A few years back they seemed to be demonstrating th CV-22 around and about the London area - I always presumed that eventually the UK would buy/lease/rent a couple for COD

I think you might have that backwards - the F-35 engine package was designed to fit (and be transported by) an CMV-22.

Asturias, you're more of an optimist than me, I have always thought it highly unlikely the UK will operate them. Acquiring a few CMV-22Bs for COD and troop transport always seemed to make sense maybe if action had be taken at the time the UK could have got a good deal on the 4 in the 'program of record' the USN chose not to buy. The ability to deliver 24 troops each at longer range than jungly Merlins (and the MV-22) would surely be a good fit for littoral operations. But as ever HMGT is not prepared to raise the taxes to pay for existing programmes never mind new ones. Presumably paying the US to train the small number of crew would be more ecconomic than a UK only set up.

Anyway good to see both carriers back home. I presume wind and tide led to POW being tied up bow to bow with QE. Optical illusion involving what appears to be ex-RFA Diligence* driving along Portsdown yesterday made it look like POW was on North Corner. (*I thought Dilgence had been towed across to the Trots?)

HMS Westminster moved from Frigate Support Centre to 4 Basin in Devonport.

​​​​​​​Presumably for long-term lay up, pending decision on disposal after planned refit abandoned being too expensive.

The loss of another ASW frigate would be very damaging, particularly since Russian submarine activity is at such a high level. Perhaps it is no bad thing that one of the first things to come across Grant Shapps' desk will be this:

Royal Navy and RAF track Russian vessels in waters close to the UK

Royal Navy warships and RAF patrol aircraft tracked a series of Russian vessels in the waters close to the UK in a concerted monitoring operation. HMS Tyne, HMS Portland and P8 Poseidon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth reported on the movements of the Russian Navy in the English Channel, North Sea and North Atlantic.

Plymouth-based HMS Portland and the Poseidons worked together to monitor Russian vessels, including corvettes Boikiy and Grad, cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the Udaloy-class destroyer Severomorsk and others.

With their collective array of powerful sensors for locating and tracking, the British submarine-hunting frigate and maritime patrol aircraft are a formidable duo for locating and monitoring operations, allowing for constant surveillance from the sea and air.

Having detected a ship or submarine, the aircraft can communicate the position, allowing a warship to intercept and track.

Royal Navy ships and aircraft routinely conduct training with the long-range RAF patrol aircraft, enabling a seamless transition to operations to protect the sea areas around the UK...

---

Commander Ed Moss-Ward, HMS Portland’s Commanding Officer added: “P8 aircraft operating with a Type 23 frigate with an embarked Merlin helicopter provides the UK with a world-leading anti-submarine warfare capability.”

I suspect there is little chance of something like a modern version of this 1976 film...

THE ROYAL NAVY AND THE SOVIET THREAT

This was made for the consumption of the British public, although sadly it appears just a few years defence later was being run by politicians who seem to have missed it. It covers the dependence of the UK and Europe on seaborne commerce, and the growing threat posed by the Soviet Navy and the Soviet Naval Air Force.

At approximately 11.00 the coverage of RN (and RM and RAF) capabilities starts. At 14.00 HMS Ark Royal (IV) gets a mention as making an important contribution to NATO - something forgotten about during the carrier related discussions in the early 1960s. At 15.00 her embarked squadron of ASW Sea Kings is mentioned in terms of providing an essential element in the anti submarine warfare defence of the force. None of this nonsense about (just) defending the carrier.

At 22.35 we get told about 'the most important surface ship of the future' - the 'anti submarine cruiser'. The point is made that a carrier provides easily the most cost effective means of deploying large anti submarine helicopters to sea in worthwhile numbers as well as command facilities for a task group. From 24.15 the presenter mentions that these ships will carry the Sea Harrier to supplement land based air cover for the fleet outside the range of shore bases and mentions dealing with shadowing aircraft used by the Soviets for targeting long range missiles.

I not sure if this makes me feel old or young again.

19 SSKs 'which still have an important role to play, particularly in anti-submarine warfare. (...) and perform other tasks such as minelaying'

1(F) Harrier representing the future use of SHAR.

Shiny Sheff :sad: & Lynx

Lots of Wasp and Banana Jet footage.

Bigging up Sea Dart :rolleyes:

Brief shot of Bronington, which given it was a '76 film was probably when it was under HM's command.

Well HMS PoW has left for the US. This deployment will include the Mojave UCAV trials under a £1.5 million contract announced in May,

(Someone really likes using once.)

Mojave landing trials, I assume launches as well or are they just going to accumulate them:E?

Only if the landing trials are successful :E

The first fixed-wing UAV lands on a Royal Navy aircraft carrier 08 Sep 2023 https://www.navylookout.com/the-firs...raft-carrier//
"In a pioneering flight on 4th September, a cargo drone flew from Cornwall out to HMS Prince of Wales, delivered supplies, took off again and returned to the airfield.
After preparations which included authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority, the HCMC drone took off from Predannack, the satellite airfield of RNAS Culdrose. After a flight lasting around 20 minutes, it touched down safely on the moving carrier. A dummy payload of naval memorabilia was brought to the carrier by the aircraft and removed by the crew. For the return journey, an aviation fuel sample was loaded to be tested using facilities ashore. The trial is best understood by watching the video below. (Unfortunately, a bug landed on the tail camera lens just before landing.)" :}

Is that controlled remotely by a human or is it autonomous?

Same drone as the Royal Mail tested for remote Scottish mail deliveries.

https://www.electronicsweekly.com/ne...lands-2021-10/

According to their website:Windracers drones are uncrewed and fly autonomously, controlled by our advanced autopilot solution Masterless™. Masterless™ is an entirely new architecture that has been developed and patented by our sister company Distributed Avionics, providing best in class autopilot technology for drones in the world.

Distributed Avionics was founded by Windracers to design and build an affordable and extremely robust autopilot solution that adheres to our rigorous design philosophy.

They took off again still with the insect/dot on the tail camera lens they had picked up on final?

Does it matter?

Future payload to fully maintain operational capability surely should include at least a box of Ann's Pasties from the Lizard ?

F1 cameras all have `rolling cleaners` on their cameras for `bug-cleaning`,even if it is `autonymous`,it should have a `manual` overide,to cover autopilot failure.....