Future Carrier (Including Costs)
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Azipod propulsion
Are the new carriers using a similar system of electric propulsion ? I ask as a large cruise liner using podded
propulsion has broken down near to where I am at the
moment.
Thanks, John
propulsion has broken down near to where I am at the
moment.
Thanks, John
Thread Starter
Significant progress has been made on the jetty for the QEC:
Jetty completion marks major milestone in Carrier works
Meanwhile I stumbled upon a qoute which seems apt giving the damage caused by political interference:
Of all the public services, the Navy is the one in which tampering may be of the greatest danger, which can be worst supplied in an emergency, and of which failure draws after it the largest and heaviest train of consequences.
Edmund Burke
Jetty completion marks major milestone in Carrier works
Meanwhile I stumbled upon a qoute which seems apt giving the damage caused by political interference:
Of all the public services, the Navy is the one in which tampering may be of the greatest danger, which can be worst supplied in an emergency, and of which failure draws after it the largest and heaviest train of consequences.
Edmund Burke
Last edited by WE Branch Fanatic; 13th Mar 2017 at 10:38.
I was amused to see a photo of a flight deck, complete with Harriers, in the Express' article with the caption:
HMS Ark Royal is Britain's only aircraft carrier
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Surely, in time of conflict, there would be significantly more F35s embarked on a QEC than in peace time - wouldn't that provide enough airframes for DCA as well as other tasks? After all, if you're not going to use these things in a hot war, when are you going to use them?
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Aircraft carrier delay warning from spending watchdog
By Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent, BBC News
HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince Of Wales will provide the Navy with a capacity it will have been without for a decade.
But the National Audit Office says the project is entering a "critical phase", with many risks to manage.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged "challenges" but said it was committed to being fully operational by 2026.
The current cost estimates for both carriers, as well as the Lockheed Martin F-35B jets that will fly off them, is £14.3bn, the NAO said in its report.
The NAO said technical problems means sea trials for the first carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will not now take place until the summer - three months later than planned.
It added that further technical issues could mean the carrier will not be operational by 2020, as has been promised by the MoD.
Among the other areas mentioned by the NAO were:
A "significant proportion" of its fleet will be required to support and protect the ships, with a carrier task group likely to account for around 30% of the total fleet and 20% of the Navy's personnel.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said it had the personnel needed for HMS Queen Elizabeth and plans for manning HMS Prince of Wales were "advanced".
A spokesman added: "With sea trials expected to start in the summer, we recognise that there are challenges ahead and remain committed to delivering the full range of joint F-35 and carrier operations by 2026."
By Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent, BBC News
- 16 March 2017
HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince Of Wales will provide the Navy with a capacity it will have been without for a decade.
But the National Audit Office says the project is entering a "critical phase", with many risks to manage.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged "challenges" but said it was committed to being fully operational by 2026.
The current cost estimates for both carriers, as well as the Lockheed Martin F-35B jets that will fly off them, is £14.3bn, the NAO said in its report.
The NAO said technical problems means sea trials for the first carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will not now take place until the summer - three months later than planned.
It added that further technical issues could mean the carrier will not be operational by 2020, as has been promised by the MoD.
Among the other areas mentioned by the NAO were:
- Personnel issues, in particular a shortage of engineers for both warships. The report says while the number of pilots needed is "just sufficient" there could be problems if personnel left the forces. Pilots for the new F-35B jets need four years fast jet training with an additional nine-month carrier conversion course, meaning they will not be easy to replace
- Timing: The next three years will be crucial, the report says, as the carrier brings together the jets, helicopter and radar as well the crew and the ships' support. The NAO says there is "no further room for slippage". And there are still technical risks, not least with the F-35B jets still being designed and tested
- Cost increases: The NAO says the MoD is already facing a cost overrun of up to 2% on the £6.2bn budget for building the two ships. Costs for buying the F-35B jets could rise because of currency fluctuations.
A "significant proportion" of its fleet will be required to support and protect the ships, with a carrier task group likely to account for around 30% of the total fleet and 20% of the Navy's personnel.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said it had the personnel needed for HMS Queen Elizabeth and plans for manning HMS Prince of Wales were "advanced".
A spokesman added: "With sea trials expected to start in the summer, we recognise that there are challenges ahead and remain committed to delivering the full range of joint F-35 and carrier operations by 2026."
....Pilots for the new F-35B jets need four years fast jet training with an additional nine-month carrier conversion course.....
Sorry, I can't open the report on this computer, but is that 9 months for B conversion assuming prior fast jet experience, or really 9 months dedicated for "carrier conversion"?
I don't think our friend Mogwi and certain other GR.3 drivers got quite that much dedicated CARQUAL time before embarking on their first all expense paid cruise!
As I remember, the training was something like " she is alongside in Pompey, don't dump down to landing weight until you are cleared to land". Cleared to land, dumped fuel, then told to hold off because of floating crane crossing the stern! Landed anyway - first DL!
Swing the lamp!
Swing the lamp!
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page 27 of NAO report above:
“...Training pilots to fly the Lightning II jets requires eight to nine months of specialist training, in addition to four years of general fast-jet pilot training....” [Comptroller and Auditor General, Military Flying Training, Session 2015-16, HC 81, National Audit Office, June 2015.]
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There was a report on the 200 plus faults and failures to meet specification and operational parameters of the F35 published in the last few days, anyone got a link to it?
Last week, the U.S. Navy stood down its entire fleet of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers following an accident at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Washington state. As a result, the bulk of the Navy’s strike fighter force was effectively out of action for almost four days. The accident is the latest in a series of incidents that has been plaguing the Navy’s F/A-18 series fighters...