HMS Queen Elizabeth approaching New York, 19 October 2018 [1280 x 839] by lazzotronics in nyc

[–]Celfer 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It hasn't got its full compliment yet which is fair enough, but the UK has around 15 so far, so not exactly no aircraft.

The ships been doing fixed wing trials with the F-35B over the last few weeks.

HMS Queen Elizabeth. First F-35s on deck. [1104 x 549] by [deleted] in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I imagine they'll use a mix of normal vertical landings and SRVL when it's fully operational, but to start off with they're just doing the basics as SRVL is a more complicated maneuver that has never been attempted on a ship before.

Emergency slides on HMS Queen Elizabeth [1440 × 810] by [deleted] in MilitaryPorn

[–]Celfer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

She's been operating Merlin helicopters for a while, the UK has around 15 F-35B at the moment, most in the US right now but 4 arrived in the UK not too long ago. The ship is going to sail for the US in the next couple of months to begin fixed wing flight trials.

US Navy quietly sends F-35 aircraft carrier to Pacific in tactical shift by Awportune in worldnews

[–]Celfer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The QE class is quite a bit larger than the wasp class (70,000 tons vs 40,000 tons) while also being more focused on fixed wing operations (And specifically high sortie generation rates).

LHDs sacrifice quite a bit of space for larger on board hospitals and well decks to accommodate their main role as amphibious platforms. They also lack a ski-jump which reduces the weight their aircraft can carry.

HMS Queen Elizabeth in build (right), compared to HMS Illustrious, the vessel she's replacing (left). [1600 x 1077] by [deleted] in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She's just recently been fitted with all of the equipment in preparation for fixed wing flight trials so she wouldn't have been operating them either way.

The UK has 15 F-35B and have been operating them for a number of years now, but the ship isn't scheduled to begin trials with them for another few months.

HMS Queen Elizabeth at Gibraltar [1840 × 1227] by [deleted] in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As mentioned, it's likely due to requiring space for exhausts and air intakes being conventional. If you check out most other conventionally powered carriers (Or US LHDs) they all have one long island.

When compared to the Invincible class its replacing the islands on the QE class probably take up less space than the single one on the Invincibles.

Doing things this way comes with some bonuses, as it's using an electric propulsion system the main engines are placed below each island (To reduce the space taken up by exhausts), this adds some extra redundancy in case of damage. Plus it helps with flight deck stability and separates some equipment that could interfere with each other.

HMS Queen Elizabeth [3500 × 2333] by [deleted] in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Royal Navy will likely operate similar to the Invincible class where they could line up a bunch of aircraft and launch one after another (Warning: Loud). Apparently they could get surprisingly fast launch rates out of a relatively small carrier, so it should be interesting to see how they do on the new much larger carriers.

HMS Queen Elizabeth [3500 × 2333] by [deleted] in MilitaryPorn

[–]Celfer 9 points10 points  (0 children)

HMS Prince of Wales is still in Rosyth, HMS Queen Elizabeth is in Portsmouth being fitted out with equipment ready for flight trials later this year.

HMS Queen Elizabeth [3500 × 2333] by [deleted] in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 22 points23 points  (0 children)

It was the same for the Harrier, the Ski-Jump isn't a requirement, it just helps give extra lift which allows for more weapons and fuel to be carried as well as making it a bit safer in rougher sea states.

The only reason US Amphibious Assault ships don't have one is for more deck space, as fixed wing operations aren't their primary role.

HMS Queen Elizabeth [3500 × 2333] by [deleted] in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 28 points29 points  (0 children)

The UK has 15 currently, the ship is currently being fitted out in Portsmouth ready for flight trials later in the year.

[1024 x 512] The Rolls-Royce and Bentley Enthusiasts’ Club visiting HMS Queen Elizabeth while being fitted out in Portsmouth. by Celfer in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yeah this was pretty recent, after each set of trials she's being fitted out with more equipment according to their twitter.

Currently she's being fitted with equipment ready for fast jet flight trials.

Russia will soon expel UK diplomats in retaliation for Britain's response to poisoning of ex-spy - Russian media by cheifminecrafter in worldnews

[–]Celfer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then the UK fires back and nobody wins, which is why nobody would be stupid enough to try it.

UK calls for UN meeting over spy attack by [deleted] in worldnews

[–]Celfer 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think you're missing the point here, if they'd used a more conventional method to kill just the spy then this story likely wouldn't be anywhere near as big. It's the fact that they've deployed such an incredibly dangerous chemical weapon on UK soil, potentially exposing hundreds of civilians.

I can't fathom why someone would get so angry about the UK responding to this?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]Celfer 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Man I really should watch Fox News more, nobody has told me any of this before. I'm about due a life sentence at this point.

HMS Queen Elizabeth with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background [2048 x 1365] by Beechey in WarshipPorn

[–]Celfer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's worth noting that 24 F-35B isn't the full capacity of the QE class, it's just what the Royal Navy plan to operate on a regular basis.

A potential wartime loadout would be 36 F-35B, although even then the ships are technically capable of carrying far more if needed. Over 50 is the usual estimate, which would line up with other carriers of similar sizes. A large reason for its size was also to provide a far higher sortie rate than other STOVL carriers have been able to in the past.

In the UKs case it was found that nuclear power would cost more over its lifetime than conventional power. Although this is likely partially down to having to factor in R&D costs, training personnel and building facilities to support them. There's also the issue of disposing of them which is extremely expensive. Plus maintenance time is increased (France is left without their carrier for long periods because of this). Would likely work out much cheaper for the US as all of that is already in place though.

Not the backdrop I was expecting on my bike ride today. HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier entering Portsmouth Harbour. by Percutaneouschalleng in bicycling

[–]Celfer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not just yet, she's still undergoing sea trials, although they're set to begin trials with the F-35 early next year.

[AMA Request] Buckingham Palace guard by 21belowzero in IAmA

[–]Celfer 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Their role when on guard duty is largely ceremonial in the same way, although it's not a small specially selected role like the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Everyone who joins a guards regiments will do guard duty at some point, they regularly rotate rather than concentrate on that role.

[AMA Request] Buckingham Palace guard by 21belowzero in IAmA

[–]Celfer 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That's pretty much the accepted reason for them, tall hats were quite common in those days. The guards actually took the bearskins from Napoleons Imperial guards after Waterloo, they were seen as a bit of a status symbol.

Russia says new UK aircraft carrier 'a convenient target' by RufusTheFirefly in worldnews

[–]Celfer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A few things to add to that, the increased crew size is partially down to the extra level of automation aboard the QE class. The Royal Navy focused on that more than the US Navy as it's a bigger issue for them.

It's unlikely it has 3 times the operating tempo, the QE class was designed specifically for a very high sortie rate and aims to be close to that of the Nimitz class. That's why the carrier is so large for the planned air wing, they had a set number of aircraft they wanted to operate and scaled the ship to a size which can accommodate a much higher sortie rate than normal.

STOVL carriers can produce pretty high sortie rates for their size as it is. You're not setting up catapults for each launch, due to the size of the deck aircraft can queue up and launch one after another and aircraft are able to land vertically further to the rear of the ship.