Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[Naval Oldie]

Conqueror, by the time the referendum takes place in 2014, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH will be well through her fitting out programme and PRINCE OF WALES at about the stage QE is at now. However, assuming a vote for independence does take place it will be many months if not years before Scotland actually splits from the UK as there would be a huge range of matters to resolve. By that time the carriers should be out of build and operating from their Portsmouth base port. From a Defence viewpoint the Faslane issue is more pressing. However, investment would have to be taken to ensure the carriers can be docked in Portsmouth something that I believe is not the case at the moment.

[cockneyjock1974]

Speaking as dual national hence the name, I can safely say that this is a non starter, everybody I speak to certainly in the east of Scotland are against it , except for the occasional nut who's watched brave heart on burns night one too many times. As Jdam rightly points out the people here realise its about the mans ego and not for the benefit of the Scottish people, a sizeable portion of whom were born in England like me, albeit Scottish parentage. I've not even started on the west of Scotland yet where half of it is quite partial to flying the union jack lol.

[Jdam1]

I've not even started on the west of Scotland yet where half of it is quite partial to flying the union jack lol.

You’ve heard of Larkhall then

[imperialman]

You’ve heard of Larkhall then

The infamous blue Asda nonsense!

[cockneyjock1974]

You’ve heard of Larkhall then

Used to live near Harthill will that do

The infamous blue Asda nonsense!

And blue kerbstones, blue railings and blue lamposts lol.

[Pymes75]

As for Harland & Wolff it’s really the only option but I think a lot of money would need to be spent to brings it ship facilities but up to scratch, I think they mainly focus of things like winds farms and oil rigs now.

Completely agree with you Jdam, but I also imagine that is exactly what would happen. The RN couldn't strategically rely on a what would amount to a foreign dockyard to refit the existing carriers or indeed build any further large flat tops. Let's face it, serious money had to be spent on Rosyth to prepare it for building the QEs, so I'm sure money could be found to prepare H&W in the event that Scotland became independent. Besides, any UK government would rather be seen to invest in an electoral constituency rather than give the work to a 'foreign' yard.

Anyway, I personally hope Scotland remains a part of the United Kingdom as I truly believe together we are stronger. (Just a single O/T comment)

[Briani]

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is set to announce that the Ministry of Defence's £38bn financial 'black hole' has been "dealt with" and that the defence budget is now balanced for the first time in four decades, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.

The story also suggests that around £2.1bn of unallocated funding has been found in the ministry's current financial planning round.

Good news but you have to wonder how the deficit has been cleared so quickly.

I'm sure we all can have hours of fun spending that £2.1bn.

[jonas]

Spend a few quid on this facility and you have all the room you need,and more:-

Able Seaton Port has what is probably the largest Dry Docking area available in the World - it is located on the River Tees, in the North East of England.

Sorry,here's a link:-
http://www.ableuk.com/portfacilities-seatondrydock.htm

[Maximmmm]

Speaking as dual national hence the name, I can safely say that this is a non starter, everybody I speak to certainly in the east of Scotland are against it , except for the occasional nut who's watched brave heart on burns night one too many times. As Jdam rightly points out the people here realise its about the mans ego and not for the benefit of the Scottish people, a sizeable portion of whom were born in England like me, albeit Scottish parentage. I've not even started on the west of Scotland yet where half of it is quite partial to flying the union jack lol.

Polls suggest only 30%max support full independence. If the issue of increased rights is on the ballot and is supported by >50%, the ships would not be affected as Scotland would remain in the United Kingdom.

[Jdam1]

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond is set to announce that the Ministry of Defence's £38bn financial 'black hole' has been "dealt with" and that the defence budget is now balanced for the first time in four decades, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.

The story also suggests that around £2.1bn of unallocated funding has been found in the ministry's current financial planning round.

Good news but you have to wonder how the deficit has been cleared so quickly.

I'm sure we all can have hours of fun spending that £2.1bn.

The hole is still there it’s just been budgeted for now, it will take till 2015 to pay it off.

So with money for extra spending, Admirals saying both carriers will be in use for 50 years, main press outlets asking questions about if we are still mothballing a carrier and the Libyan campaign fresh in the MOD's mind surely its only a matter of time before they announce cats and traps for both carriers!!!!?!?


Edit: this thread has had over half a million views

[serge 750]

hi guys

Well as we all know £2.1 bn would be well spent in 2015 for the second set of cats n traps & a squadron of extra F35c! sorted !!!!!

[Maximmmm]

hi guys

Well as we all know £2.1 bn would be well spent in 2015 for the second set of cats n traps & a squadron of extra F35c! sorted !!!!!

Congrats you guys! Can't wait to see em in service.

[cockneyjock1974]

Hi folks, just bought a x2 zoom lens for my camera which now means i have 20 times zoom on it, however i've just taken these pics and I'm disappointed to say the least. It is closer than before but there is blurring round the edges, does anybody know if this is normal or have I bought a lemon? All opinions welcome on this



With regards to the 2.1 Billion.. Well 1.2 Billion is we believe the estimated cost for EMALS, and design/manufacturing costs for building POW as a proper CV. What was never clear to me was did this possibly include the cost of converting QE and/or AAG?

[Jdam1]

Thanks for the pics CJ, the sponsons in the 2nd pic have been sitting there since before they started the integration, anyone got any idea where they go?


Also I think it included the cost of the AAG but not the cost of converting the QE

[cockneyjock1974]

Thanks for the pics CJ, the sponsons in the 2nd pic have been sitting there since before they started the integration, anyone got any idea where they go?


Also I think it included the cost of the AAG but not the cost of converting the QE

Cheers Jdam, for ages I thought they were SP01 and SP02, logically it makes sense LB02 is next up here and it only has 2 sponsons to go on it, certainly they seem to be longer than the sponsons that we have seen recently, however they look like the wrong shape to me.