bobp wrote: ↑26 Dec 2022, 21:55
Sadly HMS PWLS sits in dry dock in Rosyth. The crew understandably must be pulling their hair out. This latest disaster comes on top of other mishaps that have caused the ship to be under going repairs for more days than it has been at sea. About to set sail for a visit to the US for major trials and a visit to New York it breaks again.
I hope that Nipper can get through this and continue in his service career and wish him all the best for his future.
I suppose (as obviously very frustrating for the ships company as it is), the ship is still in its infancy, on what will hopefully be a 50 year RN career.
It will be very interesting to watch them evolve, refits encompassing emerging technologies will dramatically effect how they are employed as the balance shifts from manned to unmanned.
I can see an angled deck being implemented, seems sensible with rolling vertical landings for the F35 being potentially the norm.
Perhaps also future fixed wing drones that employ STOL flight, that you don't particularly want running amok straight down the centerline of the flight deck if there's a problem!
I can also see ski jump being either reduced in angle, or perhaps deleted completely in years to come.
An alternative idea might be a ski jump that's reduced in size and hydraulically operated, to raise and lower perhaps....