After nine months undergoing engineering repairs and receiving significant capability enhancements to support her future tasking, aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales moved out of dry dock at Rosyth and into the River Forth.

Once at anchor and in deeper water, the ship’s team will prove machinery and bring her systems to life – before sailing under the iconic Forth Bridges on her way to Portsmouth.

The carrier will then build on her previous successes including acting as NATO’s command ship and leading the Maritime High Readiness Force in the Arctic, before she takes over from HMS Queen Elizabeth as the nation’s flagship towards the end of 2024.

Captain Richard Hewitt, HMS Prince of Wales’ Commanding Officer, praised the efforts of all who sought to return the carrier to front-line duties again, not least his 750-strong ship’s company, who have remained with the carrier throughout.

“We are returning HMS Prince of Wales to operations as the most advanced warship ever built for the Royal Navy.

“This year we will be operating F-35s, V-22 Ospreys, drones and the RN Merlin helicopters – pushing the boundaries of naval aviation and UK Carrier Strike capability as we progress towards a global deployment in 2025.

“Our sailors are paramount to ensuring our return to operations. They have approached the task of getting us back to sea with the remarkable ethos that I have come to expect from them. They are a credit to the ship and the Royal Navy.”

The ship’s engineering departments have worked side-by-side with engineers from industry, led by Babcock who operate the facility at Rosyth, to fix the propeller shafts alongside BAE Systems, who have also been carrying out previously-planned capability upgrade works.

Commander Helen Jones, the carrier’s Commander Marine Engineering, said: “The team on board have risen to the challenge of returning this ship to sea and we are looking forward to testing the systems and returning to operations for the Royal Navy.”

Sean Donaldson, Managing Director of Babcock’s Rosyth facility where the work has been carried out, added: “We are proud to have worked alongside the ship’s company of HMS Prince of Wales and the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation to ready the ship for operations.

“Through our 10-year maintenance agreement with the MOD for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, we make their mission, our mission and we’re by their side enabling them to fulfil their duty.

“Our Rosyth facility is one of the UK’s most advanced waterside manufacturing and repair facilities and we have an expert team and world-class infrastructure ready to support customers whenever required.”

Throughout her time in Scotland the Ship’s Company have been maintaining their training levels either aboard HMS Prince of Wales, or by making use of training simulators ashore such as at HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood.

They have also supported recruitment and Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) events in the area, hosted NATO delegates and VIPs, taken part in civic events including Remembrance Parades in Edinburgh and Liverpool, Freedom of the City in Bristol, and assisted Border Force personnel during strikes over Christmas and Easter.

Once the ship has completed her propulsion trials, she will bring her flight deck back to life before returning to Portsmouth to prepare for her autumn deployment to the USA

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203 COMMENTS

    • Indeed good news. Lets hope that when she works up no further problems come to light and we soon get some pics or drone footage of F35B landing and taking off

  3. The figures for 2023 Nepalese applications for 280 places in the British army were 20,000! Surely the option to join the navy could go a good way to addressing the navy sailors needs maybe we can call a ship H.M.S GURKHA and crew it with Gurkhas, I’ve no doubt whatsoever that this is an avenue that MuST be explored and soon.

    • As ideas go: it is not a bad one.

      At least you know those guys are laser focussed on the task in hand.

      • H.m.s GURKHA could be a HLP. Maybe we could crew all the building frigates from the applications I think there would be a lot of interest

        • Dit on…

          When in Hong Kong in 93-96 I did the Land Rover driving course with some Gurkha RLC lads.

          Sat in the class room for a 6 week course the first 2 weeks where a chalk drawing of a Landrover (a Lightweight one at that!!!) and the instructor pointing to parts of it.
          ” Wheel” says the instructor
          ” Wheel” say the lads
          ” Im outa-here” see you in 2 weeks says me.

          Couple of weeks later the lads know what a wheel, engine, steering wheel, battery etc are and we spent a very enjoyable 3-4 weeks double de clutching and bombing around the New Territories learning to drive LRs. Double declutching because the next course the lads had to do was Bedford TK backbreakers.

          The RN tend to take a lot more commonwealth lads and lasses although they are restricted on what branch they can go ( No WE or OPS) due to access to 5 Eyes and UK Eyes Only info that you see in Operation Rooms.

          Anyway. Yes some could do it but it would be a major effort in education to achieve. A lot who fail the UK Army selection get taken up as part of the Indian Army Gurkha regiments anyway and the Indian Army has a lot of them. I worked for a brief time with the Indian army lads in Sierra Leonne. First and only time I was up close and personal with a BMP1…You can keep that army stuff thank you!

