How light is light? Could range from being a stripped down T26, the general purpose variant that has always been mooted, or down to the Black Swan concept. Still if it means ordering them in greater numbers than 5 can't be all bad. Do we really need a ship as large as a WWII cruiser going general pi...

Sunset and evening star And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark...

On the subject of aircraft accidents I haven't seen a crane for winching planes that have ditched in any of renders or CGI of the QEC. It seems to have been a common feature of previous UK aircraft carriers.

If the thermal coating is only getting applied to parts of the flight deck will that have implications for the F-35s being able to land using SRVL method?
Wondering if QNLZ is just getting a square of thermal coating at the stern ala USS Wasp arrangement, or whether the entire runway will be coated?

From my experience on HMS Invincible after the WRNS moved onboard, the wardroom carpet wont be the only thing getting laid!

I think the smart money is on the up-graded Reapers with bigger wings, enhanced sensors. Maybe weapon upgrade to include Brimstone

marktigger wrote:with Ark royal there was RFA Lynness she was dedicated to supplying avation support

Indeed, then we flogged her to the states, they got about 5 years service from her as the USNS Siruis.

arfah wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33762564

Anti ISIL strikes in Iraq extended to March 2016

Think it's March 2017.

when is first one due to arrive in UK? Tidespring (in the photo) is due to be handed over to the MOD, in South Korea, on 15 october this year. She will then sail to the UK with a RFA/RN crew on board, and head into Falmouth (?) for fitting out of the "sensible" equipment (weapons, comms, ...

marktigger wrote:surely getting the flow noise down can be worked out at the design stage of all hulls?

Once the Gas Turbine has kicked in the flow noise from the hull is pretty irrelevant.

The Armchair Soldier wrote:

What a magnificent view of five marvels of British engineering captured in a single image courtesy of RN photographer PO(Phot) Owen Cooban.

I would add those 4 Resolution class SSBN to the mix. The engineering in those was pretty marvellous!

I'm sure they had a secondary Air Defence role with 2 x Sidewinders and an Aden cannon. I guess the new Hawks have a similar role?

The article goes on about the concept of launching drones and Special forces from the QEC. Now that we have gone back to the ski jump that must limit the options for UAV operations from them?

Nice find Gabriele , it does appear to the schematics that the captain has a bit of exercise getting between his quarters and the bridge easily more than any other R.N ship It's actually a very similar set up to previous Royal Navy aircraft carriers. He has his main cabin aft as indicated on the dr...

SKB wrote:Commissioning day would be its 'finished' day, as it would be entering active service and therefore, 'finished'.

Commissioning day will still be no where near when she is fully operational though..

Does this mean the £8 billion contingency pot will remain intact?

I think Gabriele has got the location for future strike missile silos spot on. I have a friend on HMS Dragon. He tells me there is a very large void space just aft of the gun which is currently used as a gym, and that it's reserved for 'future weapon systems'.

It seems she has her DDS installed too: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidparody/18149967062/ Yes, the DDS was already installed on Astute when she made her maiden visit to Gibraltar in March 2014. (See here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mosh70/sets/72157648993012874 ). I think the Daily Mail and...