Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[S M H]

parking underneath bit to take pics

I saw the pictures that the navy took of the two props on a Russian carrier they had two props on the same shaft line. The inner shaft was sleeved on the rear prop like the counter rotating air screw props on the Gannet. This was made public many years later. The Russians don't need to repeat the navy's submarine feat as they can see all the information they need online. Getting Queen Elizabeth's sound signature is a different matter. If the rumour mill right its probably submerged rope nets. Anything larger would have caused the blades to be out of balance. with vibration problems . So running at 26 knots makes it sound more like slight damage. Or even the blades need adjusting routinely done on large merchant ships. When hull scrubs are undertaken by divers.

[djkeos]

Surely hope HMS Queen Elizabeth can continue her sea trials, but if necessary the dock at Rotterdam Keppel Verolme (recently taken over by Damen Shipyards) will have plenty of room to accommodate her. Dimensions dry Dock no. 7: length 405 m/ beam: 90 m/ max. draft 11.60 m Cranes: 3 (20 t, 30 t and 80 t)

[CameronPerson]

I hope she's able to continue with the trials because I couldnt handle the inevitable field day the press would have pointing out that she had to dock in a foreign country because of our lack of suitable dry docks

[PhillyJ]

The Ruskies would be around like a greased lightning, to get a replay of the vid in the Bay of Biscay (their own carrier breaking down; the tug hasn't left her side since - just in case)

That video made me seasick just watching it! Hats off to the tug crew walking around as if nothing mattered whilst the deck pitched back and forth.

[Gabriele]

The Royal Navy is budgeting to have one carrier at Very High Readiness (2 to 10 days of notice to move) and the other at High Readiness (20 to 30 days notice to move). We'll occasionally see both out at sea together, if they succeed.

[shark bait]

Good news. Very big challenges ahead to make that happen, but its a good plan.

[Aethulwulf]

This readiness profile was always the implication of the stated plan for Continuous Carrier Capability and Continuous Amphibious Readiness.

While the carriers might both occasionally be 'at sea' at the same time, it is likely that routine overseas deployments will be scheduled to avoid both carriers being on deployment at the same time.

[Gabriele]

This readiness profile was always the implication of the stated plan for Continuous Carrier Capability and Continuous Amphibious Readiness.

In theory. In practice, we had no earlier indication of what exactly they meant. The (legitimate) fear of having one effectively tied up in Pompey all the time has been voiced here and elsewhere more than once. This is the first real indication that it should not be the case.

While the carriers might both occasionally be 'at sea' at the same time, it is likely that routine overseas deployments will be scheduled to avoid both carriers being on deployment at the same time.

Unless we get to see big exercises of carrier + Lead Commando group. Then we might see a large task group going out, with one carrier "playing Ocean". Now that would be CEPP, delivered. The last time the Royal Navy deployed a Task Group worthy of the name was Taurus 2009...

[Aethulwulf]

While the carriers might both occasionally be 'at sea' at the same time, it is likely that routine overseas deployments will be scheduled to avoid both carriers being on deployment at the same time.

Unless we get to see big exercises of carrier + Lead Commando group, like the old Taurus in 2009. Then we might see a large task group going out, with one carrier "playing Ocean". Now that would be CEPP, delivered.

Just getting all the necessary pilots deck qualified for such a big exercise would be hard enough, let alone the strain on the logistics chain. I wouldn't expect anything like that to be attempted until after 2027.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Continuous Amphibious Readiness.

Difficult to get a full Cdo Rgmnt out of the two, on a continuous basis
- will that be a Company+ at VH, and other elements rolling onboard if time permits?

[cockneyjock1974]

Okay another "according to Dave Cullen post" he said on face tube 3 hours ago the issue is with the angle of the propeller! Now whether that was caused by the netting or at the time of installation is the question. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be the shaft, also IIRC the prop blades are adjustable.

[R686]

Okay another "according to Dave Cullen post" he said on face tube 3 hours ago the issue is with the angle of the propeller! Now whether that was caused by the netting or at the time of installation is the question. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be the shaft, also IIRC the prop blades are adjustable.

Well that's good and bad news, that's why we have sea tails and OT&E, but the media will find away of portraying it in a ad light.

[Aethulwulf]

Continuous Amphibious Readiness.

Difficult to get a full Cdo Rgmnt out of the two, on a continuous basis
- will that be a Company+ at VH, and other elements rolling onboard if time permits?

The requirement is to be able to deploy a 1800 man Commando group with 30 days notice to move (or maybe less). That applies to all the elements needed for the Commando group, the helicopters, the amphibious ships, a carrier, escort ships, etc.

[QEC Eye in the SKY]

Okay another "according to Dave Cullen post" he said on face tube 3 hours ago the issue is with the angle of the propeller! Now whether that was caused by the netting or at the time of installation is the question. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be the shaft, also IIRC the prop blades are adjustable.

Phew! Was beginning to wonder whether there was a more 'serious' issue as no news and no updates.