          • Gunbuster wrote:

            “”First and only time I was up close and personal with a BMP1″”

            I’m 5 foot 8″ and boy I was shocked at how tight things are in the back, and that was me in bog standard uniform, no webbing, gat or even large pack.

          • It was all right for the Indian Army Gurkhas…However for a 30 something CPO who is 5-11 absolutely no friken way!

    • “”The figures for 2023 Nepalese applications for 280 places in the British army were 20,000! Surely the option to join the navy could go a good way to addressing the navy sailors needs maybe we can call a ship H.M.S GURKHA and crew it with Gurkhas, “”

      With no disrespect to the Gurkhas, the vast majority of their recruits are not familiar with modern living. For example new recruits have to be taught basics such as using a knife and fork, using a toilet (correctly) , using an Iron (but that can also apply to most British recruits) speaking English , making them aware that the caste system is frowned upon in the UK (still a huge problem in the army, where a Pte from a higher cast socially outranks a senior rank from a lower cast) misogyny. (For example, at one posting we had a Gurkhas training captain and on a morning, he would always greet me, but ignore our 2 female civy clerks, boy would they greet about that)

      Don’t get me wrong, I like the Gurkhas , but somehow I don’t think they would do well at sea. On that note, yesterday’s defence paper revealed that the MOD has tried to address the recruiting problem with a number of initiatives (with incentives) designed to make the forces more attractive to the youth of today (Mind you things aren’t helped by the constant denigration of the military by the media, pressures groups and even some of our MPs)

      https://i.postimg.cc/PrL1LmDb/9.jpg

      • Agreed, much information which many don’t know! The Gurkha lads are still recruited from Nepal and it’s seen as a way out of poverty, with much bribery and corruption attempted with the British Army recruitment teams! But the teams know their shit, ex SNCO Gurkha lads and firm but very fair! Long process, with much kudos for the ones who eventually pass, but as you say mate very limited technical minded at this time!

      • Ships aren’t necessarily named for the crew’s sea faring abilities. They’re a recognition of characteristics. (I’m quite certain The Prince of Wales does not go to sea aboard a warship, or that the good people of Nottingham were not aboard HMS Nottingham, the prior type 42)

    • Or put the army back upto 82K and recruit 10,000 Gurkhas. Result frontline infantry Division now very very deadly.

      • This….army screaming out to be increased….sorted
        Of course any wishing the Navy as an option…welcome aboard.

      • Completely agree, it’s such an easy fix for the MOD and the public will be completely on side also!
        My 18 year old is in the process of trying to join up(!) Typical youth of today, won’t last 5 minutes, cant get his arse out of bed unless someone’s making breakfast for him and even then his face is glued to his mobile phone! I know who would be a lot more effective at clearing an argie trench!

    • Love this idea.
      There was also idea many years back of a Regiment of Sikhs, that faded.
      And what happened to the Afghan SF that came to th UK?

      • Daniele wrote:
        “”And what happened to the Afghan SF that came to th UK?””

        I suspect that most are currently back home on holiday

      • They most probably have dispersed around the county and have become the ‘grey men’ awaiting orders…..

        • Hope not. Though reading of their reputation with our guys, I’d hope that means in their own country, working for us.

      • I take issues with the idea of making significant parts of the British Army Guhrka, or the Navy for that matter. Cultural link or not Gurkhas are mercenaries, and there are plenty of cautionary tales in history about giving over your national defence to mercenary formations (I’m not a big fan of the argument from history but it’s worth highlighting because when it comes to the Gurkhas people seem very keen to ignore this).
        Also, they’re kind of hard to work with. There’s a real culture clash that occurs with them that people who haven’t dealt with them don’t get (and lets not talk about grade inflation they are subjected too in Brecon).

        • Ah the elephant in the room and the Gurkha limited understanding of things they seem to think limited understanding is required!!!!! I’m not saying they aren’t good at what they do but the elements which know how to manipulate a system which is catering and a little it cautions of minority groups, no matter what cap badge are very active! And let’s not mention the Brecon demo Coy!!!!!!!

          • Ah a long time ago mate when there was a bit of an explosion in a locals house in Brecon lol ….. amongst other local “stories” lol👍

          • Lol many years ago now mate, I used to rent a nice little place in Haye on Wye, away from the military way of life but in between the places I needed to be, so a bit of an outsider! Let’s just say the Gurkha lads were initially easily influenced by the local ladies, and while good at soldiering not very good at sussing out the crazy ladies! Anyway OT have you ever had a look at Kenchester and the weir Garden? Some interesting and relatively untouched Roman remains, quite unknown by many Roman history hunters?

