Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[bobp]

This video shows the object behind the aft island is another Merlin.

[new guy]

Perhaps you would have preferred for to “sit out” the biggest NATO exercise in years and remain in Portsmouth harbour until such time as her 3 x Phalanx are re-installed?
Ark Royal IV, during the Cold War even involved in a collision with a Russian Kotlin Class destroyer, which had crossed under her bows, but at that time (and in fact for the last 9 years of her service) never had any Anti-Aircraft or Anti-Surface weaponry on board apart from her Aircraft.
Perhaps you would also have waited until the 4 x Sea-Cat Missile systems that she had been FFBNW were installed?

PLWS was about to have them fitted as well; Then the emergency deployment happened. In that sense, there is nothing the RN could have done.

Except to put them on in the first place. PoW as commissioned IIRC 5 years ago. Not enough time to put 3 damn Phalanxes?

They were there in the first place

Correct they were removed when PWLS went into dry dock to have her propshaft repaired.

I stand to be corrected but PWLS was fitted with Phalanx when she arrived at Rosyth for repairs and they were removed during her stay.

Yep and was just about to have them fitted back on.

[Digger22]

I can't find any images of PoW with Phalanx?

[tomuk]

I can't find any images of PoW with Phalanx?

Here is a picture. The Phalanx is just above the Spansh flag. PWLS had grey R2D2 parts to the phalanx whereas QE has white.

[SKB]

PoW doesn't have Phalanx fitted, all three were removed during her repair stay in Rosyth.


^ 12th February 2024


^ 25th February 2024

[PhillyJ]

The phalanx haven't been on PWLS for quite a while now. As far as I remember, they were removed when she was in Rosyth, as she would be in dock for an extended period of time that made sense, but not refitted.

Nipper was most experienced gunner on these when he left, possibly one of the last to actually live fire them on board before her prop issues in 2022.

You at the back, Pay Attention!

[bobp]

Merlin Helicopters and support staff from 820NAS..

[Ron5]

I'm sure I've asked before but I have forgotten the answer but why on earth do they wear army camouflage?? Especially at sea.

[abc123]

Perhaps you would have preferred for to “sit out” the biggest NATO exercise in years and remain in Portsmouth harbour until such time as her 3 x Phalanx are re-installed?
Ark Royal IV, during the Cold War even involved in a collision with a Russian Kotlin Class destroyer, which had crossed under her bows, but at that time (and in fact for the last 9 years of her service) never had any Anti-Aircraft or Anti-Surface weaponry on board apart from her Aircraft.
Perhaps you would also have waited until the 4 x Sea-Cat Missile systems that she had been FFBNW were installed?

PLWS was about to have them fitted as well; Then the emergency deployment happened. In that sense, there is nothing the RN could have done.

Except to put them on in the first place. PoW as commissioned IIRC 5 years ago. Not enough time to put 3 damn Phalanxes?

They were there in the first place

Yes, I forgot that.
That's even worse.

[bobp]

I'm sure I've asked before but I have forgotten the answer but why on earth do they wear army camouflage?? Especially at sea.

I think that its just the aircrew wearing the camouflage uniforms. But I could be wrong.

[Ron5]

I'm sure I've asked before but I have forgotten the answer but why on earth do they wear army camouflage?? Especially at sea.

I think that its just the aircrew wearing the camouflage uniforms. But I could be wrong.

Yeah but why?? They all Navy dudes and dudesses.

[new guy]

I'm sure I've asked before but I have forgotten the answer but why on earth do they wear army camouflage?? Especially at sea.

I think that its just the aircrew wearing the camouflage uniforms. But I could be wrong.

Yeah but why?? They all Navy dudes and dudesses.

Camouflaging in the sea has zero operational need... You're probably not going to keep up with a ship going 15kts when you are sneaking up to it by swimming.

[topman]

I'm sure I've asked before but I have forgotten the answer but why on earth do they wear army camouflage?? Especially at sea.

I think that its just the aircrew wearing the camouflage uniforms. But I could be wrong.

Yeah but why?? They all Navy dudes and dudesses.

There's no navy blue version of that flying clothing.

[Digger22]

I can't find any images of PoW with Phalanx?

Here is a picture. The Phalanx is just above the Spansh flag. PWLS had grey R2D2 parts to the phalanx whereas QE has white.

Yep well done. As soon as I posted that, I remembered previously commenting on her Phalanx radome being grey and QE having white ones.

[bobp]

Not understanding why the US Carrier appears to have almost zero Aircraft on deck.



Edit this was taken when PWLS was over in US waters last year.

[Ron5]

I'm sure I've asked before but I have forgotten the answer but why on earth do they wear army camouflage?? Especially at sea.

I think that its just the aircrew wearing the camouflage uniforms. But I could be wrong.

Yeah but why?? They all Navy dudes and dudesses.

There's no navy blue version of that flying clothing.

