Originally Posted by
WE Branch Fanatic
Going back to the task group issue, it seems that some people do not understand that the size and composition depends on the task and the scenario - a carrier does not need a big 'set piece' task group in peacetime, although exercising as a task group benefits ships of all types and sizes. Low threat environments also do not require a massive level of escorting.
Defence in depth of a task group, in either anti air or ASW scenarios require carrier aircraft AND frigates/destroyers. The carrier is not the only high value unit. Sometimes the carrier will be providing defence for amphibious vessels or logistics shipping, maybe something like a small force hunting for mines that lack their own defences.
Lack of ships is not the Royal Navy's big issue, lack of people is. Everyone expected a manpower uplift of 1500 or so bods as part of SDSR 15, but Cameron fudged it. We could really do with 1500 extra people.
Moving onto carrier armament, US carriers have Sea Sparrow. FS Charles De Gaulle has Aster 15. However, things have gone very badly wrong if a carrier is firing anti air missiles, and there are real FOD issues (missile efflux is very hot and fast and will do the flight deck and aircraft no good). When HMS Ocean (LPH) was brought into service in 1999 I wondered why she was not fitted with Sea Wolf, likewise the LPDs Albion and Bulwark. I even started a thread in 2003 about HMS Albion and her lack of a missile system. I suspect that apart from the cost, it is to try to dissuade the bean counters and politicians from cutting frigate and destroyer numbers even more, or trying to use a capital ship for a frigate/destroyer role. It could be argued there is historical justification for this. During the Korean War one of the RN carriers did a bit of shore bombardment with her 4.7" guns.
The old Invincible class was designed and built with Sea Dart, which did make sense in her likely wartime employment in the GIUK gap and facing very large Soviet missiles. I do wonder if the Sea Dart installation was planned before Sea Harrier was in the pipeline, when the design was for carrying up to ten ASW Sea Kings. The launchers took up valuable deck space, as did the two 909 radars, and the magazine and other equipment also took up room. It was removed in the nineties so that more aircraft could be carried.
In terms of CIWS, small calibre guns (30mm computer controlled ones in our case), and 7.62mm/0.50 Cal weapons, the Queen Elizabeth class is about the same as US counterparts.
Well that is excellent. No more somalian sneak up and salute attacks there then!!