          • Just checked it out though!
            Always wanted to get to Hay-on-Wye, the missus would love its bookshops. I’ve been around the Brecon Beacons area and had lunch while walking around the Ewyas Harold area looking out the pub at Mk 1 BR coaches!

          • Brecon is nice as well if you are in the area, but Hey on Wye would be a good first choice

          • Mate great Ariel pics of crop marks etc and the wire garden was a river side villa, still upright walls to a decent height, all great little sites but not that well known. Hay was nice as well, great walks and great river activities 👍

          • Those Pompey lasses would eat them alive they’d need to take the kukuris ashore with them, just to be safe from th queen’s from fratton

          • When i was in Belize 7 GR came out , they had their HQ at Holdfast and I got on very well with them (Something about, if I was driving up the road from BC and saw them walking back from Rouls Rose Garden (we were all banned, the Gurkhas werent) I would always pull up and give them a lift) because of that I was invited to one of their festivals (still got the invite upstairs), kind of shocked at how they dressed their younger soldiers up as women and got them to dance for us all. Anyway we got talking and it was mentioned by another that this was the same unit which years before had something of an explosion in Hawaii
             

            7th Gurkha Rifles

            HC Deb 21 October 1986 vol 102

             

            Mr. Peter Bruinvels asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the incident in Hawaii in May, which resulted in a number of soldiers from the 1st Battalion Duke of Edinburgh’s Own 7th Gurkha Rifles being dismissed, the number dismissed, the number that appealed, and the number re-instated; and what is his policy regarding the continued employment of Gurkhas within the British Army.

             

            Mr. Freeman One hundred and thirty six soldiers of support company, 1st Battalion 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s own Gurkha Rifles (1/7 GR) took part in Exercise UNION PACIFIC in Hawaii between 13 April and 28 May 1986. The exercise involved company level field training, some of it in conjunction with United States marines and army units. The company was commanded by acting Major Corin Pearce, 31, a non-Gurkhali-speaking officer seconded from the Royal Anglian Regiment.

             

            On 25 May, after the company had returned to camp following an organised off-duty party to mark the end of the exercise, an apparently spontaneous disturbance erupted during which first a Queen’s Gurkha officer, Captain Chandra Kumar Pradhan, and subsequently the company commander were violently assaulted and injured. Each sustained two broken ribs, and Major Pearce also suffered head wounds requiring 15 stitches. The violence continued for some time, only two or three Gurkha soldiers or NCOs seeking to intervene or assist. Order was eventually restored with the assistance of two young British officers.

             

            On the return of support company to Hong Kong, a full official inquiry by the special investigation branch of the Royal Military Police was set in train, the normal investigative procedure following such a serious episode. At the initial stages of the investigation, 18 suspects were held under arrest, but they were subsequently released because of the lack of corroborated evidence. Many of the company are known to have been involved in the incident to a greater or lesser extent, and it is certain that most witnessed it, but positive identification again proved difficult, both because of the confusion in the sudden fracas itself and because of the refusal of the soldiers present to give evidence about individuals involved in the assault. The available evidence of identification from various officers was insufficient to frame court martial proceedings against all the ringleaders, nor could this evidence be corroborated.

             
            As I was saying about the cast system. Regards the explosive element, the rumour doing the rounds had it that the Sgt Major on opening a desk drawer was regaled to the sound of a Grenade lever springing into life. He cquickly closed it and dived for cover. Thankfully nobody was here

          • Yep…The caste system was/is a massive issue. No chance of promotion for some no matter how good they are.

          • There’s also huge cultural issues. I vividly remember a time one of our JNCO’s in charge of the vehicle fleet made a rule that you where not allowed to drive vehicles in the vehicle park until all personnel had vacated the area after a few near misses. A Gurkha SNCO decided he didn’t need to listen because he was a Sergeant and his opinion overrode safety instructions.

            Long story short he almost killed two blokes and when he got a bollocking nearly started a fight and then demanded that the JNCO vehicle fleet manager get charged for speaking to him disrespectfully. Which is pretty typical of Gurkhas in my experience.

            Not saying we should disband them, or anything, but we shouldn’t be making a full division of them either.

          • Agreed mate, keen volunteers but can come with some eventual baggage further on in their career 👍

        • That’s become less of an issue in recent centuries, you just need to deny them organic logistics.

