UNBELIEVABLE

[mrclark303]

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.

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.