Search found 226 matches

by Old RN
05 Mar 2016, 17:29
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: River Class (OPV) (RN)
Replies: 5411
Views: 1420408
South Africa

Re: river I/I.5 and II patrol vessels

I may be seen as slightly optimistic, but given the supposed simplicity of its integration and fire control, if the OPVs had two quad packs of Sea Ceptor glued to the superstructure it would give them a potential impact that little else could achieve so cheaply. If I understand the claimed performan...
by Old RN
13 Feb 2016, 06:38
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142684
South Africa

Re: Future 'Lighter' Frigate

In the original post second world war number system the type 12 and following numbers were ASW frigates, the type 41s were the air defence frigates (type 41 was the Cat class with 2 Mk6 4.5" turrents and hence the type 42 and so on to the type 45), the type 61 were the radar picket frigates wit...
by Old RN
09 Feb 2016, 05:42
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1994
Views: 555065
South Africa

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN)

The WR21 gas turbine uses a Breyton cycle that promises the same efficiency as a combined cycle gas turbine design using precoolers, intercoolers and recuperator. It is more complex than a standard open cycle gas turbine, and in the case of the WR21 does not appeared to have been as good as hoped. I...
by Old RN
09 Feb 2016, 05:35
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464845
South Africa

Re: UK's Future T26 Frigate.

Perhaps I am showing my age, but I served on Devonshire in the early 1970s and it was 6200 tons. That included a massive missile system (Seaslug) that had a magazine that was 250ft long, a large helicopter (Wessex), two short range missile systems (Seacat) and two 4.5 gun systems. That was seen to b...
by Old RN
07 Feb 2016, 11:37
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia (1954-1997) (ex RN)
Replies: 148
Views: 51054
South Africa

Re: Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia (1954-1997) (RN)

Good grief, that brings back memories. The Queen came to Dartmouth in 1972 to attend the Lord High Admiral's parade, as that was her RN title at the time (I think she has passed it to the Duke of Edinburgh since then?). I was one of the Officer Cadets passing out from our time at Dartmouth and (besi...
by Old RN
04 Feb 2016, 16:08
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Albion Class Amphibious Assault Ships (LPD) (RN)
Replies: 568
Views: 202067
South Africa

Re: Albion Class Amphibious Assault Ship (LPD) (RN)

Deleted by Old RN!
by Old RN
31 Jan 2016, 07:33
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 1994
Views: 555065
South Africa

Re: Type 45 Destroyer (Daring Class) (RN)

I suspect the real T45 propulsion problem is poor low power performance of the WR21 intercoled, recuperated cycle (a Breyton cycle). The intention was that it should operate through a much wider power range than previous GTs and this may have not worked out. So the T45s are like an old Tyne/Olympus ...
by Old RN
08 Jan 2016, 17:53
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
Replies: 1195
Views: 366879
South Africa

Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)

The level of accomodation is also a function of the accomodation standards. When I was on HMS Tenby in 1972 with hammocks (double slung) we got 40 of us in one messdeck! I suspecg that if there was a Falklands II one could overload QE by at least 500 over the design figure. I must point out that in ...
by Old RN
04 Jan 2016, 15:17
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
Replies: 1195
Views: 366879
South Africa

Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)

I suggest that people are fogetting the changes (in this thread) over the last 18months. We were talking about whether the second QE would be sold, scrapped or put in deep reserve. Now the RN is going to have them both manned, with each having a deployable F35 squadron, by 2023. To achieve this the ...
by Old RN
27 Dec 2015, 05:49
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409550
South Africa

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

Looking at the two deck plans it is noticable how much of the deck is available for parked aircraft that do not have to be repositioned during a launch/recover cycle. It looks to me as though the CVF STOVL layout leads to much less aircraft movements for a fully loaded carrier. Am I missing something?
by Old RN
20 Dec 2015, 06:07
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409550
South Africa

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

How many V22s would be needed for COD on QE & PoW? I suspect that 2 or 3 would be adequate and that might be viable if the UK had the same arrangement as the Airseeker. Using US based support and training facilities but with RN/RAF flight crew?
by Old RN
14 Dec 2015, 15:58
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk.1) (RAF)
Replies: 1271
Views: 456342
South Africa

Re: Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Future Maritime Patrol Aircraft) (RAF)

As I understand the Indians have added a MAD boom. That and the integration of the Stingray torpedo in place of the Mk54 is all that should be sensibly considered.
by Old RN
13 Dec 2015, 05:08
Forum: British Army
Topic: FV3805 Restoration Kickstarter is funded
Replies: 10
Views: 6852
South Africa

Re: FV3805 Restoration Kickstarter is funded

5.5" was in service with the South African army in Angola until at least the mid 1980s.
by Old RN
04 Dec 2015, 16:12
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409550
South Africa

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

The original name for the Churchill class SSNs was to be the 'S' class following on from the 'R' class (Resolution class) but when Churchill died the class was renamed to honour him. The 'S' class (Swiftsure) then followed.
by Old RN
24 Nov 2015, 17:01
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (1998-2018) (ex RN)
Replies: 1195
Views: 366879
South Africa

Re: Ocean Class Helicopter Carrier (LPH) (RN)

Is this not a function of crew numbers. In 2018 PoW will be needing its crew, about the same number as Ocean will release?
by Old RN
23 Nov 2015, 17:39
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion
Replies: 15444
Views: 4409550
South Africa

Re: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

If one of the QEs is enharnced for amphibious function it would imply that both are normally deployable as part of a surge, otherwise they would enharnce both of them?
by Old RN
23 Nov 2015, 16:59
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 31 Frigate (Inspiration Class) [News Only]
Replies: 8470
Views: 2142684
South Africa

Re: "Light Frigate" (RN)

Is that a bit like the Type 21s being ordered to provide the "low" to the Type 22 being the "high"?
by Old RN
12 Nov 2015, 21:38
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Avro Shackleton
Replies: 8
Views: 7128
South Africa

Re: Avro Shackleton

Was the Shackleton the last piston engined frontline aircraft in service in NATO and yhe Warsaw Pact?
by Old RN
07 Nov 2015, 05:53
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724298
South Africa

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Yes - but the USMC F35Bs are in service now!
by Old RN
06 Nov 2015, 17:37
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: F-35B Lightning (RAF & RN)
Replies: 6067
Views: 1724298
South Africa

Re: F-35B Lightning II (RN & RAF)

Given that the F35B has a better range and manoeuvrability than the F18E/F will thag mean that a USMC LPH will outclass/outrange a USN CVN? :D
by Old RN
04 Oct 2015, 05:51
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464845
South Africa

Re: UK's Future T26 Frigate.

The change out of GT modules has been a feature of RN ships since the Type 21, Type 22 and Type 42s came out in the early 1970s. The only RN GT which did not do it where the County class with the G6 turbine, which was designed more like a steam turbine and was not running hours limited. HMS Invincib...
by Old RN
25 Sep 2015, 18:10
Forum: British Army
Topic: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)
Replies: 2802
Views: 714888
South Africa

Re: British Army Future Wheeled APC

Just a thought. OMC in South Africa (a BAE company) is building Patrias as "Honey Badgers" to replace the SA Army's Ratels. Would the BAE involvement help them in the UK programme?
by Old RN
21 Sep 2015, 14:00
Forum: Royal Navy
Topic: Type 26 Frigate (City Class) (RN) [News Only]
Replies: 5461
Views: 1464845
South Africa

Re: UK's Future T26 Frigate.

The 196 is the rounds in the fully automatic system. Could there be a larger manual transfer system as well? On the 4.5 Mk8 there are a number of rounds that can be fired before the gun crew are mobilised. Is the 196 rounds merely an extension to that number? IIRC the older RN type 12s and County Cl...
by Old RN
10 Sep 2015, 13:15
Forum: Joint Service
Topic: Airbus Zephyr - HAPS
Replies: 189
Views: 99871
South Africa

Re: UK MoD To Acquire High-Flying Zephyr 8 UAVs

Two thoughts.
1. Could it carry a synthetic aperture radar? Some are very small.
2. Could it provide some kind of coverage to support the QE? Three months on station?