          Iirc during the world wars prison battalions were used (by the Germans I think) and supplied with weapons captured/purchased that used different ammunition from the main army. Armed mutinies could only last as long as the ammunition they were given.
          Of course that would be harder to do today now that most guns use one of four different cartridges, all of which are plentiful on the black market.

          The big issues only come when you do the impossibly stupid and supply Wagner with the means to do a thunder run on Moscow..

          • That last comment is exactly what I’m arguing about. The Gurkhas already have a Logistics battalion, a Engineering battalion, a signals unit, and 3 infantry Battalions, and people on this forum are now asking to double them in size to where they’re nearly 15% of the army (considerably more than Wagner was as a percentage of the Russian army). Exactly where do you draw the line before they could in theory thunder run to London if the mood took them.

            Oh and prison battalion in WWII aren’t a good comparison point because their strength was measured in battalions while their respective armies where measured in 100’s of divisions, but even so there where uprisings where foreign units turned on the Wehrmacht. Basically: the only reason it’s not been much of an issue in recent centuries is because Mercenary forces have become rare (for this very reason).

          • Yeah thinking again it does seem like a series of catch 22s: either you make an effective force or you waste resources making an ineffective one, either you keep them far away from where you’re weak or you have them where they are needed..

          • I see your point, although in an operational sense I’m a bit less apprehensive (Pierogi the bald not withstanding), I just really get a bad feeling when mercenaries are used as a stop gap because we are struggling to recruit. :/

          • As a former prison officer I think I am more than qualified to talk a bout prisoners in the forces most prisoner’s are repeat offenders so I’d be against it it on the issue of trust could you trust an individual who is say on his second sentence for drug related issues? Wouldn’t be be a massive risk in a environment, with a zero tolerance for drug misuse? No, I’d be more in favour of pressing from the pool of immigrants. Make them earn their place in Britain.

      • That has gone very quiet mate but I’m aware since the issue of Taliban vs ISIS has reduced, and their requirement limited somewhat, they are now kicking back within the immigration system awaiting permanent leave to remain in the UK, and for the record, so they should! We do have a debt to a large number of Afghan lads, and regardless if they did it for the money, we should be honour bound to assist those who assisted us! Plus some of those lads were pretty decent operators, albeit Afghan levels of skills! Cheers.

        • ‘We do have a debt to a large number of Afghan lads, and regardless if they did it for the money, we should be honour bound to assist those who assisted us! ‘

          I don’t care what the world thinks about us, but a debt is a debt.

          ‘For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
          Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, …’

    • I don’t understand why we limit the numbers, surely other battalions that are short across the whole army could do with some of these excellent soldiers? The navy should also accept these lads itching go join up for gods sake. I bet they would put the majority of our home grown to shame with their fitness and discipline levels!

      • 5 Eyes …
        UK Eyes Only…

        So limited to ME and Logs Branch which is where the Commonwealth joiners go to.

      • There are plenty of good examples, even in this comment thread, as to why that would *not* be a good idea.

        The Gurkhas are great, but can be volatile and have significant cultural issues. And that’s the best of them that we get, not the rejects.

        And should they do wrong, we all know there are those among us who would try to make us feel pity for the wrongdoers (no doubt with cries of racism).

    • My Father served on HMS GURKHA in the ’70s. As a child, I visited Gurkha. A Frigate, we stayed in port. Happy memories.

    • The woke mob would have field day with that idea, they love to scream about post colonial exploitation.

    • Here is an idea why don’t we pay native British people to crew our ships. It’s an old fashioned and outdated idea but you know it may just work!!!

  4. After nine months undergoing engineering repairs and receiving significant capability enhancements to support her future tasking….
    …. and receiving significant capability enhancements to support her future tasking
    Such as?

    • There is more to a warship than things which go bang.

      QEC us a huge command and control centre as well as having the space and power for lots of EW activities.

      I’d not be too surprised if her air search radar had been upgraded for BMD also ARTISAN (the other radar) is based on a simplified version of SAMPSON.

      • Nothing wrong with XP!

        It is/was used as the GUI on some systems during boot up and maintenance tasks. It doesn’t run the system and its firewalled from the ships Combat System Highway anyway so no issues on that score.

    • Comms, Computer systems …lots of boxes and nodes where always getting added to ships I was on. Not always visible from the outside but we got massive capability upgrades to C4I in the Ops Room…

      Dont forget these things also do the Flagship role so the comms and reach back (No tittering!) facilities are as good as they get and there will always be some new sytem that can be added .