[cockneyjock1974]

Okay another "according to Dave Cullen post" he said on face tube 3 hours ago the issue is with the angle of the propeller! Now whether that was caused by the netting or at the time of installation is the question. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be the shaft, also IIRC the prop blades are adjustable.

Phew! Was beginning to wonder whether there was a more 'serious' issue as no news and no updates.

Nothing's confirmed yet mate but, it's starting to look better, another guy has said she's recommencing sea trials by the weekend

[Pymes75]

Okay another "according to Dave Cullen post" he said on face tube 3 hours ago the issue is with the angle of the propeller! Now whether that was caused by the netting or at the time of installation is the question. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be the shaft, also IIRC the prop blades are adjustable.

WTF?! Does he mean, "angle of the propellor" or 'angle of the blades'? The former sure sounds like a shaft line issue to me! How I wish Dessertswo was still around to discuss what this could mean...

[swoop]

Looking at photos of the props, they are 5 bladed and each blade can have its pitch altered (sadly, only when in dock or by bubbleheads).
If one blade is a fraction different to its 4 brothers, vibration can occur.

Being adjustable, if you strike anything in the ocean there is a possibility of movement of the blade/s. It will be interesting to find out if anything was hit, or an installation error?

I predicted back in the days of MP.net that PoW could have been pulled out of dock and enabled QE to re-enter for prop fitting and a hull clean. Sadly the MoD didn't listen to me.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Sadly the MoD didn't listen to me.

It is a constant frustration

[cockneyjock1974]

I knew something was wrong....

It has been confirmed that HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently having rectification and repair work done after a propeller issue was identified in sea trials.

Multiple sources, some on board the vessel, have told the UK Defence Journal that an issue has been identified with the prop shaft, specifically the part of the frame holding the prop in place is 12mm out of alignment, causing the prop to be slightly at an angle leading to ‘cavitation, excess noise and drag’.

It’s possible that this may have been caused by debris as earlier in the month as HMS Queen Elizabeth picked up an item of debris around one of her propeller shafts earlier in the month.

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance confirmed at the time that divers had been investigating the debris around one of the propeller shafts:

“HMS Queen Elizabeth is making progress through her sea trials programme, which is designed to test the full spectrum of her systems. The ship is performing well, however an item of debris was caught around one of the propeller shafts. This was subsequently cleared and an investigation has been undertaken.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth visited Invergordon for a planned stop to re-fuel and store the ship however she has been alongside longer than planned. We understand that the opportunity has been taken to undertake some engineering work, but sources close to the programme assure us that “this is very much in hand and, whilst I’m aware of the speculation, we expect this to be routinely undertaken and for sea trials to continue successfully.”

Earlier in the week a crew member told us that “On the 24th of this month we are going back to dry dock as on the props need to completely stripped apart”, he did add however that this was only a rumour and may not be the case.

We reached out to the ACA for comment who responded by suggesting that this isn’t out of the ordinary:

“HMS Queen Elizabeth is making progress through the sea trials programme, designed to test the full spectrum of her vast and complex systems.

We fully anticipate this will identify areas for improvement that will be addressed at sea, during routine port stops or as part of the planned engineering period.”

Sea trials monitor speed, manoeuvrability, power and propulsion as well as undertaking weapons trials and additional tests on her levels of readiness.

Following this initial period, HMS Queen Elizabeth will return to Rosyth for further testing and maintenance before heading back to sea for a second stage which aims to test her Mission Systems. She will transit to her home port of Portsmouth Naval Base to be handed over to the Royal Navy later this year.

It should be noted that the point of sea trials is to find issues and rectify them. Things will go wrong as the vessel is essentially a giant prototype and while this isn’t one of those ‘things going wrong’, we remain confident that she’ll pass her trials with flying colours.

It remains to be seen what the true cause of this issue is however, it doesn’t appear to be a major issue.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk

[bobp]

the part of the frame holding the prop in place is 12mm out of alignment

Despite the fact that this is being glossed 12mm is half a inch which is a lot. Whether they can realign the bits without dry docking is a big question. I suspect that in the big picture of things that this is no big deal but the press if they catch on to it will have a field day.

[Sunk at Narvik]

I wonder how they'll spin it?

/coat etc

[SKB]

If QE can do 26.3 kts (visible with AIS) with one propellor misaligned, imagine what she actually do with them both perfectly aligned?! She's waaay faster than her "official" specs.

[inch]

Look on the other side of it when they fix the issues if went at 26.3 knots with cavitation and excessive drag ,look what she might achieve when they fix it folks ,like I said it's just teething problems and will get fixed have no fear

[SKB]

This is why sea trials exist! To find faults in new ships and to fix them before she is commissioned as an active warship.
Sadly, I think the media will be less understanding and unsympathetic when they eventually find out. They still don't even understand why she doesn't have planes flying off her yet.

[inch]

You were fastercthan me skb lol cool that's what I was just thinking