Such a hard problem to fix

[tomuk]

I know its the Daily Mail but...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... Wales.html

Last night, Mr Wallace said: 'For the last 20 years the UK's Armed Forces have not been able to deliver to Nato what they have claimed.

Meanwhile, Britain's most senior officer, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 58, has postponed his retirement to continue advising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Chief of the Defence Staff had been due to retire in November 2024.

[new guy]

Classic scaremongering ahead of a money fight IMO.

Edit: If we are able to play the selling game I’ve got five new ones that can go

[tomuk]

Classic scaremongering ahead of a money fight IMO.

Edit: If we are able to play the selling game I’ve got five new ones that can go

I'd rather go for five smaller ships with a bit of mileage on them.

[Poiuytrewq]

Classic scaremongering ahead of a money fight IMO.

If it really is being discussed then PWLS replacing QE at such short notice was extremely convenient.

PWLS must not be sold but trying to operate both CVFs concurrently within the current fiscal envelope isn’t smart. An unfriendly government may just swing the axe to stop the headcount crisis headlines.

IMO RN needs 2x CVFs and 2x LHDs with one of each at high readiness. If more funding appears then operate them all. If Australia want to get into the F35b game then a UK owned but AUKUS operated CVF forward based in Australia is worth considering particularly if a Canberra LHD comes to the U.K. to replace the LPDs

Lots of positives for RN, RAN and USN in that scenario.

Incidentally, if the T31 and T32 are underarmed to increase hull numbers RN will never have the escorts to properly escort both CVF simultaneously. Conversely, if @Repulse had his proposal enacted or if the T31 were maximised RN could put together two pretty convincing groups .

[R686]

IMO RN needs 2x CVFs and 2x LHDs with one of each at high readiness. If more funding appears then operate them all. If Australia want to get into the F35b game then a UK owned but AUKUS operated CVF forward based in Australia is worth considering particularly if a Canberra LHD comes to the U.K. to replace the LPDs

Lots of positives for RN, RAN and USN in that scenario.

Not going to work in the short term unless (until mid 2035 at least) you bring the escorts with it, With the ALP in government no chance of see skippy on the side of a F35B.

ALP in slash and burn mode when it comes to defence

[Jensy]

I know its the Daily Mail but...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... Wales.html

Last night, Mr Wallace said: 'For the last 20 years the UK's Armed Forces have not been able to deliver to Nato what they have claimed.

Meanwhile, Britain's most senior officer, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 58, has postponed his retirement to continue advising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Chief of the Defence Staff had been due to retire in November 2024.

That useless, whining, wanker Wallace pissing on a tent that he's no longer welcome in. At least he hasn't gone back to promoting the Iranian regime again.... yet.

"The HMS Prince of Wales...." really says all that needs to be said of the Mail's journalistic standards on Defence.

[Poiuytrewq]

Nice one.

[Bongodog]

I know its the Daily Mail but...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... Wales.html

Last night, Mr Wallace said: 'For the last 20 years the UK's Armed Forces have not been able to deliver to Nato what they have claimed.

Meanwhile, Britain's most senior officer, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 58, has postponed his retirement to continue advising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Chief of the Defence Staff had been due to retire in November 2024.

That useless, whining, wanker Wallace pissing on a tent that he's no longer welcome in. At least he hasn't gone back to promoting the Iranian regime again.... yet.

"The HMS Prince of Wales...." really says all that needs to be said of the Mail's journalistic standards on Defence.

And the bit saying that the T45's are going to sea without a full complement of Astor missiles. Itsn not just spelling issues in the article, the rest is BS as well, specifically mention Fort Victoria going out of service without mentioning the ordered replacements thus implying that from then on the RN will have no stores support for the carriers.

[Jensy]

I know its the Daily Mail but...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... Wales.html

Last night, Mr Wallace said: 'For the last 20 years the UK's Armed Forces have not been able to deliver to Nato what they have claimed.

Meanwhile, Britain's most senior officer, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, 58, has postponed his retirement to continue advising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Chief of the Defence Staff had been due to retire in November 2024.

That useless, whining, wanker Wallace pissing on a tent that he's no longer welcome in. At least he hasn't gone back to promoting the Iranian regime again.... yet.

"The HMS Prince of Wales...." really says all that needs to be said of the Mail's journalistic standards on Defence.

And the bit saying that the T45's are going to sea without a full complement of Astor missiles. Itsn not just spelling issues in the article, the rest is BS as well, specifically mention Fort Victoria going out of service without mentioning the ordered replacements thus implying that from then on the RN will have no stores support for the carriers.

Quite!

'The second carrier is an asset that is held in reserve and is a very expensive piece of rarely-used equipment. So if we want to address balance sheet issues, disposing of her or sharing her with say an AUKUS [Australia, UK and US] ally, is an option.'

Would that be the "spare" which we've recently mobilised at short notice to take on the from the fleet flagship?

I'd quite like to know who these MoD sources are and have the security services investigate them, and their finances, for links to hostile powers.