      • The Navy keeps changing its’ mind about whether the two carriers should be identical or whether some new toys should be tried out on one ship first. This situation has not been helped by political interference – some members of the cabinet (not Mr Wallace) seem to think they should have a say in operational matters.

      • no need at the moment with Big Liz taking lead. we’d be better off having POW fully certified and taking advantage of her to get the tech in place to increase the capabilities of both

        • There is a big difference between the two ships in the levels of experience in handling aircraft. Some people (of various ranks) see this as a problem.

  6. Just an idea. But could a small purchase of V22 Ospreys prove useful for the QE carriers?
    I’m thinking fitted for air to air refuelling or AWACS role?
    Even just as a rapid personnel transfer utility aircraft.
    If too expensive and not viable could Chinook be used as an air to air refuelling platform?

  7. Where are you? All you naysayer Trolls and on SM saying she would be mothballed and used as a spares tree?

    As Delia said at Norwich…”WHERE ARE YOU???….LETS BE AVIN YOU!”

    Idiots….

    • According to the D.T. only this week she is being canabalised for spare parts so what you see is a merely a vision.👻. Now all we need is ….sssh, I daren’t say it!

    • Hi Daniele,
      Was wondering how the BBC and the rest of MSM are going to report? They will be in a state frothing at the mouth how to find something negative.
      Cheers
      George

      • Probably a low key report, or not cover it at all, until something else goes wrong somewhere.
        I wish I’d been a journalist to try and inject some positivity and facts into British defence reporting.

      • UK the only democracy in the world where it is law for citizens to pay to watch TV, to fund the BBC, and it’s socialist agenda.

      • The way the Daily Mail would do it would be a couple of sentences saying that ‘Prince of Wales’ is back at sea, working up to a return to full operational capability, followed by 5 or 6 paragraphs listing all the mishaps which have befallen the ship since launch.

    • Well said. Introducing something this big and complex runs risks. We see this with numerous military projects (when truthful reporting is available) all around the world.

      👍

      • The carriers are both, in effect, prototypes. Problems get fixed when they are in service, not during lab testing and sea trials. This is what happens if you build high value customised equipment.

    • Somebody who has a different opinion to your own does not make them a troll. It just means you are an angry stressed person, who looks forward to arguing with “idiots” as you say. In 2030 and beyond, China will have a credible carrier battle group, and the fact remains, the UK carriers have very limited aew range compared to France and US. This could put them at risk from longe range aviation assets from Russia and China.

      • AWACS is soon to be a dead concept, it would not last 5 minutes in a peer conflict, that’s why the USAF was so slow to move to E7, it knows the new concept system around the corner but E3 is so old it needed a stop gap. A distributed system of Crowsnest, F35 and sea vixen eventually augmented by satellites is the future. E2 is dated and soon to be obsolete.

        • “cough” Gold updates to CSS etc…Cough…
          L16…

          We are not going to fight China or Russia on our own.
          Anyway the China carriers would be long gone due to western subs.

      • Long range aviation assets from China. Hmm maybe. From Russia🤣😂🤣😂🤣 RFS Kutz is a heap of junk. Last time she was used actively how many jets plopped into the sea?
        Russian naval aviation is currently zero threat to a QEC carrier battle group. Besides there are these things called destroyers and frigates that are armed to the teeth and more than capable at shooting down incoming anti ship missiles. NATO has hundreds of these vessels. Hell even in Europe there are adequate numbers of destroyers and frigates to protect the few large carriers in service. 2 QEC, Charles De Gaulle, ITS Cavour and Trieste. That’s about it. Add some LPHDs in the form of 3 french Mistrals, 1x Spanish LPHD, 1X Turkish LPHD and that’s it.
        European NATO has some 20+ destroyers, 30 frigates. That’s adequate to cover those surface carrier groups.
        Please don’t insult us about Russian hypersonic missiles as they’ve already proven themselves to be fast junk. With the accuracy of a flying cowpat. The Zircon is estimated to be accurate to somewhere within 25 miles of its intended target. That’s NATOs assessment not mine.

        • Europe has considerably more surface escorts than that. Depending on where you choose to draw the line between “Frigate” and “Destroyer” there are around 12 Destroyers and 110(!) Frigates in the service of European countries. Plus another 80 or so Corvettes of various capability levels (And I’ve not counted Turkeys navy in that number either).
          Although you left out Juan Carlos Primero in your list of Carriers.

