Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[SKB]

Three. One on the stern, plus two forward. Thats full 360º coverage.... sort of.... at a certain range. Plus, she'll be turning.
She also has mini-guns and 30-mm DS30M Mk2 guns (yeah ok, I wiki'd that...). I would hope and assume that the other stern quarter sponson is reserved for a compact anti-air/ship missile system, or at least, a decoy launcher.

(@NavyLookout)

[Digger22]

It must be the heat! I've seen that coverage diagram before too!

[Ron5]

It must be the heat! I've seen that coverage diagram before too!

Must be affecting my eyesight as well because I'm damned if I can see a Phalanx in that photo.

[benny14]

If there was a reason to scramble QE this is it. Fires in Greece, a need for Helicopters there, she should go now! Best possible PR and she could really make a difference. One of the reasons she exists.

Not worth devastating her trials schedule for a token gesture. If we want to help, fly the helicopters over there instead.

I would hope and assume that the other stern quarter sponson is reserved for a compact anti-air/ship missile system, or at least, a decoy launcher.

The platform looks too thin for a missile silo.

Always found it odd that there is no CIWS there. Looking at the forward position spacing, it would suggest there is enough room for a CIWS on the rear. I did notice in earlier renders that the rear 30mm platforms seemed to also have a "Surface Ship Torpedo Defence" positioned on them.

[abc123]

Three. the other stern quarter sponson

Why not four? On that stern quarter sponson?

[SKB]

1) Three has already been demonstrated to provide 360º coverage on HMS Ocean and the Invincible class carriers.
2) Three are cheaper and more efficient than four.
3) The RN want to deliberately annoy obsessive neatness and symmetry perfectionists with odd numbers.

I've had a quick go at widening the three Phalanx arc coverage on the earlier diagram (by NavyLookout) by moving the three Phalanx to new positions, which would need a refit and modifications to the sponsons. It's only for fun, it would probably be cheaper just to buy and fit a fourth Phalanx on that stern quarter sponson:

Phalanx Arcs v3.JPG

[PhillyJ]

Nice try SKB, but I'd hate to be out on deck when the front 2 decide to shoot anything coming up behind! As an aside, and I could probably trawl all the way back throught the thread for the answer but I cant be bothered, when is HMS POW expected/planned/hoped to be in Pompey Harbour? I know it's sometime in 2019 but the month/season I seem to have forgotten.

[SKB]

Nice try SKB, but I'd hate to be out on deck when the front 2 decide to shoot anything coming up behind!

Why? Don't Phalanx have a mechanical/software rotation limiter in them to prevent firing into the ship? (represented by the red lines ^)

[Ianmb17]

Impossible engineering on sky channel 255 6pm aircraft carrier how HMS Queen Elizabeth was built

[CR4ZYHOR5E]

I wouldn’t bother, is pretty cack half way through. An hour long programme with approximately 67 secs of footage of QE. They recycle the same CGI and graphics and th format goes something like this...

‘The QE has propellers, let’s spend the next 10 minutes looking at why boats need propellers’...

Hopefully the second half is better.

[SKB]

See HMNB Portsmouth thread, date 25 July 2018. Found something....

[SKB]

(Defense & Aerospace Report) 25th July 2018

Adm. Sir Philip Jones, RN, First Sea Lord and chief of naval staff of the Royal Navy, says the service is planning "a full carrier-strike operational work-up in UK waters in 2020" that will include "a full air wing" in preparation for its deployment of an HMS Queen Elizabeth-led carrier strike group in 2021, and discusses the future of maritime combat, US-UK naval collaboration, the Elizabeth's upcoming US deployment and much more in a wide-ranging, July 2018 interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow outside London. Our coverage was sponsored by Farnborough International and Leonardo DRS.

@3:55 1SL: PoW will begin sea trials Summer 2019.

[Ron5]

Presumably a full air wing courtesy of the USMC.

[abc123]

1)
2) Three are cheaper and more efficient than four.
]

Ok, I understand cheaper argument, but why more efficient?
Isn't the more, the merrier? Especially because of no CAMM launchers on carriers...

[seaspear]

Is there any consideration of using the baseline two phalanx , if I was on some ship with a salvo of missiles heading its way I would be under the school of more is better regarding its defence

[benny14]

Is there any consideration of using the baseline two phalanx

Fairly sure all are either already upgraded or in the process of been upgraded to version 1B.

[seaspear]

Baseline 2 is the upgrade for the Phalanx 1b radar in improving detection

[frostchamber]

Upgrade of UK Phalanx to 1B Baseline 2 is well in hand. The original FMS Notification was back in 2011.

[Ron5]

Some of the early computer renderings of CVF showed 4 Phalanx. I assume one fell victim to cost reduction.

I'll see if I can dig up an image.

Here's the first I found, there's probably a lot more.

1-index.jpg

[SKB]

Thales UK 2008 concept of CVF (Carrier Vessel Future). Note the placement of Phalanx and missile launchers!


@0:50 Ark Royal (R07) ski-jump ramp!

[Ron5]

Ah those were the days, no sign of Marine Corps markings and still a full deck.

[Rambo]

Some of the early computer renderings of CVF showed 4 Phalanx. I assume one fell victim to cost reduction.

I'll see if I can dig up an image.

Here's the first I found, there's probably a lot more.

1-index.jpg

What i dont understand is, why cut x1 Phalanx to save money. Surely we already have some sitting spare in storage somewhere. Seems daft especially as she has no other self defence capabilities / SAM system. Perhaps there is another reason.

[RNFollower]

I know what you mean. But the plan will always be to have escorts around when it counts

[SKB]

[PhillyJ]

Well after following the design and build of this class from an early stage I've just found out that my eldest Son who is completing his Phase2 training in the RN may be part of the crew for HMS POW.