Future Carrier (Including Costs)

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Biggus

I see HMS Prince of Wales is delayed in Stavanger for repairs.....

Originally Posted by Biggus

This was after taking part in Exercise DMON26, with an air wing of just 4 helicopters embarked, 2 Merlins, 2 Wildcats...!

The repairs are routine I think - warships are always breaking things.

Having such a tiny number of ASW helicopters embarked for a major ASW exercise seems odd, as I have noted:

Constant ASW helicopter operations are best supported by a large deck with multiple helicopters, as collocating them simplifies coordination, communications, and maintenance and support. Physics also shows that modern long range sonars fitted to ASW warships need to be used in conjunction with dipping sonar to achieve their potential - and vice versa. As with all such detection systems (radar/sonar/optical) there is trade off between range and resolution. The long range sonar provides long range detection, and the dipping sonar provides pinpoint accuracy.

From the conclusions of: The Aircraft Carrier and Sea Control (carriers needed in the Atlantic and elsewhere for Air Defence and ASW - due to Maths/Physics/Geography)

However, it has been noted that no towed array equipped warships (from any NATO navy) took part in the exercise either! Not quite the ASW capability demonstration some of us expected.