means to defend themselves.
I wonder also if their Harpoon launchers are fitted,and if so are actually carrying missiles.
This is one of the outcomes of defence cuts that we rarely hear about,not only have we lost vessels but the ones we have are put at risk by bean counters.
This is one of the outcomes of defence cuts that we rarely hear about,not only have we lost vessels but the ones we have are put at risk by bean counters.
I was part of the "Hollow U.S. Military" of the 70's - it wasn't pretty. I used to have to buy parts for my Jeeps such as bulbs and screws and fittings with my own money at the local hardware store. Hopefully the ships will carry a full load of Seawolves and perhaps the USN will supply Harpoons from our pre-positioned stocks in the area if needed.
However, as dicey as things are right now with the EU's announced embargo today, I can't believe that those ships and crews would be sent there with less than full war stocks in the magazines. If so, it would be criminal - no other word for it.
I really think the MOD and the PM should consider speeding up the CVF program, it's starting to look like we will really need them. Maybe USN F18 squadrons could operate off of them (EMALS equipped of course) in joint operations such as this while waiting for the RN / RAF F35's. It would be a way of adding an additional deck and more strike aircraft to a combined CSG even though the FAA squadrons weren't available yet.
Ah well -speculation...
Best
Well Alabama we got more than our money’s worth with the invincible class carriers, no doubt our new carriers will be involved in world politics as well
Edit: as for speeding up the program, I don’t think there much that can be done, by the end of the year ever part will be in Roysth, it just a matter of putting it all together and testing it, and then there is the emals problem, with only one production line for them it might not be easy to supply both the USN and RN at the same time.
The fact is after Libya the MOD might agree with you.
That's a really good point actually. Invincibles were originally built as ASW cruisers in the North Sea / Western Approaches, carrying Helicopters for ASW work, and a short complement of Harriers for self defence. They turned into the world's smallest Strike Carriers. They did sterling service in the Falklands, and they've served all over the world ever since. That's not bad bang for the money they cost...Originally Posted by Jdam1
Well Alabama we got more than our money’s worth with the invincible class carriers, no doubt the our new carriers will be involved in world politics as well
It's a shame that they paid off the Ark Royal after a refit and scrapped her. Why didn't they put her in mothballs just to see if she might have been needed? Much of the Illustrious' crew could have manned her and NATO VSTOL aircraft could have operated off her in pinch. Lost capability and a waste...
Remember during the Falklands, they were frantically looking for flight decks and even thought about re-activating the Bulwark? Things are much tighter now for the RN and there's NO spare capacity at all in the form of odd Colussus Class carriers lying about...
They would have to use the Albion, re-activate the present Bulwark, (I'm right about which one is in storage right?) for helicopter ops, and re-purpose the Ocean and Lusty for fighter ops wherever they might dig them up in a joint NATO type operation.
Best
Good points Jdam, you're right about the EMALS too, however, I still think if the government truly had to pull out the stops, I'm confident that British industry would deliver. It's a matter of political will versus geo-political need - the curves haven't intersected yet!Edit: as for speeding up the program, I don’t think there much that can be done, by the end of the year ever part will be in Roysth, it just a matter of putting it all together and testing it, and then there is the emals problem, with only one production line for them it might not be easy to supply both the USN and RN at the same time.
Best
Gotta wonder just how bad Labour left the budget situation in if losing the carrier capability was a better option.....
the ACA 2012 image library has been updated today.
http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.c...rary/2012.aspx
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/9031478/America-overcomes-the-debt-crisis-as-Britain-sinks-deeper-into-the-swamp.html
This is the Telegraph's take on the situation.
Best
(posted to save others the hassle of hosting the images for any quotes,ETC)
Preparing sponson 06b for integration
Painting starts on LB05 in Portsmouth
Outfitting LB02 portsmouth
Building the forward island for HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth
Thanks Cyril and SDL, fascinating look at one of the Block innards there... Too bad they can't build the Ford that way, lots less corrosion in hard to get at places...
Best
are the picture of the forward island bits the engine exhust outlets spead out?
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