USN Commissions VRM30 - first CMV-22B Squadron for COD
 

The US Navy (USN) has begun the transition from the C-2A Greyhound carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft to a modified variant of the Bell-Boeing MV-22 tiltrotor with the commissioning of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 (VRM 30) as its first CMV-22B squadron.

The USN in 2015 selected the CMV-22B tiltrotor to meet its Airborne Resupply/Logistics for Seabasing (AR/LSB) requirement, eschewing the alternative option of a life extension for the legacy C-2A Greyhound COD aircraft. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded the Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office a USD151 million contract in March 2016 for nonrecurring engineering associated with CMV-22B development/engineering change proposal (ECP) embodiment.

According to the navy, the CMV-22B acquisition approach is based on the re-use of a mature platform - in the shape of the MV-22B Block C aircraft - adapted with ECP modification to integrate a series of navy-specific subsystems/requirements: the ECP will add extended range capability with aft/forward external conformal fuel tanks on wings and sponsons, a public address system for use while transporting passengers, fuel jettison capability, cargo bay and loading ramp lighting, and secure beyond-line-of-sight communications with a high frequency (HF) radio.

The main driver for the CMV-22B is to transport the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine - the powerplant for the US Marines Corps' (USMC's) F-35B and the USN's F-35C variants - direct from shore bases to carrier decks. Being able to put the F135 power module inside the tiltrotor is significant because the capability to transport the load internally extends range out to 1,000 n miles. In addition, the CMV-22B will enable direct delivery to amphibious ships as well as carriers.

VRM 30 was formally established on 14 December in a ceremony at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California. The first CMV-22B aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to the squadron in fiscal year 2020 (FY 2020).

How does the UK intend to move F-35B spares to the QE-class carriers?

Assuming tthe UK can afford any spares I guess it will be alongside in Portsmouth... no budget for COD I believe and you wouldn't want to transfer at sea - the USN certainly won't

I believe this will not be an issue as they intent to have everything on board. Trawl F35 cancelled thread ...

See this post by Engines on the Future Carrier thread.

Wee, Just how good are Aircraft Engineers at forecasting spares usage?

If the assumed spare usage is correct for the planned operational period....fine.

What happens when the deployment gets extended....remembering some of our Carriers have stayed at sea and operational for very long times....what then?

Can the UK Carriers conduct underway replenishment to transfer those lacking Spares?

Does the RN have the cargo carrying capacity to do a re-supply to the carrier for those odd items that might be missing from the Carrier stocks in a timely fashion?

It is a long way from Plymouth to the Persian Gulf.

Are your carriers capable of 159 days at sea without a Port Call....without being resupplied with aircraft spares, food, fuel, armament, etc?

https://products.kitsapsun.com/archi...rier_to_d.html

I don't think the RN have ever had the ability to air move large items from the UK directly to a deployed carrier at sea so it's not exactly a new problem set.
The carriers in the Falklands war managed a significant period at sea without a port call, so again not a new problem.
Different to the USN doesn't necessarily mean worse, acquiring a CMV-22B capability for the UK would be a significant cost for a limited increase in capability due to the small numbers involved.

I think we need to keep in mind that the QE's are not meant to replicate the Nimitz/Ford CVN's in either role or capacity.

Better to think of them as upgraded "thru deck cruisers" - I do have a horrible worry that this distinction may "go missing" with the passage of time and there'll be repeat of the WW1 "Battle Cruisers are as good as Battleships" disaster

The UK can't afford all the bells and whistles so there will be (necessary) adjustments and lack of capability cp the USN vessels

What is the expressed Operational Use is envisioned for the two Carriers?

How would they be used to supplement/augment the US Navy Carrier fleet?

As you Brits and the French seem quite friendly these days I suppose there would be some common use for the two Nations as well.

Are the two British Carriers decks hardened to enable Osprey landings?

Any damage to the deck from the hot exhaust?

That is much different from being embarked and operating from the Carrier.....much akin to the following video.

https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/vide...craft-carrier/


COD.....you say you want a COD....well boyo....here's a COD for you!

Remember that a US carrier has upwards of 80 aircraft embarked so logistics is very different from the half squadron that the UK is used to and the QE carriers wont have many more. the CMV-22 can uplift Hornet engines as well as helo and E-2 engines which are modular...

With apologies for stirring up the thread drift, a chap I once knew in naval stores was influential in getting a replacement gearbox down to Invincible during her passage south in '82.

I do know that it was flown down by Herc (and I believe sourced from Gib), but I've often wondered how did they ever actually get the thing aboard? Flown to Ascension and barged across? Or was a Chinook able to lift it?

But in answer to the modern day quandry, I suspect UK jets out on sandy ops would simply be rotated, all be it shipped home rather than trailed if U/S.

Quite happy to be contradicted though

Cooch

It's been a few years since I worked on aircraft and when I did, it was not unusual for the aircraft to return with a multitude of faults. However theses days, I believe that the serviceability rate is significantly higher.

So although there will be a need for spares, I assume that the amount or range required will not be as great as previous deployments.

The F-35 rotates its nozzle(s) up away from the deck after landing....not so the Osprey with those rather awkward Prop Rotor things either whacking the Deck or Grooming the Marshaller's Top Knots.

"That is much different from being embarked and operating from the Carrier..."

true - but it doesn't have to - it operates from where the engines are stored , drops in, unloads engine and goes home ..... Amazon really......