Japanese and other Asian military shipbuilders have the support and wherewithal to be entirely more efficient and productive than their UK counterpart?>...

Or they feel the need for haste in building defence somewhat more than we brother band.

Two things

They settle on a design and then don't keep fiddling with it - their designs are also evolutionary and not revolutionary and they are willing to comprise and accept 90% of what they'd like to get on 100% of the ships delivered on time

they build (and finance) at a steady tempo so the yards keep their skilled men, the managememnt aren't always on a learning curve and the manufacturing company isn't tempted to draw out building to prolong profits

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

John, no azipods, just two props at the back end...

-RP

Carrier
 

Somehow I'm glad about that. The last (decent) ship I travelled
on had 12 cylinders about 101,000 hp. 25 knots +, 130,000
tons.

Oh dear:
Royal navy staff shortage: Chiefs call to retired sailors for help | UK | News | Express.co.uk

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

I suspect that jetty will be used an awful lot - as in "parking lot"........

I was amused to see a photo of a flight deck, complete with Harriers, in the Express' article with the caption:

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?

depends on the war I guess - and the total number of F-35's we acquire

Aircraft carrier delay warning from spending watchdog

By Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent, BBC News

• 16 March 2017

Technical issues and personnel shortages could delay the deployment of the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, the spending watchdog has warned


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.

The NAO said the introduction of the carriers will also have a far-reaching impact on the way the Royal Navy operates.
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."

there was also something in the Times today saying the MoD had only locked in their £ $ exchange rate until 2018........

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!

page 27 of NAO report above:

Delays - cost overruns

Here we go again!

The only surprise is that people are surprised !!

And they are still short of sailors to man them, sorry, crew them.
Navy's £6.2bn warships at 'risk' because of understaffing | Daily Mail Online

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?

Here?Sorry. My mistake.