        • Both TU-95 and TU-22M can carry the Kh-32 missile. If I were the ruler of the King’s navy, I would want to be certain that I could detect and counter that specific threat..

      • “Somebody who has a different opinion to your own”

        Except they’re not “opinions” they are baseless claims and rumour mongers in the newspaper comment sections and on Social Media, saying she will be scrapped, mothballed or cannibalised with no evidence, or subject matter knowledge beyond the usual put the country down at every opportunity..

        That is not having an opinion, which one then debates in the normal fashion and a conclusion drawn.

        As for you, putting the country, and the military, down at every opportunity is your reason for being here, is it not.

        “It just means you are an angry stressed person” And yet when you look through my comment history I remain polite, debate my points, and give accurate information for the most part.

        Angry? Stressed? 😆 👍 Dream on mate.

      • Ah but you don’t have a different opinion, you have a view point and an agenda you want to get across, mostly of negative and anti UK views, with no experience, proof or research into those points. Having an agenda to push, isn’t an opinion, its just sad confirmation of your status. And as for DM, never seen him angry or depressed, just very good at “out informing” those on here who just throw about nonsense statements. He will always assist you and others when wrong, but most never reply as don’t like being told they are clueless. Next?

      • There will always be at least one Type 45 in any Carrier Group. AEW and AWACS are in a state of flux at the moment as Jim suggests below, but the problem is well known at high levels in the chain of command, so cautious optimism is probably about right. Crowsnest is likely to be phased out by 2030 – somebody got fed up with the dreadful software.

        In my first job, I was assigned to the Searchwater development team who adapted the original kit so that it could be hung below a Sea King, a six month job which we did in 6 weeks due to the Falklands war. Extraordinary that a temporary lash-up should still be in service forty years later.

    • The world has changed quite a lot in the last 18 months, especially in the military arena. The Secretary of State has been granted access to the PM and Chancellor much more often than was previously the case.

  8. Huzzah!
    I hope we get more Rolling Vertical Landing trials in the autumn now to make that the norm.
    And P3 40mm guns…
    And some camm too for proper defence…
    {wanders off into the sunset}

      • Mine too. Like to see some containerised POD CAMM developed in 10/20/40′ ctnrs could potentially be deployed across a very large range of ships if when needed, even on the RFAs, River B2, Points and on land or a back of a truck trailer.

  9. Best of luck to her and the crew ,didn’t really have a good start but smooth sailing from now on Hopfuly 🇬🇧

  10. “Our sailors are paramount to ensuring our return to operations. They have approached the task of getting us back to sea with the remarkable ethos that I have come to expect from them. They are a credit to the ship and the Royal Navy.”

    Hear! Hear!

    • She first goes into a very essential refit period, then works up to full operational to be ready should POW have any problems.

    • It is expected that one of the carriers will be on deployment at nearly all times and the other one will be under maintenance or available at short notice. To make this sort of scheme work properly actually requires three ships, but the politicians (as usual) decided that a botch job would be sufficient.

  13. Good news story👍🏻 About time something positive for our armed forces. The QE class are straight up numero uno technology and capability wise .

    Heres the rub the shitehoose naysayers crew from doon south aren’t able to compute. 1 single RN F35B flying from the QE or POW could shoot down the entire Argentinian airforce if it could carry enough missiles (nothing against the Argy AF just an example) . Infact not many airforces could compete with what we have such is the gulf in technology. They defo don’t like it up em 😎

    🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

    • Maybe true, but irrelevant. At the moment NATO faces the prospect of a peer war with Russia. For the UK the key question is “how would our carriers and their aircraft cope with their Russian enemies”.

  14. Spain has not yet ordered the F35B. It would be a smart move for the RNs carriers to become joint NATO carriers, enabling a constant at sea nato carrier air wing. For example Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark etc all order a squadron of F35Bs for use on RN carriers. Going forward into 2030, Russia will pose a significant naval threat in the thawing high North with submarine and aviation assets. A third jointly operated nato carrier will be required to counter this threat.

    • That’s the basic concept being operated in the Far East with Singapore Japan and USMC aircraft, can be easily done in the north if European countries want to get involved. At this stage there will be far more F35B’s in service than ships designed to operate them.

    • They’ve already done that Frost
      Both QEC are tasked for NATO duties. There is an MOU with France and Italy to ensure one of the carriers is available at all times for European high intensity operations.
      The Italians came onboard with Cavour now equipped with some F35Bs.
      I think Trieste is also likely to be certified as an F35B carrier. Both ships can embark maybe 12 jets. So a small but potent force.
      They’ve adopted the British plasma spray on deck covering to cope with the F35Bs exhaust heat.

