HMS Queen Elizabeth has sailed from Portsmouth and is heading to Scotland. Sister ship HMS Prince of Wales also recently left Portsmouth and is heading for the Arctic.

The Royal Navy say here that HMS Queen Elizabeth will return to Glen Mallen on the Clyde in Scotland for a routine logistics visit and also hopes to visit Liverpool on her return leg to Portsmouth at the end of the month.

The Royal Navy said the warship is returning to sea to carry out vital training and exercises to keep her ready for operations.

“During this short stint at sea, training will focus on individual, team and whole ship exercises as well as working with commando-carrying Merlin helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton-based 846 Naval Air Squadron. The ship will be conducting further exercises and training later in the year as the carrier is kept at very high readiness to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.”

Captain Ian Feasey Royal Navy, Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, was quoted as saying:

“We return to sea today as the United Kingdom’s Very High Readiness Strike Carrier for routine operational activity and training. The hard work of both my ship’s company and our supporting industrial partners has improved the condition of the Fleet Flagship.”

As mentioned above, HMS Prince of Wales also recently left Portsmouth for the Arctic, where she will lead a task force in her role as NATO command ship on Exercise Cold Response, “the large-scale Norwegian-led exercises which will see 35,000 troops from 28 nations operate together in one of the harshest environments known to man”.

British aircraft carrier heading to the Arctic for NATO exercise

“Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will deploy to the exercise, with frigate HMS Richmond, Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker and a nuclear-powered attack submarine escorting her. UK Merlin and Wildcat helicopters will patrol the skies, supporting commando operations and hunting submarines alongside a wide range of aircraft from across NATO, including F-35 fighter jets and attack helicopters.”

Roughly 900 Royal Marines will spearhead the UK involvement from HMS Albion which is already in the region, the Royal Navy add.

 

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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maurice10
maurice10
2 years ago

I wish both had more than Phalanx! How many Russian subs will be sniffing around them?

Quentin D63
Quentin D63
2 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

Yes, more defensive armament, trainable decoy launchers, some additional RWS and even CAMM. Not much to ask for…lol. Oh, and a few more F-35Bs.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

How do guns or missiles help in anti submarine operations?

The weapon of choice is the Merlin 4 which fortunately does exist.

Other than that T23 ASW is what is needed with P8. Gods thing we bought those nice new P8’s?

The only thing that more guns and missiles might help with are AShMs.

Personally I’d put the 40mm on with the advanced programmable ammo and a large magazine. But that would depend if the sponsons can take the weight as they were designed for the 30mm system.

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago

Going to the mrk4 40mm boffors would be a good call if they can take them.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Yes, that was what I was implying.

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago

I know I was being supportive 👍

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonathan

Ha – good one

William Robson
William Robson
2 years ago

If there is a will there is a way, British plate is available to at least 72 inches wide possibly closer to 80 inches

s m powell
s m powell
2 years ago

Poseidon with provide assistance

Quentin D63
Quentin D63
2 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

Hope they’re both got T23 and Astute escorts for wherever they go at this time. Of course we’re not going to tell them everything…

Natasha Crist
Natasha Crist
2 years ago
Reply to  maurice10

We have had many Russian incursions into U.K. airspace, plus Russian warships sailing through the English Channel.

Our fighters have been scrambled many times. Recent events in Ukraine and further threats from Putin, we must be prepared for any eventuality.

maurice10
maurice10
2 years ago
Reply to  Natasha Crist

From now on any contact with Russian ships and planes will have considerably more potential for physical exchange. We must be ready to face some Russian activity close to the UK, which will not mean war as such, but just very disquieting for the British people to witness.

Paul42
Paul42
2 years ago

I wish at least one was carrying an Airgroup of F35Bs

Nick
Nick
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

I wonder why the F35Bs cannot be on the QE/PoW. The RAF could deploy Typhoons, even batch 1’s.

geoffi
geoffi
2 years ago
Reply to  Nick

They’ve been sent to Estonia

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Nick

If they are needed in the carriers they will be sent.

It might be that some are on one of that carriers.

It might be that USMC jets are on one of them.

Who knows: it is wartime so not everything is going to be announced.

There are plenty of jets between UK and USMC to do what might need to be done and hopefully to send a strong message.

BobA
BobA
2 years ago

I’m not sure we can rely on the USMC to support our CSGs in the future. I think (but don’t hold me to it) that the USMC’s AoR is the Pacific. Our tilt to the Pacific was the primary reason for their involvement. If we become more focussed on North Atlantic for our CSG then I don’t see how that really fits with the USMC future mission set. I know the USMC has been doing some activity in Norway, but I think their new CONEMP is actually around securing small islands in the Pacific and to counter China. I think… Read more »

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  BobA

I agree with you to a point.

In the long run we must have our own forces.

In the here and now: we have two prime enabler/assets which can work with them to provide a very large number of flat tops dotted around if needs be.

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
2 years ago

The marines are technically still short of a flattop until they get one to replace the burnt/scrapped one. How that translates to availability for U.K. carriers I don’t know.
If U.K. needs them it will send them. It’s probably that just now they would be a hindrance for the role.

DanielMorgan
DanielMorgan
2 years ago
Reply to  BobA

The US has seven Wasp and two America class (one in construction) LHDs which are capable, or being made capable, of hosting F-35Bs. The USMC is exercising its F-35Bs with the Japanese navy carriers. I think you are absolutely correct. The USMC deployment on the QE was a one-off thing. The UK can’t (and shouldn’t be) relying on the USMC to outfit its carriers.

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago

When you have a profoundly better capability than someone you are potentially going to be a shooting war with a bit of deterrent chest thumping can pay off. The carriers are after all a very significant conventional deterrent, so I would like the west being a bit less shy about its power. I know operation security is important when you are actual at war, but at Present NATO needs to be in full on willy waving deterrent mod…it’s now carry a big stick and shove it in their faces time, in the hope they back down.

Esteban
Esteban
2 years ago

You need to stop with the USMC thing. It just sounds silly.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Esteban

Why?

You do realise that the carriers were designed with US Eyes Only compartments so US can be fully integrated?

As only USMC operate F35B, out of YS services, I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

But there again maybe those compartments were added for fun? Maybe not?

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago

I assumed it was so they could order ham and eggs & watch baseball whilst drinking pepsi & eating popcorn.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Or the secret soda fountain?

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul42

It would be good to see at least published visits. It’s time to thump those chests and rattle the sabres.

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago

Maybe we should start hurrying up the buy rate of the F35s to get more in stock asap; at least to be able to stand up 809 Sqn to give us two squadrons.

Is there no chance of being able to hurry up the Block IV so they can fire Meteor and, more importantly, Spear 3? What’s actually taking so long with that?

Martin
Martin
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

It’s the 8 million lines of computer code that’s the problem and LM appears to be s**t at coding.

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

You’d have thought that they’d have developed a way to make that easier, really, wouldn’t you.

Part of me wonders if we should say “sod it!” and just buy at least a dozen F35s now and recruit people wo are good at coding to do it; get them upgraded ourselves or at least integrate Spear3 and Meteor.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Do we have the pilots to fly them for a 50% increase in numbers of aircraft?

Coding is one thing, having people trained to use the things is another!

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Yes I would have thought it would have been somewhat more modular ie write for one platform and then adapt and update it for another. But I guess the F35 was from a coding point of view a bit Windows NT like it started so long ago and has all the limitations of 20 year old origins even if sections are no doubt updated along the way. Testing must be endless. I think certainly hope this will be totally different with say Tempest and other current projects, I believe they are being designed with an emphasis on modularity so that… Read more »

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

There’s a huge queue of nations awaiting F35 deliveries, so doubtful any new orders could be delivered soon. On the bright side several European NATO allies do have F35s alrerady, usually F35As, including Norweigen ones up where POWs group will be operating.
I’d like to see the RN have its own dedicated, integrated F35B fleet ring fenced eventually so we can always at least operate CAP & hopefully more for both QEs when needed.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Could the Russians help with coding? They have an international reputation…

Taxi!

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

After seeing their efforts in Ukraine, probably not.

David Shepherd
David Shepherd
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Yep all is great having 2 big carriers armed to the teeth, but if one man threatens pushing a red button and we back off, what is the point. We need a future proof “Police Force” to get the Dictators & Tyrants of the world.

Heidfirst
Heidfirst
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Just fyi, current order>delivery time of an F35 is 3 years. Actual build time apparently is 18 months. & the decision to enter full production may slip until 2024 …

farouk
farouk
2 years ago

Slightly off topic, but a salient one. I’ve noticed of late how posters unable to accept the views of others go off on a tangent and throw abuse. Some even invent fake judgements in which to go Ballistic. Come on gentlemen we are all adults here and we should be able to communicate with people with a different point of view rather than resorting to character assassination , Ad Hominem attacks and sheer petty ugliness. I know for a fact very few would do so to other people’s faces , but the perceived  anonymity of the net apparently does better than a… Read more »

Bringer of Facts
Bringer of Facts
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

I suspect there are a lot of Trolls lurking on these threads, some are anti-west / UK who just love to stir the pot, but also some people like to dominate the conversation by nitpicking or being overly contrarian. At the end of the day, this is a comment section, a place to voice opinions whether you are right or wrong.

Last edited 2 years ago by Bringer of Facts
Mark franks
Mark franks
2 years ago

Trolls are everywhere. The trick is IGNORE THEM.

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

They only come out at night and hide away in caves during the daytime. As if they came out in to the sunshine, they would turn to stone. Saw it in a documentary, so must be true!

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

Davey, send them over to Airborne, he’ll sort them out.

Azincourt
Azincourt
2 years ago
Reply to  Klonkie

Airborne is as big if not a bigger b***s****ter than anyone. Thinks abuse and falsifications are “ banter” .

