Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[Jdam1]

Fantastic photographs Albion, if I didn’t know better I would say they were taken for a paper/magazine.

Interesting that the 1st parts out of Portsmouth are the last bits to go onto the carrier from Portsmouth.

[jonodavies12]

Just to let anybody know if interested, I'm meeting with my MP, Glyn Davies in about two weeks time, solely about the CVF and F35 programs. Will be raising a lot of points that have been posted in this thread, may also try and meet with others. The government couldn't be blamed for thinking no one in the country cared about these ships, considering the amount of bad press they've had, so there's me hoping that my voice might get heard. One can hope.

I know this isn't a political forum/movement or anything, but what I have witnessed over the last year or so, is a (somewhat strange) collection of people united in the fact they want to follow the progress of this project and ultimately, see it succeed. If anyone does have a spare day or even an afternoon, get in touch with your MP (no matter how little faith you have in them), and voice your feelings about these great ships.

Anyway, I've got an all-nighter ahead of me with transport assignments, I'll stop the preaching now. :L Thanks for reading.

[jonas]

Just to let anybody know if interested, I'm meeting with my MP, Glyn Davies in about two weeks time, solely about the CVF and F35 programs. Will be raising a lot of points that have been posted in this thread, may also try and meet with others. The government couldn't be blamed for thinking no one in the country cared about these ships, considering the amount of bad press they've had, so there's me hoping that my voice might get heard. One can hope.

I know this isn't a political forum/movement or anything, but what I have witnessed over the last year or so, is a (somewhat strange) collection of people united in the fact they want to follow the progress of this project and ultimately, see it succeed. If anyone does have a spare day or even an afternoon, get in touch with your MP (no matter how little faith you have in them), and voice your feelings about these great ships.

Anyway, I've got an all-nighter ahead of me with transport assignments, I'll stop the preaching now. :L Thanks for reading.

Firstly may I wish you well in your meeting,and your dedication to the cause.

As I see it the problem with MP's in general on matters of defence is two fold. Firstly, unless they represent a constituency which has within it a defence industry that a fair proportion of the working population rely on for employment,then their interest is minimal.
Secondly,in tandem with the above it goes without saying that their knowledge of defence matters is also minimal,that is unless you have an MP with Armed Forces experience and these seem to be thin on the ground.

You may well find yourself explaining things to your MP that though obvious to yourself,will not be with him/her.

May I post this example of an MP asking a question on defence matters yesterday in Parliament. It not only shows his complete ignorance of the subject he is talking about,but the lack of even a few minutes research would have saved him from asking such a crass question. I suspect he is not alone in his lack of knowledge in defence matters.

Lynx Helicopters

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to arm the Army's variant of the Wildcat with (i) Sting Ray and (ii) Brimstone. [103740]

Peter Luff [holding answer 18 April 2012]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 April 2012, Official Report, column 78W. The Army variant of the Lynx Wildcat will perform a range of tasks including reconnaissance, command and control, force protection and light transport. The role of the Maritime Variant will include, but is not limited to, Anti-Surface

Warfare and an Anti-Submarine role. The suite of weapons each will carry is specific to the variant and is based on these roles.

[highdiver_2000]

Hi I just read that the catapult on the carriers are EN, not the traditional steam driven. Are the carriers nuclear powered? Can't see the diesel gen providing that much power.

First kid on the block with this tech too! Even the USN has yet to use it.

[Jdam1]

Nope they are conversional powered, they use gas turbines and diesel generator's, they are electric ships so the emals should fit in very nicely, I don’t know if the Queen Elizabeth class will be the 1st to use the tech, if it’s the 2nd in class (Prince of wales) that gets the tech and Royal navy has the 2nd production slot for the emals we will probably be the 2nd ship to get the tech into use.

[The Armchair Soldier]

Are the carriers nuclear powered? Can't see the diesel gen providing that much power.

The carriers are both conventionally powered, not nuclear.

Edit: Jdam bet me to it!

[C.Puffs]

First kid on the block with this tech too! Even the USN has yet to use it.

Not to derail but the US has already launched aircraft with EMALs on land and the Ford class is getting them. I wasn't aware the UK had already launched planes with them.

[cyrilranch]

Weather delays carrier load

HUGE Sections of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier at Portsmouth Naval Base


Published on Wednesday 25 April 2012 13:57

BAD weather led BAE Systems to delay loading the second part of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier in Portsmouth yesterday.
The second half of a stern block of HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to be rolled out of the dockyard on to a barge in a repeat of last Sunday’s load out.
But forecasts for 60-knot winds and heavy rain meant the 1,000-tonne section of the stern, known as Lower Block 05, is now likely be moved out on Friday morning.
That would leave two days to get it welded into place on the barge before it sets sail for Rosyth on Sunday, when it is scheduled to pass the Round Tower at 2pm.
BAE’s project leader Paul Bowsher said: ‘We don’t want to leave it any later than Friday.’

[Jdam1]

Well it not like these parts of the carriers are desperately needed in Rosyth, so its not that big of a problem.

On the plus side I don’t need to listen to drought warning on the news any more.

[SDL]

I heard a comical line earlier today.... the government haven't stopped us double dipping, but they have solved the drought problem....LOL

why am i always shocked as to how large the segments are?

[the french fries eater]

i think i know why LB5 has to hurry: LB5 is blocking the way out for LB2 so it has to go to rosyth first and if LB5 is late, the barge that will come back and take LB2 will be late and then LB2 will be late a rosyth and cycle B will start late

yes a know pretty complex

[cockneyjock1974]

i think i know why LB5 has to hurry: LB5 is blocking the way out for LB2 so it has to go to rosyth first and if LB5 is late, the barge that will come back and take LB2 will be late and then LB2 will be late a rosyth and cycle B will start late

yes a know pretty complex

.

Im no expert (obviously) but as an educated guess I would say that barge is far too small for LB02. It will probably be an Osprey or another AMT barge IMO.

[Jdam1]

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/sto...es-portsmouth/

A good video of LB05 on the move.

[imperialman]

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

Carrier strike report – Government response


Witnesses
Ursula Brennan, Permanent Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Pl...eetingId=10685

[suricata]

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

Carrier strike report – Government response


Witnesses
Ursula Brennan, Permanent Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Pl...eetingId=10685

Absolutly shocking watching this, answer the god damn questions!!!!