HMS Queen Elizabeth
Discussion
Simpo Two said:
98elise said:
30,000 people in the RN, and the ship's company (crew) is 700.
I thought you'd got it wrong; I couldn't believe the Navy only has 30,000 people - and many of those will be shore-based. But it's true.This article was written in 2016; guess which way the Navy has gone since then: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uk-military-nav...
normalbloke said:
Now removed from the QHM listing. Cancelled or is it to keep the element of surprise for Vlad?….
Looks like departure has been knocked back a while. I don't think this is much to do with any direct involvement with current events, but I'm really struggling to find out why she has suddenly decided to leave port.There are unconfirmed stories that it might be a trip across the Atlantic (maybe another Anglo/American F35 training exercise has been requested?) but I stress that is pure speculation right now and quite probably can be disregarded.
Having said that, there's no indication that it would be a long-term voyage at this moment. So who knows? A quick trip around the block for a system check, or a full ahead into conflict? Probably something in the middle, maybe the idea has been cancelled altogether?
Steve vRS said:
Cold said:
Steve vRS said:
So both ships at sea together? I didn’t know there were enough crew or aircraft for that.
Is this a genuine query or an attempted swipe? 
No issue with crews as they are separate bodies of women and men. Logistics and support might be an issue if the carriers are both operating in different vastly regions especially with the T45s still being tinkered with (5000 defects and counting!).
However, if there's conflict then they will most likely be part of a NATO group with all the logistical benefit that brings.
As for aircraft, it depends on your definition of aircraft. Some think that the carriers are solely for F35B and therefore nothing else can or should be operated from them.
Notwithstanding their role within NATO which means they can and do both offer a floating home for F35Bs from many different nations, the carriers are also for the deployment of rotary aircraft. And of course, PWLS has been experimenting with launching drones from her flight deck.
PWLS is currently on her way to Cold Response 22 which is mainly an amphibious exercise, so fighter jets probably won't be a feature on that trip but lots of noisy helicopters will be around instead.
A handful F35Bs from Marham have very recently started operating out of Estonia so get to land on tarmac after each flight.
Last week Marham also took delivery of three more F35Bs (not forgetting the unfortunate loss of an airframe in the Med in Autumn).
We're still some way off having the intended number of F35B fighters, but production and delivery of them is proceeding with three more due later in the year, a further seven in 2023 with the initial order (of 48, minus the one in the Med) being completed by the end of 2025.
98elise said:
Simpo Two said:
98elise said:
30,000 people in the RN, and the ship's company (crew) is 700.
I thought you'd got it wrong; I couldn't believe the Navy only has 30,000 people - and many of those will be shore-based. But it's true.This article was written in 2016; guess which way the Navy has gone since then: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uk-military-nav...
My favourite were all male ships, not for any sexist rubbish like the ladies couldn’t do the job or anything like that but because the men were terrible when there was women onboard and culturally the ships were very different. Also the culture was pretty wild at times with all male ships, lots of fun times onboard those ships and runs ashore.
Piginapoke said:
normalbloke said:
Cold said:
Interestingly, HMS QNLZ is due to depart at 15:20 tomorrow (8th March). Hot on the heels of her younger sister who went off for a NATO exercise last night.
Yes, have been watching the removal of the deck blasting/coating kit which seemed to have a sense of urgency about. I’d said to friends that I suspect both would be gone within a very short time. I managed to watch POW go last night from the warmth of my bed!
Thar she goes.
Official line is that this is a routine training/exercises/shakedown voyage. At least initially. There is no publicly announced predetermined return date as yet. However, there is also no indication that this particular trip is going to be a lengthy one.
Let's hope it's an uneventful voyage.
Official line is that this is a routine training/exercises/shakedown voyage. At least initially. There is no publicly announced predetermined return date as yet. However, there is also no indication that this particular trip is going to be a lengthy one.
Let's hope it's an uneventful voyage.
The good folk of Liverpool will once again get a photo opportunity with HMS QNLZ. She will be visiting the city between 24th and 28th March, mooring at the cruise terminal. She will not be open to the public for onboard visits.
Recently she has been taking on, er, provisions at Glen Mallan.
Recently she has been taking on, er, provisions at Glen Mallan.
General Atomics announce MQ-9B.
Edit to add;
Naval News said:
The MQ-9B STOL can operate from amphibious assault ships without the need for a ski jump or catapult. The new design features folding wings optimised for short takeoff and landing (STOL), as well as an enlarged v-tail
Edit to add;
General Atomics said:
The MQ-9B STOL configuration will consist of an optional wing and tail kit that can be installed in less than a day. The core aircraft and its sub-systems remain the same. Operators can perform the modification in a hangar or on a flight line, delivering a capability that otherwise would require the purchase of a whole new aircraft.
“Imagine taking the hard top off your Jeep. You lift it off, stow it in your garage and now you’ve got an open vehicle. If it rains, you put the hard top back on. We’re the same. Take a standard MQ-9B, put the STOL kit on, and then go fly,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.
RAF are planning to replace their MQ9s with Protectors in 2024, just sayin'.“Imagine taking the hard top off your Jeep. You lift it off, stow it in your garage and now you’ve got an open vehicle. If it rains, you put the hard top back on. We’re the same. Take a standard MQ-9B, put the STOL kit on, and then go fly,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander.
Edited by hidetheelephants on Wednesday 11th May 00:48
The MQ9 thread on PPrune suggests that there's an RFI out to fit catapult(s) to QE and POW.
Given that the option to change the configuration from STOVL to CATOBAR proved to be a non option whilst the ships were being built - what's changed between then and now ? (apart from the actual full lifecycle costs of F35B).
Given that the option to change the configuration from STOVL to CATOBAR proved to be a non option whilst the ships were being built - what's changed between then and now ? (apart from the actual full lifecycle costs of F35B).
It wasn't a non-option, it was just deemed too expensive.
The 2 options are to strip 2 deck to make space for an EMALS system, and somehow deal with the power requirements of it, which is not insurmountable, but not as easy as the US have it with their nuclear powered ships.
Or
Rip a couple of large holes in the side shell down low to install a couple of boilers to make steam, then route an absolute f
k-tonne of pipework from there, to the underside of the flight deck. Space provision was left in the design to install these bits of equipment, but it's not a 2 minute job to design, install, and commission.
The 2 options are to strip 2 deck to make space for an EMALS system, and somehow deal with the power requirements of it, which is not insurmountable, but not as easy as the US have it with their nuclear powered ships.
Or
Rip a couple of large holes in the side shell down low to install a couple of boilers to make steam, then route an absolute f
k-tonne of pipework from there, to the underside of the flight deck. Space provision was left in the design to install these bits of equipment, but it's not a 2 minute job to design, install, and commission.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff