HMS Queen Elizabeth class CVFs (updates)

[Haijun watcher]

NOTE: Re-titled, updated thread. Please scroll down for the latest updates.

I didn't add "Her Majesty's Ship" before her name since she hasn't been commissioned yet.

Perhaps we should be having a "Calling All Fans of RN CVFs" thread soon? Older threads I found in a search were mostly on tangential topics such as whether the CVFs would be delayed.

Defense News

UK Carrier Preps for Launch in July
May. 4, 2014 - 01:26PM | By ANDREW CHUTER

ROSYTH, SCOTLAND � Within sight of one of the crowning engineering achievements of Queen Victoria�s reign, Britain�s naval shipbuilding industry is counting down to the launch of a new aircraft carrier for the Royal Navy named after the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth.

The warship will be floated for the first time on July 4 in the Babcock-operated dock here as part of an official naming ceremony attended by the queen. The yard is almost within the shadow of the 1890s-built Forth railway bridge.

With three F-35 fighter jets due in Britain for the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough air show later in July, there has even been speculation the aircraft could put in an appearance July 4.

A BAE Systems spokeswoman played down that suggestion during a visit by reporters here on April 29, saying the only F-35 likely to be seen would be a full-size mock-up on the deck of the new carrier.

(...EDITED)

[doog_k]

They need to get busy, she's still in various shades of primer

[Haijun watcher]

Another update:

Mast fitted to tallest warship

(glasgowsouthandeastwoodextra.co.uk)

From the tip of the newly-installed pole mast to the keel, the carrier now stands 73 metres (239ft) tall - taller than Tower Bridge or Nelson's Column.

With a draught of 10 metres (33ft) it means the aircraft carrier - due to be officially named by the Queen at Rosyth, Scotland, on July 4 - will stand 63 metres (206ft) above the waterline.

But at that height, the ship is too tall to sail beneath either of the road or rail bridges over the Forth.


Image From: pinterest.com

[keef666]

If she is launched on that date, will she still have another year to be fitted out, or as these ships are now built in prefab style is that it,? she would be ahead of schedule?

Still can't make my mind up to have a go at scratchbuilding one in 1/350 th or wait till Trumpeter bring one out!

[Haijun watcher]

The time for the official launching ceremony approaches...

Defense News

Queen To Officially Name UK's Newest Aircraft Carrier
Jul. 3, 2014 - 02:14PM | By ANDREW CHUTER

LONDON � Britain is set to launch its first new aircraft carrier in more than 30 years when the queen officially names the warship Queen Elizabeth at a July 4 ceremony at Rosyth dockyard, Scotland.

Technically it�s not a launch but a flood up of the dock where the 65,000-ton warship has been assembled from modules built by maritime construction companies from around Britain.

Queen Elizabeth is the first of two carriers being built for the Royal Navy in a program targeted to cost �6.2 billion (US $10.5 billion), having started at �3.8 billion.

When the first warship becomes fully operational in 2020, it will restore a Royal Navy carrier strike capability axed in the Conservative-led coalition government�s 2010 strategic defense and security review (SDSR).

(...EDITED)

[Timmy C]

Pic from July 3 of HMS Illustrious next to the QE:

[Timmy C]

Incidentally, anyone know what this is? Place-holder blades for shaft calibration/balancing? Found in the BBC video on the QE.

[EJFoeth]

No idea; my initial thought as a brake during the launch, though she's in drydock... Perhaps they wanted a simple visual cue the controllable pitch installation was working?

[Haijun watcher]

An update with better carrier porn...

Queen names new Royal Navy aircraft carrier in Rosyth

The carrier has still to be fitted out and floated, to make way for the assembly of its sister ship HMS Prince of Wales.

Assembly of HMS Prince of Wales is set to begin at Rosyth later this year.

Work on the two carriers is expected to cost �6.2bn.

More than 10,000 people in more than 100 companies have worked on its construction.

(...EDITED)
[BBC News] - 4 July 2014

This photo was taken by Moray Alexander Horn. � with Moray Alexander Horn.
-

This photo was taken by Moray Alexander Horn.
-

Pictures: PO(Phot) Ray Jones, HMS Illustrious
source: Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier FB Page

[Admiral John Byng]

Thanks for the photos. I really hope the RN can keep these ships and is allowed to operate them.

[davecov]

Incidentally, anyone know what this is? Place-holder blades for shaft calibration/balancing? Found in the BBC video on the QE.

They are brake blades which allow testing of the propulsion up to 50% power without producing thrust. They will be replaced by the proper propellors later on. Here is a PDF explaining:
http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.u ... 090614.pdf

BTW, I was asked by Airfix to scratch-build a 1/350 model of HMS Queen Elizabeth for the Royal Navy for display at the ceremony and then onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. You can see some pictures here.

Dave

[Timmy C]

Thanks Dave! And great job on the 1/350 kitbash/scratchbuild!

[Christian M.]

Will be very interesting what is first commissioned: The QE carrier or the F-35 plane at least ... I'm pretty sure that RN will have a new carrier without planes for it at least, looking on latest news about JSF and that Pentagon re-tinks about buying the plane at all in moment.

Jokes away so far ... this is really a disgrace with the F-35 and so at least for the RN to build a carrier before necessary plane is available too. Maybe they will buy some AV-8 from USMC at least?

[Admiral John Byng]

Yes, the F-35 was supposed to fly at 3 events in the UK but didn't turn up. Queen Elizabeth will be a helicopter carrier for several years and may never operate fixed wing aircraft.

[Christian M.]

A very expensive helicopter carrier I must say. I heard about some rumors that RN is really thinking about to cancel F-35 order and to replace with Super Hornets ... or another alternative.

To be honest, in my opinion QE class was from start on superfloues as I had from beginning on doubts about JSF program too. No miss-understandings, I don't say that a new carrier for RN is superfllues, because they really need about 2 or 3 ... but I think more about something like a bigger Wasp class, because somehoe MEUSOC /ARGcaoacities is ehat RN needs in my opimion ...

[Admiral John Byng]

A very expensive helicopter carrier I must say. I heard about some rumors that RN is really thinking about to cancel F-35 order and to replace with Super Hornets ... or another alternative.

To be honest, in my opinion QE class was from start on superfloues as I had from beginning on doubts about JSF program too. No miss-understandings, I don't say that a new carrier for RN is superfllues, because they really need about 2 or 3 ... but I think more about something like a bigger Wasp class, because somehoe MEUSOC /ARGcaoacities is ehat RN needs in my opimion ...

I don't think the RN needs more amphibious ships, it already has enough of those, but it needs an aircraft carrier capable of securing and maintaining local air superiority. It has been missing ever since Ark Royal was retired.

There are no plans to buy Super Hornets, if the F-35 is cancelled the carriers will probably bo sold or at best one will be kept as a helicopter carrier. The present UK government never wanted the QEs and would be happy to get rid of them.

[Haijun watcher]

if the F-35 is cancelled the carriers will probably be sold or at best one will be kept as a helicopter carrier.

There are discussions on other forums such as this other board on the warships1 site filled with your compatriots, which mention the possibility of a carrier version of the Eurofighter Typhoon for the CVF in the event the F-35 falls through.

Another thread at that board also discusses the possibility of a carrier version of the Swedish Gripen fighter.

Either way, both types of aircraft will probably need catapults added to the CVFs.

Excerpt from an article from a few years ago:

Aircraft Carriers may use Typhoon
By Tom McGhie

Financial Mail

29th July 2007

The Typhoon jet fighter may be converted to opertate from two new aircraft carriers amid fears that the Joint Strike Fighter will not be ready when the ships are launched.

The JSF is being built in America by Lockhead Martin but the project has been dogged by disputes over the use of US Technology.

The Ministry of Defence is afraid that after spending £3.8 billion on the vessels due to be built by 2012, there will be no planes fit to fly on them.

It was formally announced last week that the 65,000 ton carriers would be commissioned for the Royal Navy after an agreement to set up a joint venture between BAE systems and VT revealed by Financial Mail in May last year.

Faced by the potentially embarrasing lack of planes to operate from the carriers - to be called Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales - the MoD is considering using Typhoons or adapting the 40 - year - old Harrier jump jet.

