Now there's a real reason for catapults... getting rid of pianos from on board ship.

@swoop: "Possibilities of getting 5-6 carriers in total, which is significant in comparison to the US."-Even more significant given that all the Chinese carriers will likely be in the Pacific most of the time. US may actually be outnumbered. F35Bs for Japan and Australia? I believe they'v...

I see that the chinese have completed their first "night trap" aircraft, landing on the Liaoning. The Russians said that it would take 10years to get carrier op's up and running so it appears the chinese have an urgency about all this... Possibilities of getting 5-6 carriers in total, whic...

Scimitar54 wrote:... it looks like it is on the superstructure

Since that is where it is mounted.

It sounds like the EMALS option isn't working out as planned: In February 2018 the U.S. Navy confirmed that it had major problems with the design and construction of its new EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System) catapult installed in its latest aircraft carrier; the USS Ford (CVN 78) and th...

NZG have got an extension on the FMS P8 Poseidon case, apparently the new DM wants to scrutinize the deal done buy the former government. With the previous track record of labour governments, they'll cock-up any deal on the table. The F-16 deal was literally the "sale of the century" and ...

Have you come across any images of that arrangement? Are the iron sights there for night use (I assume the acog comes without light intensification?) The iron sights on the ACOG are on the left side and fairly rudimentary. Night use has the red-dot and the Triji unit has the regular tube that sucks...

Interesting to see that the next Ford class ships are underway. Kennedy is 75% structurally complete and initial blocks for Enterprise are also underway.

I recently had a play with the new Lewis Machine and Tool MARS-L rifle. What a beauty and a huge surprise that MOD actually purchased a decent weapon to get rid of that heinous Steyr AUG. Genuinely ambidextrous with selector, mag release bolt charging handle mechanism and bolt release. A great triji...

seaspear wrote:Thermion coating preparation?

Hopefully not, since it was applied back in Rosyth.

I don't think PoW is actually 3,000 tonnes heavier. They just mean its advanced faster and has been more fully constructed by this point in its development. I'd anticipate the same thing. Each of the blocks were fitted out to a greater degree than QE's blocks, meaning that the weight of each block ...

Congratulations and "BZ" to the ACA once again!

CameronPerson wrote:Talking of twitter, no one go near it! I had no idea there were so many naval architects and defence analysts out there...

As Ricky so beautifully puts it: "On twitter you can meet people you wouldn't ordinarily meet - unless you went to a mental home" R. Gervais

SKB wrote:

A very nice souvenir for the plank-owners.

With only 1 SSN there and only one CV active- what can he do? To send her somewhere to hunt and leave CBG unprotected? Certainly not on a "tight reign". It is up to the offensive duties of the sub to go wherever and do whatever is required for the protection of the asset it is protecting.

Some interesting comments by the First Sea lord ..."with an attack submarine held on a reasonably tight rein. " That would be bloody stupid. The same logic that Mr German used to keep the Bf-109 fighters glued to the bomber formations instead of being able to do what fighters do best. Lea...

Prince of Wales , Rosyth today 25th October , progressing well. It's interesting to see the amount of work that is happening in dock, which certainly makes sense as the travelling time that is wasted when further away from workshops and offices certainly adds up. I wonder whether the "brake bl...

Surely SDB would be quite useful on drones as well as the f-18's as well.

That rubbish of the five permanent members having a veto vote which can completely derail anything, has to go.
A simple majority vote of members should suffice and reduce the backroom political agendas we have witnessed over the decades.


As for the UN...

An interesting bit of footage from that aerial fly around. Are there less buildings in the yard now and also is work on the basin extension happening? It now appears deeper to my eyes. They aren't the sleekest saddlebags in history, but they get the job done so far. A very apt description! Before yo...

The aft sponsons contain the Plasma gasification plant built by Pyrogenesis. After looking at a few more images of that last night, it seems like a huge afterthought to add that block onto the hull. Earlier designs seem to show a much smaller block for the missile mount. Presumably there is an abun...

Re: USS Ford photo.
That shot from port aft quarter shows what appears to be an exceptionally large block on which that mounting is based. It is not at flight deck level though. I'm now intrigued to know what is inside that section. The starboard side is similar.

sunstersun wrote:http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot ... ction.html

That image "UK CSG" (about half way down the page) is interesting, as it indicates two areas circled in red. North Atlantic and South China Sea.

A very interesting article.

Here's a question to think about while we wait for PoW's naming and float out. How would you IMPROVE the QE class in future upgrades and refits? Keep it reasonable. No "third island" or "nuclear reactor" type answers allowed! A swimming pool. "Steel beach" calls will n...

https://twitter.com/RNASCuldrose/status/898096216000659456 I would have expected a standardised tie-down layout for the helo's. 2nd cab being creative with the strops? Also of note in someone's previous post, was a near water level view from the aft port quarter which really showed how light she is...