Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[Enigmatically]

Jerry Kyd?

I think he really, really doesn't want to be late!

[CameronPerson]

Video of the crew getting in practice for procedure alpha ahead of the big day in around seven hours

[CameronPerson]

I don't think we've seen in the hangar properly since she's been at sea, but looking at it I think its definitely clear to see it's a huge step up from the somewhat cramped confines of the Invincibles..

[SKB]

This was the first ever video posted in the original version of this thread on mp.net

No, I can't sleep either! 3 hours to go!

[Caribbean]

Well - hope the weather is good and that you all get a good view. It's a bit of a long swim for me to get there, so looking for lots of good piccies.

Not in the slightest bit jealous .......
No...... really

[Ron5]

Darn! Hoping they'd have an F-35 or two hidden below.

[WhiteWhale]

Darn! Hoping they'd have an F-35 or two hidden below.

I would expect that a mock up or two will make an appearance shortly to practice handling and stowage procedures on.


There is a live stream for any interested :

[bobp]

A little misty from my vantage point but must be a hundred small craft out there with the QE. Reminds me when the RN came back from Falklands war. What an awesome sight she is.

[WhiteWhale]

Sorry/notsorry. Repost for a new page.

[Zealot]

Bloody thing keeps freezing.

[RAF>FAN]

Same for me

[CameronPerson]

BBC had to pick the worst view of the flypast half way through the thing!

[CameronPerson]

How many times have I hard that bloody line now, "no aircraft" -_- I don't understand what people expect, do we immediately start operating after first flights perhaps or as soon as the ship leaves the builders yard?

The lack of common sense on this matter or the fact that some media just write to talk outrage is infuriating. Perhaps just convey what a significant day this is without adding all the faux outrage over a matter they over simplify.

[Zealot]

Someone has been reading the Toxic Youtube chat

[CameronPerson]

Someone has been reading the Toxic Youtube chat

Sadly it's been from watching the news too

[LordJim]

If we still had the Harriers at least we could be conducting additional trials for STOVL operations. But we don't, but we should have at least a quantity of F-35s already operating in the UK by now. The slow pace of ordering and deliveries of out F-35s seems to be at odds with other nations. Our attitude of waiting for all the bugs to be irons out before actually bring the F-35s across the Atlantic may look good to the risk management types. Maybe we invite the USMC over to do our F-35 trials instead.

I know things take time but the whole CVF programme has been kneecapped by the Treasury time and time again, delaying the various parts of the programme so that regardless of the spin coming out of the MoD and Government, they are all out of step and won't come together for almost another decade, which is incompetent to say the least. In the mean time we try to fill to flight deck with Merlins to at least make it seem to be an Aircraft Carrier, though officially it isn't. Rather it is an sovereign aviation basing assets we can move around the worlds seas, looking very nice but lacking the on board assets to actually be a carrier. I cannot see the USN or French navy sending one of their carriers to sea with only one fast jet squadron and a similar number of rotary assets!

The ship does look good I admit, but it has he lowest level of self protection of any carrier afloat, at a level equal to the RFA so maybe they should be the ones operating it as it isn't a true combat vessel in its current form. To become this it need to operate at least 24 F-35s at all times together with 8 Merlin HM2s and 4 Merlin/CROWSNEST. It needs a far greater self defence capability beyond a couple of Phalanx and autocannon, with a number of Sea Ceptor canisters, say 16, at a minimum. Putting the T-45 in service with only its Sea Viper and 4.5" was embarrassing, but if the Carriers enter service as is, only carrying Merlin HM2, every navy in he world will be laughing behind our backs if not to our face.

It really sums up out whole messed up defence organisation with this programme. Constant delays, insufficient numbers procured, capabilities reduced and so on. And remember the RN cripples itself by deleting over half its escort fleet and many other assets to just get here. Ok rant over.

[CameronPerson]

Picture by Chris Terrill currently on board filming a documentary. The last time Jerry Kyd stood on the bridge as captain of an aircraft carrier being guided into Portsmouth was in November 2010 when HMS Ark Royal entered after her farewell tour

[andrew98]

http://news.sky.com/story/hms-queen-eli ... g-10990510

Pretty impressed with sky news article, not jumped on the outrage bus and actually explains it a bit why no jets....
Seems so unlike most news articles.!

[CameronPerson]

If we still had the Harriers at least we could be conducting additional trials for STOVL operations.

