Originally Posted by
WE Branch Fanatic
Here is an article from Navy Lookout with a message that needs to be pressed home:
Royal Navy aircraft carriers: more than strike platforms
Discussion of Britain’s two aircraft carriers is primarily framed around the terms ‘Carrier Strike’ and ‘Carrier Enabled Power Projection’ (CEPP). While both are valid descriptors, they risk giving the impression that the ships exist solely to deliver ordnance against land targets. In reality, this is only one of their roles, and they are core to a much broader set of naval missions.
UK ‘steps up for European security’ as Carrier Strike Group declared fully mission ready - Royal Navy
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales
and her air wing of F-35 fighter jets have completed the first of two major Mediterranean workouts under NATO command.
The NATO pennant flew from the flagship as the largest contingent (24) of the fifth-generation jets ever assembled on a Queen Elizabeth-
class carrier conducted nearly 50 sorties alongside Italian, Greek, French and US aircraft on Exercise Falcon Strike.
Most notably, it marked the moment that the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), centred on HMS Prince of Wales
, reached Full Operating Capability – meaning all its component parts are ready to operate on front-line duties wherever required.
The declaration comes at the tail end of an eight-month global operation that took the task group into the Indo-Pacific to operate with regional allies and partners, before returning to the Med to showcase the power of NATO’s fifth-generation jets.
Over two weeks, jets carried out day and night sorties – including air interdictions, suppression of enemy defences and strike missions. The jets were also tasked with defending a ship in the strike group from attacks...
Originally Posted by
WE Branch Fanatic
Carriers are also central to the success of amphibious operations. The UK’s Littoral Response Groups are designed for operations on Europe’s northern and southern flanks, but their survivability depends on carrier air cover. F-35Bs can suppress enemy coastal defences, provide close air support to Royal Marines ashore, and control the sea and airspace around the amphibious force...
From the same RN news story:
The Carrier Strike Group now heads for the second Med workout, Exercise Neptune Strike,
which will test NATO’s ability to strike targets at sea and includes carrier-based air missions and amphibious landings.
It will also see anti-submarine drills, where personnel will practice for scenarios like ensuring freedom of navigation and securing maritime chokepoints...
Using carrier aircraft to protect task group units, anti submarine warfare, ensuring freedom of navigation/
manoeuvre, securing chokepoints - all vital carrier roles, as
discussed in the thread specifically about the Aircraft Carrier and Sea Control.