Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers - News and Discussion

[SKB]

(UKDJ) 13th August 2021

We think HMS Queen Elizabeth would look dazzling in a bit of dazzle...

[Enigmatically]

RAS! 1st time transferring live munitions today, 14,540kg of them! Loaded on from RFA FortVictoria, along with food and aviation fuel, keeping our sailors and jets going at sea!

Is that press release timed just before she transits waters that China claims?

[PhillyJ]

What are you suggesting there E!

[Scimitar54]

Trial it on an F35B and test the difference?

[PhillyJ]

PWLS out for a quick sprint from tomorrow lunchtime, due back soon after though.

[The Armchair Soldier]

First ever cross-decking for RN F-35s?

[Ron5]

Can't be true, any fule no you can't cross deck from a STOVL carrier

[R686]

(HMSQNLZ) 17th August 2021

RAS! 1st time transferring live munitions today, 14,540kg of them! Loaded on from RFA FortVictoria, along with food and aviation fuel, keeping our sailors and jets going at sea!

Something I never realised they did when transferring EO via RAS the cradle or whatever they call it in the RN has to have placards, don’t ever remember that being the case in handling EO in the ADF unless it was in a sealed container which had the class 1 diamonds on it

[SKB]

(rpgvideos) 22nd August 2021

[bobp]

QE lit up in rainbow colours.....


Bit bright for a warship.

[SDL]

Just as they're going through waters China claims is theirs... good timing

[Enigmatically]

Just as they're going through waters China claims is theirs... good timing

Indeed
Tweet showing that they loaded live weapons? Tick
Tweet showing belief in non-discrimination? Tick

I'm not sure who thought the RN had bottled it. To me the only way they could more clearly demonstrating defiance is by expressing some support for Uyghurs

[SW1]

All 16x500lb bombs they must be panic stricken……….

Mind you it’s always gd to have a pr stunt just while your asking for there help in holding off recognising the Taliban gov so you can get out of Kabul.

[RichardIC]

[Enigmatically]

All 16x500lb bombs they must be panic stricken……….

Mind you it’s always gd to have a pr stunt just while your asking for there help in holding off recognising the Taliban gov so you can get out of Kabul.

You are missing the point. It isn't about the number of weapons. It is an armed warship transmitting waters that China claims. Merchants can transit territorial waters. (Armed) warships cannot without permission.
And this has been planned long before Afghan kicked off. Hardly the RNs fault

[J. Tattersall]

Merchants can transit territorial waters. (Armed) warships cannot without permission.

Actually UNCLOS does allow the right of transit passage for warships through territorial seas (sometimes called straits passage).

[Tempest414]

firstly I am sure QE has weapons stored and the weapons transfer is just a EX that needs ticking as she has just left Guam. Second she will sail through waters claimed by China but highly contested by many others as said before she needs to do no more than just be in the Western Pacific and work with allies to show UK commitment

[Caribbean]

There are two forms of innocent passage, straights passage, which applies in situations like the English Channel, where the land constrains where you can sail, and “an international marine traffic management channel “, where there is open water to one side, which applied to the situation off Crimea a few weeks ago.

[Enigmatically]

Merchants can transit territorial waters. (Armed) warships cannot without permission.

Actually UNCLOS does allow the right of transit passage for warships through territorial seas (sometimes called straits passage).

Yes, but not taking on of weapons or operating aircraft. Or use for PR purposes. Hence why I feel they are making a point

[Ron5]

Merchants can transit territorial waters. (Armed) warships cannot without permission.

Actually UNCLOS does allow the right of transit passage for warships through territorial seas (sometimes called straits passage).

Yes, but not taking on of weapons or operating aircraft. Or use for PR purposes. Hence why I feel they are making a point

A point not already made by F-35's on deck with missiles under their wings and escorts with full VLS?

I think a much likelier explanation was that they wanted to practice RASing bombs. The message/point was a warship taskgroup sailing thru international waters. Moving bombs means JS in that context.

[Ron5]

Meanwhile back in the UK, the MoD has asked Belfast and Rosyth to provide competing bids for carrier docking/refitting.

Makes total sense to decide whether to perform the work at a location with zero experience that would be 100% guaranteed to go over schedule and budget vs the place where the ships were built, based on the lowest bid

[Lord Jim]

But many in power in the MoD and else where still are fanatical followers of the Cult of Competition, with only a few dissenters who manage to strike back once and a while, Boxer was their destroying the Competition "Deathstar" moment, but JLTV for MRV(P) is still being fought over.

[Ron5]

From the better one ..

[SDL]

that is a great shot.

[Caribbean]

Yes, but not taking on of weapons or operating aircraft. Or use for PR purposes. Hence why I feel they are making a point

Exactly the point - innocent passage through someone else's territorial waters does not include the right to carry out military exercises or conduct manoeuvres.

Conducting a "first RAS" of munitions is a subtle contravention of both those rules. A kind "grey zone" form of provocation, if you will.