Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[Scimitar54]

What about the Wildcat(s)?

[serge750]

50 ships are supposed to be taking part - so maybe there will be some others frigates ( other than a T23 ) to help out ? would of thought as steadfast defender gets into full swing more detail/photos will be posted....

[Ron5]

What about the Wildcat(s)?

Boat swarms

Missile/drone swarms

[Scimitar54]

A considered response!

It is almost a certainty that she will not be going anywhere near a likelyhood of Missile/Drone Swarms, unless she were to be adequately escorted.

[Turnturtle]

Yes, she should be adequately escorted.....but surely she should be adequately armed?

[Scimitar54]

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?

[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.

[abc123]

If only we could weaponise social media posts. Every crew member could then destroy missiles and drones with their mobiles (which would never need reloading).

[Poiuytrewq]

[serge750]

Great to see her in good company, are they the 2 bagger merlins aft ? cant zoom in

[new guy]

Great to see her in good company, are they the 2 bagger merlins aft ? cant zoom in

yes

[Ron5]

Seven jets?

[sol]

Seven jets?

Edit: Yup, it is 7, I don't know how I completely missing the one in the middle. Some media channels are saying that 8 F-35 are embarked, I couldn't find any official statement which would confirm that or give any other number at all.

[bobp]

I can see 7 F35B on deck on one of the above pictures.

[Scimitar54]

So did I, but the eighth might just be on the Forward Lift (I could not retain the focus as I zoomed in).

[bobp]

So did I, but the eighth might just be on the Forward Lift (I could not retain the focus as I zoomed in).

That looks like the front end of a merlin you can see te two small windows beneath the windscreen.

[Scimitar54]

How about what is on the near side rather than the )agreed) Merlin aft of it?

Not sure if they would mix the aircraft types on a lift though?

[bobp]

Its a wildcat. There is something forward of the aft island lift but i cant make it out. See attached video you can pause frames by clicking on screen.

[Scimitar54]

Thank-you, bobp. It might be “the eighth but as you say, it is just not quite clear enough.

[abc123]

Rather concerning that neither TIDESURGE nor PWLS have Phalanx or any other form of self-protection.....so if something unexpected occurs (history shows that it often does) they are completely undefended against any 'leakers' that might get past the escorts.

Even more worryng is the lack of RNs escorts.

[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?

[Scimitar54]

They were actually fitted (and then subsequently removed) during the last 4+ years.

[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

[bobp]

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.

[tomuk]

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.