Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[serge750]

Our F35 pilots are starved of actual Carrier flying hours. We could and should put 20 jets on her. We're stuck in an endless Training rotation due to little Carrier experience.

It will remain that way until at least the late 2020's. Not enough personnel or aircraft yet. And, arguably, the F-35 is still at a limited combat capability until the Block IV weapons and enhancements arrive.

[Bongodog]

Our F35 pilots are starved of actual Carrier flying hours. We could and should put 20 jets on her. We're stuck in an endless Training rotation due to little Carrier experience.

We could theoretically put 20 jets out of the 28 we presently have onto Queen Elizabeth, that would probably be every jet that isn't in maintenance at present. Then the OCU stops training new pilots and we have shot ourselves in the foot.

With the pace of deliveries so slow we have no other viable option other than the one being taken. 20 jets requires two operational squadrons, presently we only have one.

[Scimitar54]

Correct at the present time. However, by the end of this year we should have 2 x notionally operational squadrons (with 18 x operational cabs between them) PLUS a fully equipped OCU, subject of course to aircraft undergoing maintenance. Not so bad then, with another 6 aircraft due to arrive during 2024.

[serge750]

Maybe in 25 they will push the boat out & go for a 2 operational squadron CSG for a short deployment ? ......

[Scimitar54]

They do seem to have already committed to 24 in 25 for CSG25 to the Indo-Pacific.

[new guy]

They do seem to have already committed to 24 in 25 for CSG25 to the Indo-Pacific.

where?

[Scimitar54]

Reported by Navy Lookout!

[new guy]

Reported by Navy Lookout!

Damn, quick ramp up.
21, 8. ( + 10 USMC)
22, 3.
23, 8.
24, ?.
25, 24.

[Tempest414]

Don't forget the USMC can and still may deploy jets to our carriers when needed add to this that when operating in the Med we could take Italian F-35's and when in the Pacific we could host F-35's from Singapore ,South Korea or Japan once they get there F-35b

[Jackstar]

[serge750]

Some more really great photos:

[Repulse]

Starting to get interesting…

https://x.com/comukcsg/status/170262562 ... AEmCklKdgA

[bobp]

Meanwhile on the PWLS the gunners have been having fun..

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1701989905096716702?s=20


https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1702767729969660134?s=20

[wargame_insomniac]

Meanwhile on the PWLS the gunners have been having fun..

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1701989905096716702?s=20


https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1702767729969660134?s=20

I would be happier in the current environment of potential of massed small boats and/or drones attack, that if the PWLS had been firing 30mm guns, but those still remain Fitted For But Not With, despite all that time she spent in dry dock.....

[Scimitar54]

I’ll look on the positive side (happier now that the mini-guns have been replaced by 0.5” Machine Guns). Hopefully PWLS has those by now!

[bobp]

PWLS progress...

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1703475797393113210?s=20

[PhillyJ]

Meanwhile on the PWLS the gunners have been having fun..

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1701989905096716702?s=20


https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1702767729969660134?s=20

I would be happier in the current environment of potential of massed small boats and/or drones attack, that if the PWLS had been firing 30mm guns, but those still remain Fitted For But Not With, despite all that time she spent in dry dock.....

pretty sure there are no plans to fit 30mm on the QE class, would have been happier if they had put her Phalanx back before departure to the US, but heyho.

[PhillyJ]

I’ll look on the positive side (happier now that the mini-guns have been replaced by 0.5” Machine Guns). Hopefully PWLS has those by now!

Indeed, they got replaced a while back on PWLS before her enforced quarantine to Rosyth, nipper was trained in them before her leaving last year to the IoW, said he preferred them to the mini-guns.

[wargame_insomniac]

Meanwhile on the PWLS the gunners have been having fun..

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1701989905096716702?s=20


https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1702767729969660134?s=20

I would be happier in the current environment of potential of massed small boats and/or drones attack, that if the PWLS had been firing 30mm guns, but those still remain Fitted For But Not With, despite all that time she spent in dry dock.....

pretty sure there are no plans to fit 30mm on the QE class, would have been happier if they had put her Phalanx back before departure to the US, but heyho.

Thre were plans as included in initial designs but standard RN bullsh*t FFBNW.

[tomuk]

Meanwhile on the PWLS the gunners have been having fun..

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1701989905096716702?s=20


https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1702767729969660134?s=20

I would be happier in the current environment of potential of massed small boats and/or drones attack, that if the PWLS had been firing 30mm guns, but those still remain Fitted For But Not With, despite all that time she spent in dry dock.....

pretty sure there are no plans to fit 30mm on the QE class, would have been happier if they had put her Phalanx back before departure to the US, but heyho.

Thre were plans as included in initial designs but standard RN bullsh*t FFBNW.

Not just in the plans the DS30s were purchased back in 2016.

IGMR PT, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract for the supply of 12 x 30mm Calibre Gun Systems to MSI Defence Systems Ltd (MSI-DSL) for Queen Elizabeth and Mars Tankers 1-4.

[Jackstar]

[Jackstar]

I’ll look on the positive side (happier now that the mini-guns have been replaced by 0.5” Machine Guns). Hopefully PWLS has those by now!

This will provide greater accuracy for the Royal Navy 0.5 machine guns.

[bobp]

PWLS arrives in the US....

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1704343439599415743?s=20

[SKB]

(Navy Lookout/Royal Navy) 20th September 2023

HMS Prince of Wales Atlantic crossing completed. Conducting replenishment at sea with USNS Supply and escorted by USS Oscar Austin.

[bobp]

Arriving in NS Mayport...

https://x.com/HMSPWLS/status/1704591830296170815?s=20