RFA Mounts Bay has become the first Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel to operate with the Osprey ‘tiltrotor’ aircraft during missions off the Scottish coast, say the Royal Navy here.
The MV-22 Osprey from the US 7th Special Operations Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk landed on Mounts Bay while she took part in the Littoral Strike Group (North) deployment.
“The iconic warbird takes off and lands just like a helicopter, then rotates its propellers to fly like a conventional aircraft. RFA sailors worked with personnel from 1700 and 847 Naval Air Squadron to land the Osprey, which was providing air support to Royal Marines from 45 Commando during amphibious exercises.”
Flight Deck Officer Mick Burton was quoted as saying:
“After lots of preparation for today, myself and the team were delighted to work with such a fascinating aircraft and I look forward to working with it lots more in the coming weeks.”
The Royal Navy say that the milestone has added significance as one of the RFA’s Bay-class ships is lined up for conversion into a Littoral Strike Ship, “meaning it will be central to future commando operations and continue to work with US armed forces, the Osprey included”.
You can read more on this from the Royal Navy by clicking here.
Nearly sunk her by the looks of it….
Her stern well dock was probably flooded at the time
Certainly a bit backside heavy even after its taken off!
Its Docked down.
Its the little things that get you on dock ships.
For instance when you dock down the drain in the showers is then in the wrong place so you overflow the shower cubicle and the bathroom deck is awash…
At least its easy to dobey your feet!
Bloody Nav Arcs!
( I knew that really Chaps 😉 )
You never fail to make me giggle, Captain. 😂
😎
Hard to make a Bay-class look small but that did it
Lots of pics and publicity about operating with the MV22 or in this case CV22, now just buy some!
We don’t need to though ! They just turn up out of the Blue 😀
The next thing you will see is FAA pilots seconded to v22 squadrons
Not sure we have any to spare! But if we have, then that would be a good idea!
No-one so far seems to have noticed the final bit of the piece, where it says one of the Bay class is going to be converted into a Littoral Strike Shipe?! I don’t remember seeing a separate anouncement or article anywhere on that one…
In a side note, apparently MV-22s from the Iwo Jima ARG were also operating from British decks during the exercises up north- we’re getting a lot of exposure to the type! I still don’t think we’ve got the pockets for buying some at the moment, but I reckon something like it’ll replace Merlin when they go out of service.
It was first mentioned in the Defence Command Paper. Permanent hangars are to be added.
It will be interesting to see what ship is selected and what the modifications will be (size and scope).
Ah, thanks, somehow that passed me by.
Permanent hangars would be a good start, although to be honest on the face of it they seem fairly well set up for the task anyway. I’d imagine that C&C and comms gear may have to be augmented (if they don’t already have a decent comand setup). Anything else I’m missing in terms of requirement for the mission? I’m thinking of the US versions, and aside from being somewhat larger, I don’t think they have any other capabilities that a Bay is lacking.
No worries.
I agree. As far as I’m aware, not much has been released into the public domain so far. All he know is that the money will be spent on a permanent hangar and other necessary equipment upgrades. I would assume the requirement for a larger hangar is to help cover for Argus (due to go out of service in 2024), which would have been the natural choice to base a littoral group around, at least in the short term.
I believe the plan is to basically set up two Littoral Strike Groups: one centred around an Albion, with the other centred around the modified Bay. Personally, I would hope for the aspiration to have both Albions active (or, more active together than they are now), but that’s just me.
From what little I know of them, the Albions seem the more versatile platforms for this, already having the C&C elements baked in, and with some extra space. That said, for the number of troops and equipment on board, either would seem able to do the job.
“We” Commented on that a few months back to be fair mate.
Indeed. Will be the one deployed east of Suez.
Ah, my apologies- must have missed that one. Well, if it has been covered by the fine commentariat on here then there’s no more to be said on the issue!😆
Too True mate, too true 😂
Yes I missed that too Joe, sometimes several articles appear on this website in a day so easy to miss. A quick Google search gave me the following.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/bay-class-to-be-converted-to-deliver-lethal-littoral-strike-capability/
40mil spent to upgrade, not sure what the cash got spent on, interesting comments below article I sent link for
Anyone know if it’s expected that after the conversion the new LSS will stay with the RFA or be transferred to the RN? The LSS role sounds more like a RN role than a RFA one to me.
Looks like it faired better than the British hospital pad did. lol
😂😂😂……… A remake of “Gone with the Wind” by all accounts…..
NO. Before anyone asks!!
😂😂😂….but please sir, can we have some ? lol.
But mate, big whirly things that go dagga dagga dagga!
Dagga,dagga,dagga? That is the local name here in SA for marijuana btw 😆
I think many on here must like a bit of dagga, dagga, dagga…….😎
The things you learn!
Just wondering, and this may have been answered previous, after conversion will the Bay Class ship still remain RFA or come under RN command?
A few more pics on Mount Bays twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/RFAMountsBay/status/1394624247209865224?s=20
Interesting final comment on that tweet about the excess heat generated by the V22, enough to scorch the deck.
V-22 seems a bit yesterday at this point. I’m more looking forward to what the 2nd generation technology can do: V-280, V-247 (AEW?), AW-609 etc.
Not sure those other developmental aircraft can hold a F-35 engine internally like the V-22 can. Think those are just troop carriers mainly.
Had a squint at good old wiki re the v-280. If I read that correctly a very low hover ceiling of 1600 mtrs at temp value stated . Looks like a very limited capability to drop people or kit off at moderate to high altitudes. Sure these will develop. Interesting it doesn’t give a max ceiling in conventional flight.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_V-280_Valor
I understand that the Osprey is a complicated design that needs to be flown in skilled hands but the concept surely points the way forward to a solution for isolated communities with no conventional airfields. Tristan da Cunha, as previously discussed, comes to mind. The VSTOL ability combined with the long legs of conventional aircraft could be developed to the point of revolutionising air travel and the whole infrastructure of commercial flying!
Discuss.
I think your absolutely right. The VSTOL technology is expanding at a quick pace and in my opinion the military is leading the charge with the civilian world getting the benefits too. I just read an article where the US Special Operations Command is very interested in a high speed VTOL platform. That could be an avenue to pump money into research.
I don’t think in the next 10 years you’ll see ATRs and Dash-8s being replaced with a VSTOL aircraft but maybe the next generation after. And what does that mean for the future of airports? Maybe smaller communities or downtown areas have access to long range air travel? Thanks
A V22 flew over where I’m staying in Dorset this week, not far from Dorchester. Anyone know where they are based and for how long?
Not sure where they are based but we get all sorts fly over the area what with Yeovilton, Leonardo’s, Portland and Heron, lot’s of Training flights too plus stuff out of Boscombe Down. We see a lot of Merlins, very busy lately with Crowsnest, Wildcats with and without Marlet, the odd Lynx, Puma, Chinook, Hawks, Atlas, Texan, C130, Voyager and more. Sometimes we get to see Spitfires on demmo days at Leonardos plus the odd historic flight. Never a dull day in Cider Land !
When I lived in Weymouth (after marrying a Weymouth girl) the overflights where large and varied. Kept the kid s entertained day in day out especially carnival time… Helos, Red Arrows, Historic Flight. (I still get goosebumps when I hear a RR Merlin engine on a spitfire) .. The flights dropped off when Osprey closed but everyone still came to play in the SCEX areas after that from Yeovilton.