Although it was humiliating to retire the Harrier and create a capability gap in fixed wing naval aviation for almost a decade, in the context of the financial situation the MoD found itself in I think it was sadly the right thing to do. JFH had been run ragged by commitments in Afghanistan (sadly carrier flying severely suffered because of this) and Tornado proved to be more useful because of the range of weapons cleared for it and the number of the fleet. Harrier withdrawal was not the result of sound military advice, it was caused by political and economic considersatjons and these are never popular. However I think you're quite right that it shows the huge mismanagement that had occurred in the MoD and more worryingly, seems to happen to this day. The Treasury has been given far too much involvement with MoD matters and the defence budget has suffered. Although it's not as "political glamorous" as Education or the NHS, defence is as important if not more, without it you'd find yourself in the position where the NHS may not even matter anymore.

I also think the decision not to arm the QE class with Sea Ceptor is odd to say the least. It seems to go back to that post-Falklands thinking that Sea Dart hadn't really done much for Invincible so removal could free up space. Well now we've got a carrier where there is space and escort numbers aren't even half of what Invincible had in the South Atlantic and I'd say that since we haven't heard much in regards to the "Type 31E" I can only assume that escort numbers will continue to fall for a while as the Type 23s are withdrawn. Surely this would create the need for Sea Ceptor to give the carrier longer range coverage than its CIWS allows.

On the upside I'm just glad that atm we're actually getting two carriers rather than one!

[matt00773]

If we still had the Harriers at least we could be conducting additional trials for STOVL operations. But we don't, but we should have at least a quantity of F-35s already operating in the UK by now. The slow pace of ordering and deliveries of out F-35s seems to be at odds with other nations. Our attitude of waiting for all the bugs to be irons out before actually bring the F-35s across the Atlantic may look good to the risk management types. Maybe we invite the USMC over to do our F-35 trials instead.

I know things take time but the whole CVF programme has been kneecapped by the Treasury time and time again, delaying the various parts of the programme so that regardless of the spin coming out of the MoD and Government, they are all out of step and won't come together for almost another decade, which is incompetent to say the least. In the mean time we try to fill to flight deck with Merlins to at least make it seem to be an Aircraft Carrier, though officially it isn't. Rather it is an sovereign aviation basing assets we can move around the worlds seas, looking very nice but lacking the on board assets to actually be a carrier. I cannot see the USN or French navy sending one of their carriers to sea with only one fast jet squadron and a similar number of rotary assets!

The ship does look good I admit, but it has he lowest level of self protection of any carrier afloat, at a level equal to the RFA so maybe they should be the ones operating it as it isn't a true combat vessel in its current form. To become this it need to operate at least 24 F-35s at all times together with 8 Merlin HM2s and 4 Merlin/CROWSNEST. It needs a far greater self defence capability beyond a couple of Phalanx and autocannon, with a number of Sea Ceptor canisters, say 16, at a minimum. Putting the T-45 in service with only its Sea Viper and 4.5" was embarrassing, but if the Carriers enter service as is, only carrying Merlin HM2, every navy in he world will be laughing behind our backs if not to our face.

It really sums up out whole messed up defence organisation with this programme. Constant delays, insufficient numbers procured, capabilities reduced and so on. And remember the RN cripples itself by deleting over half its escort fleet and many other assets to just get here. Ok rant over.

STOVL trials are already being conducted by UK F-35s - see video below. F-35s will be operational next year and there will be over 40 by the early 20s when QE ramps up operational capability. Nearly everything you've written in your statement is actually the opposite of what is the case.

[Wrekin1410]

A couple of pictures from my phone taken from the beach between Square and Round towers.

Up close, and especially looking up at her as she passed the beach, she's incredibly impressive. I really like all the angles and how, due to the number and shape of the islands she looks almost a completely different ship when seen from each angle.

Glad I took the time and was able to come down to see her arrive. I've said it before but all involved should be incredibly proud.

IMG_3330.JPG

IMG_3322.JPG

IMG_3311.JPG

[dmereifield]

A couple of pictures from my phone taken from the beach between Square and Round towers.

Up close, and especially looking up at her as she passed the beach, she's incredibly impressive. I really like all the angles and how, due to the number and shape of the islands she looks almost a completely different ship when seen from each angle.

Glad I took the time and was able to come down to see her arrive. I've said it before but all involved should be incredibly proud.

IMG_3330.JPG

IMG_3322.JPG

IMG_3311.JPG

Yea agreed, she, and the event itself this morning, was spectacular. Just a shame we didn't get a few more airframes in the fly past....and I would have loved to see a few F35s on deck too....

[ArmChairCivvy]

Great shot, the middle one! The pros will be envious...

[PhillyJ]

Not great pics, but taken with my phone as I was looking after 3 kids so not able to take anything grander! The biggest bug bear was whoever was on the PA system, if he had said 'THE' HMS Queen Elizabeth once more I was going to track him down and shove his mic where the sun don't shine.

[PhillyJ]

ok, why are some of my pics upside down? They seem fine on my lappy.