UK Defence Forum

I half saw that one coming, meanwhile the Junior service are still only playing Leapfrog!

PhillyJ wrote: ↑12 May 2022, 18:19

PhillyJ wrote: ↑12 May 2022, 08:04 Is Gib able to have both carriers at the same time? Just wondering.

hence my above question re Gib.

I await with baited breath whether HMSPWLS will actually be carrying any aircraft this time....

I thought it was fair enough that she did nt carry any F35B's when particpating in Exercise Cold Response as was more important that acted as flagship and carried helicopters to assist in the amphibious exercises off Norway. And that the sole active UK F35B squadron was understandably having some UK time for leave and training after the long deployment on HMSQNLZ to Indo-Pacific.

But it will be disapointing if six months later the UK F35B's are still not ready for active service. Even if we have to add some Italian F35B's to ensure that carrying a decent fighter wing (similar to how USMC helped last year's CSG).

Busy in the harbour and out in the Solent for QNLZ tomorrow it seems...any clues as to what they might be up to? Not seen this activity before for the QE class.

Prerhaps it was this...

BBC reports Rosyth gets contract for carrier maintenance

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-61459367

QE in Stokes Bay yesterday

(Tigris Imperator) 15th May 2022

Confirmation that nipper and his ship mates will be off across the pond later this year, they are also off out again in the next few days.

A F35 squadron onboard aswell ?????

serge750 wrote: ↑21 May 2022, 19:59 A F35 squadron onboard aswell ?????

Possibly in stealth mode! Confirmation of tomorrow's departure.

.

Busy time, one in, one out. QNLZ in tomorrow.

When is the program going to be shown,not heard anything more about it of qe 21 world tour ?

inch wrote: ↑23 May 2022, 16:34 When is the program going to be shown,not heard anything more about it of qe 21 world tour ?

Completely forgotten about that, good point.

(Navy Lookout) 23rd May 2022

NATO Response Force Flagship, HMS Prince of Wales sails in fine evening weather for deployment in the Mediterranean.

(Portsmouth Harbour Boats) 23rd May 2022

Another new Capt for my nipper, trying to figure out how many he has served under since he joined the ship in Rosyth! There also appears to be a photo bomb from QNLZ in the second pic.

PoW left, QE right




(Grim Snapper @218goldcoast) 24th May 2022

The underway aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth seen here passing the anchored HMS Prince of Wales just outside Tor Bay this morning. HMS Prince of Wales left Portsmouth last night and HMS Queen Elizabeth is due back in Portsmouth this evening.

See? QE is obviously larger.

QE is home.

SKB wrote: ↑24 May 2022, 16:13 See? QE is obviously larger.

Haha, I've got it on good authority that there are plans underway to add a 3d printer created false bow to PWLS once the new French carrier is built, this will make her an inch longer than that one...honest.

Nipper being flown off PWLS in a couple of weeks for training at Collingwood on HMG's, these are replacing all the GPMG's I think.

The QEC's have two "official" length's; the first "280m" one is the flightdeck length, while the "284m" one includes the bulbous bow below the waterline too.

PhillyJ Wrote:-

Another new Capt for my nipper, trying to figure out how many he has served under since he joined the ship in Rosyth!

Five (Four Seagoing) “Captains”. One less than HMS QE! Sorry for delay in replying.

PhillyJ wrote: ↑12 May 2022, 18:19

PhillyJ wrote: ↑12 May 2022, 08:04 Is Gib able to have both carriers at the same time? Just wondering.

hence my above question re Gib.

I know we knew from the above Navy Lookout article that @HMSPWLS was heading to the Med in her role as Nato flagship.

Today's UK Defence Journal article gives a bit more detail on the exercises that she will participate in together with what aircraft deployed:

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... terranean/

The good news is further training of Merlin ‘Crowsnest’ helicopters plus USAF Osprey Tiltrotors and RAF Chinnooks and RN Merlin HM2 for anti-sub.

The bad news is still no mention of F35B's.....

Rear Admiral Moorhouse at the Navy Leaders conference speech in Farnborough, today, answered my question that F-35B will be deployed on QE this year, on further trials on the USA Eastern seaboard.

Anthony58 wrote: ↑26 May 2022, 22:12 Rear Admiral Moorhouse at the Navy Leaders conference speech in Farnborough, today, answered my question that F-35B will be deployed on QE this year, on further trials on the USA Eastern seaboard.

Is that QE or POW as we know POW is going to the US around Sep this year

They are both going to the Eastern Seaboard, with QE deploying the F-35B.