HMS Queen Elizabeth to exercise with a full deck

[FODPlod]

UK CARRIER STRIKE GROUP ASSEMBLES FOR THE FIRST TIME

Originally Posted by Royal Navy 5 Oct 2020

The Royal Navy’s new Carrier Strike Group has assembled for the first time, marking the beginning of a new era of operations. HMS Queen Elizabeth is at the centre of the group which is the start of joint carrier operations between the navy and its NATO allies.
Nine ships, 15 fighter jets, 11 helicopters and 3,000 personnel from the UK, US and the Netherlands are now carrying out exercises in the North Sea. The strike group is the largest and most powerful European-led maritime force in almost 20 years...

[Lyneham Lad]

Link to a short video on the Beeb News website today.
HMS Queen Elizabeth: On board the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier

For the first time, British and American jets are flying together, as they launch from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier.

It's the final exercise for HMS Queen Elizabeth, before the carrier sets sail in early 2021 for its first operational deployment.

The BBC's defence correspondent, Jonathan Beale, was invited on board.

[Just a spotter]

So, what’s the chain of command for the US aircraft on the UK carrier?

If mixed deployments are ‘the future’, then in the ‘What if’; once deployed and the US decides to use its assets in a way that the UK doesn’t support, or visa-versa, the UK wishes to use the US aircraft and crews in a way that the US doesn’t. How is that resolved?


JAS

[SLXOwft]

I assume Vladimir Vladimirovich's navy has sent a floating goofers but wondered if his aviation elements have sent any practice intercept opportunities for the F-35Bs yet. If so, I assume photos will follow

Glad to see a looker is in charge.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Originally Posted by Video Mixdown

No sane pilot would choose to ditch an F-35 in the open ocean. Assuming the seat was undamaged he/she would eject.

I did mean eject, but it would be close to the carrier so the plane would ditch alongside . Saves the SAR a long flight to pick him up.

[stilton]

When these UK based F35’s are operated into land bases do they normally land conventionally, vertically or do they ‘mix it up’ to be current with both ?

Or are there other factors determining which to use ?

[Green Flash]

RN pics of QE and others
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54420134

[Tay Cough]

Looks good.

Apologies for mentioning the elephant in the room but is the RN capable of putting together a task group like that on it's own?

[Bing]

Originally Posted by Tay Cough

Looks good.

Apologies for mentioning the elephant in the room but is the RN capable of putting together a task group like that on it's own?

There're two non-RN ships in the photo, 1 USN DD and 1 HNLMS FF. So I'd hazard a yes, although next year's deployment is just the RN ships in the photo I believe.

[NutLoose]

All that lot to support 15 jets LOL.

[salad-dodger]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

All that lot to support 15 jets LOL.

why?

......................

[Not_a_boffin]

Originally Posted by Tay Cough

Looks good.

Apologies for mentioning the elephant in the room but is the RN capable of putting together a task group like that on it's own?

Perhaps a more instructive exercise might be to identify which other navies in the world - aside from the RN - could?

I think you'll discover that it's a very short list.

[idle bystander]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

All that lot to support 15 jets LOL.

Actually - 15 jets to support that lot.

[FODPlod]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

All that lot to support 15 jets LOL.

I think you mean all that lot to dominate a significant part of the planet, over land and sea, above and below water, wherever it is deployed, while deterring any potential foe and providing a range of instantly responsive political and military options for an indefinite period

[thelizardking]

Originally Posted by Not_a_boffin

Perhaps a more instructive exercise might be to identify which other navies in the world - aside from the RN - could?

I think you'll discover that it's a very short list.

Basically just our main adversaries then...

And the real elephant is the number of UK jets onboard

[Not_a_boffin]

Originally Posted by thelizardking

Basically just our main adversaries then...

And the real elephant is the number of UK jets onboard

UK jets will change in fairly short order.

Do explain which of our main adversaries can do this? I can think of one. Just.

[TURIN]

Originally Posted by Just a spotter

So, what’s the chain of command for the US aircraft on the UK carrier?

If mixed deployments are ‘the future’, then in the ‘What if’; once deployed and the US decides to use its assets in a way that the UK doesn’t support, or visa-versa, the UK wishes to use the US aircraft and crews in a way that the US doesn’t. How is that resolved?


JAS

According to the full BBC report that was broadcast yesterday, the RN is in command.

[peterperfect]

Originally Posted by TURIN

According to the full BBC report that was broadcast yesterday, the RN is in command.

Concur, but the PR machine wheels still turn in the background. There was a BBC video on TV with a RAF Sqn Ldr being interviewed on the flight deck just before the RN Commander, but his 10 seconds worth disappeared on the TV piece later in the day.

[Asturias56]

9 ships (and probably an SSN as well) for 15 aircraft.....................

[FODPlod]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

9 ships (and probably an SSN as well) for 15 aircraft.....................

PPRuNe's anti-carrier lobby is as strident as ever, it seems.

I think you mean all that firepower (which would exist anyway) crowned by 15 of the most advanced strike aircraft in the world.