Future Solid Support Ship

[RichardIC]

Opportunity for a career in a region of the U.K. where there is jobs but not a lot of careers can be an attractive option.

Yep, I accepted a job in Cornwall when I was young and single and accommodation was being thrown in with the package.

[Phil Sayers]

Right next door to Cornwall one of the most deprived Counties with a high proprotion of poorly paid tourist based jobs. Might be easier than you think to recruit staff

Yes and furthermore people in Cornwall where I currently live (and to a slightly lesser extent Devon where I used to live) have a traditional affinity for the sea which might make the opportunity be viewed as more attractive than in some other parts of the country.

[RichardIC]

The video says Heavy RAS is fitted, I thought that had been scrapped?

Seems to indicate not HRAS unfortunately.

[R686]

The video says Heavy RAS is fitted, I thought that had been scrapped?

Seems to indicate not HRAS unfortunately.

Yes, bit of a difference in working loads. between 2.5T and 5T

I didn't realise a complete F35 engine was so heavy

Under a £25M contract, Rolls Royce has already developed and built a prototype Heavy Replenishment at Sea rig (HRAS) that will equip the FSS. A test rig was installed and successfully trialled at training establishment HMS Raleigh between 2013-14 and has been left in place as a training aid. Capable of transferring 25 loads per hour weighing up to 5 tonnes, this system promises to be highly efficient, able to supply the carrier at sea quickly. This reduces the window of vulnerability when ships have restricted manoeuvrability as they steam in parallel for RAS. Most importantly HRAS is also capable of transferring a complete Pratt & Witney F135 engine that propels the F-35. The ability to change aircraft engines at sea is an important consideration for extended operations and there is limited space to store such large items on the carrier.

https://www.navylookout.com/fleet-solid ... ning%20aid.

[SW1]

Have they bought any spare f35 engines I’d be amazed if they have any more than about 1 or 2 as spares?

[Scimitar54]

Well I guess’s that must be the modus operandi of the RAF then, it certainly is not that of the FAA.

[dmereifield]

Do they have such a large supply of spares that a heavy RAS is needed? How many spares can they store on the carrier? If they get through those, can't extras be delivered via helicopter?

[Poiuytrewq]

Do they have such a large supply of spares that a heavy RAS is needed? How many spares can they store on the carrier? If they get through those, can't extras be delivered via helicopter?

And where does heavy lift UAVs enter the equation?

The payload is up to 700kg now and will keep increasing going forward.

[Repulse]

I read somewhere that it was thought that there was sufficient space to store heavy supplies including engines on the carrier.

Having said that a Chinook can carry up to 10 tonnes of supplies, so whilst HAS would have meant overall supply transfer times would have been shorter, I can’t see a significant gap.

[Bongodog]

Do they have such a large supply of spares that a heavy RAS is needed? How many spares can they store on the carrier? If they get through those, can't extras be delivered via helicopter?

Its everything required to keep a mobile airfield with 1600 personnel operational, the heavier each individual RAS load can be the shorter time two large ships are in close proximity, also the cost per pallet of RAS by line between ships is a fraction of the cost of doing so by helicopter.

[G White]

Are they calling it Heavy RAS as it can carry heavier weights than before but not necessarily the originally specified "Heavy RAS" weights?

[dmereifield]

Do they have such a large supply of spares that a heavy RAS is needed? How many spares can they store on the carrier? If they get through those, can't extras be delivered via helicopter?

Its everything required to keep a mobile airfield with 1600 personnel operational, the heavier each individual RAS load can be the shorter time two large ships are in close proximity, also the cost per pallet of RAS by line between ships is a fraction of the cost of doing so by helicopter.

OK, fair enough, a nice to have but not essential. The RN have decided the investment was not worth it

[Bongodog]

Do they have such a large supply of spares that a heavy RAS is needed? How many spares can they store on the carrier? If they get through those, can't extras be delivered via helicopter?

Its everything required to keep a mobile airfield with 1600 personnel operational, the heavier each individual RAS load can be the shorter time two large ships are in close proximity, also the cost per pallet of RAS by line between ships is a fraction of the cost of doing so by helicopter.

OK, fair enough, a nice to have but not essential. The RN have decided the investment was not worth it

Not sure what the RAS weight limit is for Fort Victoria, but would guess its rather less than 2.5 tonnes from looking at RAS's on videos, so it will be a significant improvement, I recall seeing somewhere that the only reason for going to 5 tonnes was for the capability of lifting an F35 engine, it was probably felt that it wasn't worth the extra money for a rarely used capability

[Poiuytrewq]

Excellent read.
https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-th ... ip-design/

[shark bait]

'No portholes because they cost too much' says so much about the shit show of an MOD we have!

[Bongodog]

'No portholes because they cost too much' says so much about the shit show of an MOD we have!

As a blank wall will be in place surely its the classic RN "Fitted for but not with"