UNBELIEVABLE

I think this is a memorable start to the launch of the first of two aircraft carriers in the UK for the next 20-30 years HMS Queen Elizabeth...............however, having sold off all our Harriers too early IMHO, we now have two sets of aircrews on board which I think could turn to everybodies advantage in the long run as we beg borrow and steall other countries aircraft to fit in operationally!
God Bless America for supporting us once again!! 36 x F35B VTOL jets
No politics please!!!

HMS Queen Elizabeth squeezes out of dockyard for the first time - and Russian spies are watching

The U.K. already owns 4 F35B aircraft which are currently based in the U.S. with U.K. personal. The U.K. is a significant partner to the F35B project and has invested in it's development as well as making some of it's components. It is my understanding that it was always the intention to deploy the new carriers with some U.S. personal on board with their own area set aside for them.

As things stand at the moment 1 ship is due to be configured as a fleet carrier with F35Bs plus helicopters, and the other ship is set to be configured as a helicopter/commando carrier to replace HMS Ocean. Personally I don't know how well these ships are going to work as helicopter/commando carriers for the simple reason that they haven't been designed as such. HMS Ocean carries landing craft lowered by davit from cutouts in the ships sides and she also has a vehicle ramp so that vehicles can be driven straight off the quay-side and into either the vehicle deck or onto the flight deck. Are the new ships going to be modified to take landing craft and fitted with vehicle ramps? My guess is that vehicles will have to be craned on and off ship and the landing craft dispensed with. Seems a shame getting rid of HMS Ocean the Royal Navy's first purpose built helicopter carrier and if the last 3 carriers that were taken out of service are anything to go by, she'll be scrapped.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

modified to take landing craft

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I don't think anyone uses those any more...all amphib vehicles now.

The Royal Navy currently operates the MK5 Landing Craft Personnel and the larger Mk10 Landing Craft Utility, capable of carrying a Challenger main battle tank.

The RAN does, and there are pictures to prove it. Here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...canberra%20iii

My eldest granddaughter's husband is an engineering officer aboard CANBERRA.

Often wondered why we as a nation have invested in a piece of kit that whilst fills a role within the services cannot operate fixed wings I guess we could purchase VTOL's but having the F-22 Raptor may be good over land but it cannot be utilised by a carrier the F-16 can but we do not have a fixed wing carrier. So in the event of a global or whatever taking out our 'dromes simply puts us on the back foot utilizing civilian airports is an option but you then have the logistical nightmare of moving all the hardware so you can continue the fight..

Some times folks well behind those "in the rear with the gear" with the sharp pencils have to admit they are wrong.
The OV-10 Is Even Older Than the A-10 And It’s Fighting ISIS Too

What if they upped the power plants to turbo props, the guys on the ground depend on close support from aircraft like the A -10's whilst the Spectre puts the wind up the bad guys I surmise nothing makes the troops happier that to see those 30mm GAU rounds exploding all over the baddies and the distinctive report following. Has anyone here witnessed the strafing run of an A-10 close up in practice what were the results. TIA

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

Has anyone here witnessed the strafing run of an A-10 close up in practice what were the results.

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Those aren't secret...imagine if you can an explosive hailstorm. One that destroyed everything in the area it landed. Those don't land like in the movies either, a long line of bullets running predictable in a direction. It's a storm of all at once exploding projectiles. They land everywhere at once. We had a platoon of the other English speaking regiment engaged by a single A10 in Afghanistan and it took down 30 men at a smack. It was everything from KIAs to barely wounded walking...what a disaster.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

The U.K. already owns 4 F35B aircraft which are currently based in the U.S. with U.K. personal. The U.K. is a significant partner to the F35B project and has invested in it's development as well as making some of it's components. It is my understanding that it was always the intention to deploy the new carriers with some U.S. personal on board with their own area set aside for them.

As things stand at the moment 1 ship is due to be configured as a fleet carrier with F35Bs plus helicopters, and the other ship is set to be configured as a helicopter/commando carrier to replace HMS Ocean. Personally I don't know how well these ships are going to work as helicopter/commando carriers for the simple reason that they haven't been designed as such. HMS Ocean carries landing craft lowered by davit from cutouts in the ships sides and she also has a vehicle ramp so that vehicles can be driven straight off the quay-side and into either the vehicle deck or onto the flight deck. Are the new ships going to be modified to take landing craft and fitted with vehicle ramps? My guess is that vehicles will have to be craned on and off ship and the landing craft dispensed with. Seems a shame getting rid of HMS Ocean the Royal Navy's first purpose built helicopter carrier and if the last 3 carriers that were taken out of service are anything to go by, she'll be scrapped.

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F10 the QE Class have a RM support role designed into them, 300 + troops.plus kit and wide corridor routes to the flight deck.

They of course are no substitute for a dedicated helicopter carrier with a stern well and dedicated transport hanger deck.

Using both Carriers at the same time is unfortunately very unlikely, due to a shortage of both escort ships and personal, they will in all likelihood be used one at a time to ensure a continuous carrier capability.

Carrier strike will always be their primary task. The days of the RM's coming ashore via landing craft are numbered. In the future it will be heli/tilt rotor borne over the horizon deployment, only carrying what can be lifted. It doesn't bode well for the long term future of the RM's as they are currently structured unfortunately.

The ship's have a 50 year design life and I can on my hope the RN chronic shortage of personal and ships is resolved in time to allow us to use these ships to their full potential.

The sight of the 70,000 ton QE heading out to sea on trials filled me with National pride. Superb ships.

Let's hope for a better resourced future for them.