  15. Russia is now hinting Belarus is under threat from Poland. Putins latest comments on the subject are somewhat disturbing. Be interesting how this plays out going forward. I see eastern Ukraine, crimea and Belarus as pivotal in the new world order.

    • I don’t see them as that important, Russia is finished one way or another, China rapidly running out of steam and soon people. India rapidly rejoining the western fold along with SE Asia,

      Central Asia, Taiwan and Siberia is the crucial point. If China gets all three it will dominate the 21st/22nd century. Without it it’s just another failed empire that will be overwhelmed by demographics.

    • They won’t do anything to Poland.
      The Polish army is not a foe Russia should try to mess with. They are professional guys, very tough, very determined and are part of NATO. One single step onto any NATO territory will invoke article 5 and a massive NATO response. How long do you think Belorusk army and Wagner rapists would last?
      Less than a week I’d say until smashed to pieces.

    • He’s just throwing out bait to distract from Russia’s failures in Ukraine.

      And you seem to have fallen for it. Not surprising for someone who thinks only the UK is the only democracy that requires people to pay for state affiliated media.

      • The nonsense about Poland may also be intended to create a common foe (a bogey man) in order to rally Belarusian support for Lukashenko, whose grip on power is somewhat tenuous.

    • Ha ha ha no way, Belarus is a bag of shit, backed and propped up by a weakened and more splintered Nazi Russia. Any threats to Poland will end up in Poland and/or NATO wiping the floor with the Belarus and Wagner special needs crew.

    • Where is there racism here?? I see in these posts praise from all sides for the Gurkhas who are held in high esteem. If there was racism it would be removed in short order by the mods. Some ex service personnel have pointed out cultural differences that can cause issues. That is not racism. That is fact, there ARE cultural differences between peoples from differing countries, and it is not racist for pointing it out and the issues it can cause between forces personnel.

      • Well some suggested that if they were too big they could take London stupid comment same with someone comparing them to the Wagner group stupid comment and one or two have suggested they need to be showed how to use the toilet properly read the comments and you will see the racism but I guess coming from Italy it comes naturally

        • Ohhh, here we go. Must say you’re showing your ignorance there with your last sentence.

          “but I guess coming from Italy it comes naturally”
          Racist much with that comment, tarring all with the same brush?

          1) I do not come from Italy. I was born in Wimbledon, have an English mother, but an Italian father, which accounts for my name.
          I even speak with a “Home Counties” accent….gosh!
          Going back, my wider British family is a mix of English, Welsh, and funnily enough, mostly Scots. So BRITISH is in my blood.

          2) Where I live, quite close to Aldershot, there is a big Army Garrison, with plenty of Gurkhas. It is common knowledge many families of Gurkhas, who have joined their serving sons and brothers from Nepal, and who have settled in the town have relieved themselves in the street, just like that, ( dumped, not weed ) shocking the locals. Would YOU be shocked by that? I would, no matter who did it.
          Not racist, just the truth. Common knowledge around here.
          White English people ( and Italians and Europeans ) no doubt can also have awful toilet manners! ) That does not make it racist, it is the TRUTH. You can read it and be “offended” anyway you choose.

          3) The comment from Dern concerning Gurkhas “taking London” was a wider generalisation of an example of Mercenaries ( not just Gurkhas ) possibly getting too much power and overthrowing a government. Just like what happened recently in Russia with Wagner, which he even referenced. That you fail to see his meaning, but only what you want to see…stuns me.

          Made a bit of an idiot of yourself….. haven’t you. I won’t say what sex I am, you’re no doubt too daft to work it out.

          • I know! An own goal I could not resist expanding on.

            On the Aldershite story, as an ex 5 Bde who obviously knows the place well, had you heard those stories regards the locals shock at the Nepalese toilet habits?

          • Em not so much about in public toilet habits, but certainly late 90s onward a lot of the Gurkha lads could bring over families, grandparents etc and with some it did seem a culture shock in regard to the different way of western living! They soon adapted but the habit of spitting kat and such like was always there! Not nice, every bus stop etc brown stains everywhere. But, lovely people, just took time to assimilate to a certain degree! The biggest problem in Aldershot however, in regard to toilet habits was 2000 drunken Paras all trying to get back to camp, and all wanting a gigantic piss on route 😂👍

          • Incorrect term xenophobic no racism only gurkha relieved themselves In the street no white I do not care what sex you identify yourself as just like you assume I am white are you seriously comparing gurkha with Wagner

        • Complain about racism and then use a racist comment. Brilliant.
          It’s not racist to state differences about people’s experiences when serving with service personal from different countries.
          The Wagner comment u have read it wrong. The comparison was to having a large force of foreign soldiers can have create problems as we saw with Wagner’s March on Moscow.
          Nobody was comparing Gurkhas to Wagner. It’s a hypothetical of what could perhaps happen if ur armed forces are mostly comprised of foreign forces.
          Have a look in a dictionary at the words racist/racism.

