Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[sea_eagle]

Is anyone running a book on when QE will return to Portsmouth? What do the tide tables suggest as a likely date?
I was on the Round Tower when PWLS arrived and would love to be there to see QE join her.

[SKB]

Is anyone running a book on when QE will return to Portsmouth?

Just for fun, I'll guess QE will pass the Round Tower on Saturday 7th December at 08:02 (High Water).
Home in time for PoW commissioning on the Tuesday 10th and also for the general election vote on Thursday 12th.

[Lord Jim]

It seems that the Carriers will routinely carry a contingent of Royal Marines as a Special Purpose Task Group (SPTG) of between 50 and 300 troops, together with up to four Merlin HC4s. This will provide a modest response force should operations on shore be required much like in the days of old with Naval Landing Parties.

By the way does anyone know the new level manning on the carriers? Form what I have read during the deployment in 2018 they tried to keep to the lean manning principle with a core crew of around 680, this being not much more than was on board the Illustrious class but found a substantial uplift was required. The increase was not s big as requested though.

[PhillyJ]

[Qwerty]

St. Andrew’s day?

[Phil Sayers]

It seems that the Carriers will routinely carry a contingent of Royal Marines as a Special Purpose Task Group (SPTG) of between 50 and 300 troops, together with up to four Merlin HC4s. This will provide a modest response force should operations on shore be required much like in the days of old with Naval Landing Parties.

Should the worst happen and one of the carriers or their escorts ever be in a serious damage control situation having another 50-300 very fit people and some transport helicopters would presumably be very helpful.

[PhillyJ]

St. Andrew’s day?

Nope, it's for the commissioning day on December 10th.

[SKB]

Westlant19's HMS Dragon will arrive in Portsmouth Harbour on Monday 2nd December at 09:00, berthing bows north at South Railway Jetty.
Then at 13:00, Dragon will be moved to UHAF (Upper Harbour Ammunitioning Facility) for unloading munitions.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/portsm ... 02/12/2019

QE can't be far behind...

[PhillyJ]

St. Andrew’s day?

Nope, it's for the commissioning day on December 10th.

Son is back at home, well I say back, it's where he sleeps and eats/drinks after being out down Pompey with his shipmates and has brought home his boots to polish up and Gaiters. Apparently yesterday he spent the majority of it painting them White, the Gaiters that is, although after about 70 of them there endured a 'paint fight'...I suppose he is Warfare branch! All I need to do is to hand him a brush and some Gloss White and that'll be the woodwork sorted at home, right?!?

[SKB]

there’s one (photo) with all 3 ships. Taken From behind like this but with a much higher elevation. I can see it in a tweet by Think Defence from two days ago

Third time lucky?

[Wrekin1410]

there’s one (photo) with all 3 ships. Taken From behind like this but with a much higher elevation. I can see it in a tweet by Think Defence from two days ago

Third time lucky?

SKB Thanks. That’s the one I was referring to

You can see tyre marks just forward of the #4 landing spot line which are similar to those left after the SRVL’s made during Westlant18 and could be an indication some were made this time round but could of course be caused be some other form of activity.

[SKB]

[SKB]

(Photo: Neil Watkin @WatkinNeil)

HMS Dragon has returned to Portsmouth from Westlant 19 and berthed at South Railway Jetty (behind PoW at Victory Jetty).


(ships, planes and gaming) 2nd December 2019

[Tempest414]

Would have been a great caption ( how did you get back so soon ) ops sorry you look like your sister

[bobp]

QE is due back this week according to this article probably Saturday.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... task-group

[PhillyJ]

QE is due back this week according to this article probably Saturday.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... task-group

Rumours on one of the RN internal forums states that it might be Wednesday as told by a parent who has a child on QNLZ, but not heard anything else on it apart from that. My nipper is at HMS Excellent being refreshed on Guard practice so not been told anything from him regarding expected arrival.

[cockneyjock1974]

She’s off the coast of Devon this morning.

[PhillyJ]

QE is due back this week according to this article probably Saturday.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... task-group

Rumours on one of the RN internal forums states that it might be Wednesday as told by a parent who has a child on QNLZ, but not heard anything else on it apart from that. My nipper is at HMS Excellent being refreshed on Guard practice so not been told anything from him regarding expected arrival.

Confirmed by QHM Portsmouth shipping movements for tomorrow, at low tide apparently!

12 0925 HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH NAB OSB
13 0945 - 1145 MAIN CHANNEL CLOSED TO OUTBOUND AND INBOUND VESSELS
14 1015 - 1100 SMALL BOAT CHANNEL CLOSED TO OUTBOUND AND INBOUND VESSELS
15 1015 HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH OSB PRJ BOWS N

[cockneyjock1974]

It’s official.......10:25 tomorrow. Got the tissues and hand cream ready

[cockneyjock1974]

On a serious note does that mean they’ll be stern to stern on bearthing?

[SKB]

Both carriers will be berthed bows north in Portsmouth, PoW at VJ behind QE at PRJ.

Harbour tours are going to be busy!

[PhillyJ]

On a serious note does that mean they’ll be stern to stern on bearthing?

Nope, the PWLS move to Bows S never happened.

[SKB]

It looks like QE has brought back at least one of the UK F-35B's. So you might possibly see one on a harbour tour boat if it hasn't flown off between now and then.
Or not, if they hide it/them in the hangar....




Anyway, this is also the first time an F35 has been aboard a QE class in British waters.

[SDL]

i wasn't expecting to see a F-35 on board....

[bobp]

i wasn't expecting to see a F-35 on board....

Me neither but as they are loading some families and kids at Weymouth maybe they are on display for them to see.