An option to buy the French Rafale Matine jet is believed to have been rejected after complaints from the Royal Navy.

Financial Mail understands that BAe Systems has already begun work on converting the Typhoons.

[Christian M.]

I don't think the RN needs more amphibious ships, it already has enough of those, but it needs an aircraft carrier capable of securing and maintaining local air superiority. It has been missing ever since Ark Royal was retired.

There are no plans to buy Super Hornets, if the F-35 is cancelled the carriers will probably be sold or at best one will be kept as a helicopter carrier. The present UK government never wanted the QEs and would be happy to get rid of them.

Well,

I don't think that RN has enough amphibious capacities and at least it is one of the most needed capacities they need in my opinion ... looking on possible scenarios. To maintain local air superiority from sea against an enemy which has a note able Airforce is even very hard if not impossible by a single QE class with full F-35 load in my opinion ... therefore a super carrier as USN has is minimum necessary but even then hard without any further air support from sea or land. On the other hand, the amphibious capacities of RN are very low again, let's take a closer look on them:

01) HMS Illustrious (R06)
Left over and only hold because HMS Ocean needs a major refitting. It is planned that Illustrious will retire when Ocean is back in full service after refitting. Without Harriers, she serves only as helicopter carrier.

02) HMS Ocean (L12)
A pure helicopter carrier with 4 LCVP and limited possibility to carry maybe F-35 too if necessary. After Illustrious has retired, the only "carrier" before QE class get's into service

03) HMS Albion (L14) and HMS Bulwark (L15)
2 LPD's but only 1 of them is in service, the other one is "extended readiness"

That's it ... nothing else and any USN ARG or even Chinese landing force are more powerful as that.

@ Haijun watcher

As far as I learned, the Typhoon is not able to start / land on a carrier because the structure is too weak for the power which gets on the cell ... as well the landing gear is far to weak for this. I had same thoughts about a Typhoon but I had to learn from aircraft experts - what I'm not !!! - that a Typhoon is not possible as written.

[Admiral John Byng]

if the F-35 is cancelled the carriers will probably be sold or at best one will be kept as a helicopter carrier.

There are discussions on other forums such as this other board on the warships1 site filled with your compatriots, which mention the possibility of a carrier version of the Eurofighter Typhoon for the CVF in the event the F-35 falls through.

Another thread at that board also discusses the possibility of a carrier version of the Swedish Gripen fighter.

Either way, both types of aircraft will probably need catapults added to the CVFs.

Excerpt from an article from a few years ago:

Aircraft Carriers may use Typhoon
By Tom McGhie

Financial Mail

29th July 2007

The Typhoon jet fighter may be converted to opertate from two new aircraft carriers amid fears that the Joint Strike Fighter will not be ready when the ships are launched.

The JSF is being built in America by Lockhead Martin but the project has been dogged by disputes over the use of US Technology.

The Ministry of Defence is afraid that after spending £3.8 billion on the vessels due to be built by 2012, there will be no planes fit to fly on them.

It was formally announced last week that the 65,000 ton carriers would be commissioned for the Royal Navy after an agreement to set up a joint venture between BAE systems and VT revealed by Financial Mail in May last year.

Faced by the potentially embarrasing lack of planes to operate from the carriers - to be called Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales - the MoD is considering using Typhoons or adapting the 40 - year - old Harrier jump jet.

An option to buy the French Rafale Matine jet is believed to have been rejected after complaints from the Royal Navy.

Financial Mail understands that BAe Systems has already begun work on converting the Typhoons.

HW, I agree that it is possible that some other aircraft will be adapted for the RN in the event of the F-35B failing. The real problem is not which fixed wing aircraft will fly from the carriers but whether there is the political will to allow for that. If the F-35 fails then both the RN and RAF will have to search around for a replacement and the RAF will try to find something that does not suit the RN or would cost a fortune to convert for RN use. They want to be the sole operators of fast jets in the UK and they have been very underhanded in the past in freezing the RN out of projects.

[Jack Ray]

It is unlikely that F-35B will be cancelled. The USMC requirement for the capability and the aircraft is very high priority. As long as the Marines want F-35B, whether or not the RN gets it is really up to HMG.

Jack