          • Not racism xenophobic I do hate italians we went on holiday we as a black family and was refused service because we were black

        • At the end of the day they are mercenaries though, and do have some rather violent incidences in their past. The MoD have tried to deal with them quietly, but they have had to deal with them.

          The chances of them marching on London? Almost zero. But it *is* something that does need to be considered.

          • Though the Gurkhas are under British Army command, with British officers.
            Wagner, I understand, is separate from the Russian MoD/Army, and thus unaccountable, with its own training facilities and supply chains, so the two do not compare.

          • Mate all Battalions have had violent incidents in their past, you should have come to Aldershot over a weekend!

        • Well in fact part of the process in Nepal, amongst many many other things, prior to moving to the UK and Catterick, does involve the correct use of a western toilet and associated hygiene, as if you have ever been to Nepal, or even understood the Nepalese country itself, there are many “hill folk” as part of the 20000 applications (for the 200 slots per annum) who are unaware of a Western toilet, as never having used one due to extreme poverty. It would seem your posts confirms your absolute lack of subject matter knowledge. In fact part of UK basic training, for UK born soldiers is about personal hygiene etc.

          • You are correct I have no knowledge of the military but as someone who as a son is Keen on joining I think I have a right to know thankfully after seeing these comments towards me he is having seriously second thoughts

    • What Jibber Jabber are you spouting? Another poster who can only see what they want to see, to suit their agenda, as opposed to what is said in the full context. Maybe re-read the posts and make an effort at understanding.

  17. Off topic but buried within the waffle and platitudes in the command paper refresh apparently the Littoral Response Group South is no longer going to be a permanently forward based deployment.

    Puts RFA Argus’s conversion and future in doubt.

    Personally i think it was always a stretch for the RN to try and field 2 LRG’s as well as the Carrier Strike Group. Better to have 1 credible amphibious group that can deploy East of Suez every other year on a rotational basis with the CSG and spend the rest of the time focusing on Northern Europe.

      • Sorry mate I can’t bring myself to look back through nearly 100 pages of drivel and waffle!

        It was a sly reference to the LRG and T31’s deploying to the Indo-Pacific on a semi regular basis rather than them being permanently forward based.

        As with all these things the lack of hard facts means it could be unintentionally misleading or the reality will be slowly revealed.

        • I’m not surprised! I soon realised after reading page 2 it was the usual waffle so started skim reading. Thought I’d try.

          On the LRG(S), I support the concept, but as we know resourcing it CORRECTLY is an issue. So I’m in agreement with your suggestion, 1 Carrier Group, 1 Amphibious Group.

    • Without the ships, aircraft, weapons, marines, support and back up it always was going to be a stretch to forward deploy.
      It’s doable but needs to be done correctly.

      • 1 amphibious group with an Albion, 1-2 Bay’s, a couple of escorts and perhaps contributions from allied nations as we see with the CSG is more credible than trying to cobble together 2 threadbare LRG’s.

        • Exactly. If it could be done right the LRG could of been good but they would need a lot more than just a ship to actually serve a purpose.
          Be aswell sticking a few army regiments with equipment around the world that can accommodate marines and a few ships.

          • Why keep on focusing on the East of the Suez? Might need a bit more focus on reinforcing capabilities in the Far North, Baltics and North Atlantic, GIUK gap. Can’t see Russia going away soon, likely to keep being resupplied by its friends. Any failure of Russia might threaten their political existence too. Like to see an extra ASW T26 in the RN fleet while costs are pegged down and all the T31s to have a strong ASW ability. Anyway, new ships and subs are in build and let’s hope it all continues to go well.

  18. I’m hoping that we’ll get to see the carriers operating in a full surge scenario and see what they really can do. It’s in times of maximum need, you MUST KNOW what your assets can deliver.

  19. Any comments on the apparent absence of the Vulcan Phalanx guns on HMS Prince of Wales’ return to sea?

  20. Pity we don’t seem to have many planes for these super carriers! Very rately see a photo with more than a couple on board

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