Rokuth
Rokuth
2 years ago

Commenting from Malaysia, there are a surprising lot of pro-Russian sentiment here. People are saying that Russia has the right to invade the Ukraine because of such and such, many anti-USA/Western rhetoric. When I ask what about the Ukrainians, and their rights for a free and independent nation, they go into history of how the Ukraine was part of Russia bs… If we use that logic, Malaysia should just be integrated back into India…

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Too true 👍

OldSchool
OldSchool
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Mmmm….if I point out that France is doing sod all to help Ukraine (it won’t tell anyone what weapons its sending because that would inflame the situation – in reality its likely sending sod all [one General cmplained about how poor European armies are…!!!!.]…..but doesn’t want to admit it). And that despite many companies exiting Russia, French companies ain’t – note Total Oil is staying and happy to continue in business (its just not funding new projects – a total alright, Total BS! that is….. NO bank in their right mind would give Total the money to fund those projects… Read more »

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

Touché

farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

Old School, I think you have me all wrong, I wrote:

Come on gentlemen we are all adults here and we should be able to communicate with people with a different point of view rather than resorting to character assassination , Ad Hominem attacks and sheer petty ugliness. 

Which points in the direction, I will listen to your point of view, at no point have I refered to anybody or used the term ‘Troll’

Last edited 2 years ago by farouk
Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

Actually that is rather focusing isn’t it no matter how you have aggressively phrased it. Of all the descriptions of what various Countries have sent in aid, I have to say I have seen nothing about France. So is it not reported, kept quiet or are they doing very little? France has maintained good relations with Russia for its own economic reasons for years and one can’t help but sniff at the fact that they are looking to get privileges from them the moment foreign participation is again deemed acceptable at the expense of those deemed more aggressive. It would… Read more »

farouk
farouk
2 years ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

Spy
I read this morning that they had as of yesterday provided the Ukraine with 10 Milan launchers , lot of helmets and 300 million Euros in Aid.

Last edited 2 years ago by farouk
Mark franks
Mark franks
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

Just interested what reference you are referring to. The French are typical in this, if it doesn’t turn a penny to their advantage then they are not interested.

William Robson
William Robson
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

Is something to do with France being a communist country.
They soon forgot 1939 to 1945
Vivre de la De Goal

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

France are doing stuff & sending aid. But most of all Macron is wasting hours of Putins time negotiating, which is time he can’t be overseeing his evil plans. The reality is none of Ukraines alies are doing enough, so bitching about some doing more than others is just competition for position on the league table of failures. All have guilty conciences.

OldSchool
OldSchool
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

Sadly Macron’s main aims are not peace. They are;

1) look statesman-like to the French electorate ( who are obviously easily fooled or satisfied given his boosting in the polls).

2. Try to keep French businesses in Russia going and making money.

3. To show the world that France is fearlessly standing up to Russian aggression – when in fact it is collaborating with them.

Quentin D63
Quentin D63
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

And you can probably add 4. An eye to the 2024 Olympics. Big global PR for 🇫🇷

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  OldSchool

Plus doing everything to discredit the UK that he can.

Got a dig in that the UK isnt pulling its weight in accepting Ukrainian nationals fleeing from the conflict. Maybe if his country wasnt aiding in sending thousands of migrants every month across to the UK we might be more obliged and have the capacity to do so!!

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

Hes also seemingly winding Putin up in every interaction they have.

Other than allies putting forces on the ground they cannot do much more, aid, arms, supplies and money are being supplied from nations worldwide, what more do you want WW3?

Frank62
Frank62
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Hi James, Sorry we’re always sparring on this. I want WW3 no more than you want to see a nazi-like Russian occupation of Ukraine. No, I think a stronger response could have prevented or at least stopped the invasion. Declaring we would not intervene just gave a green light. I’m not prepared to sacrifice millions of Ukrainians & their democratic rights & freedoms on the alter of the selfish dellusion of western peace.

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Well said Farouk! Dialogue is everything.
To quote Stephen Hawking ” For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen.
Mankind’s greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking. It doesn’t have to be like this. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.”

Mark Franks
Mark Franks
2 years ago

The delivery rate of F35Bs need to be accelerated for sure. Fast jet training needs to expand we need bums on seats. Procurement needs revisiting, projects have got to stop slipping to the right. I wait with baited breath for the Chancellers statement a mini budget coming up might announce a few surprises.

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark Franks

A single extra squadron would be nice, even. Get 809Sqn set up and operating from the QE whilst 617 are in Estonia.

Replace the T1 Typhoons with Tranche 3, also, should be near the top of the list. Personally I’d increase the entire Typhoon force to at least 180 planes; allows up to 10 squadrons potentially and would free up the F35s for carrier operations.

Mark franks
Mark franks
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

We have 2 carriers both at high readiness. The last defence review stated that both carriers would remain in service. They were designed from the outset to be equipped with a wing of F35Bs, now is the time if ever their was one to accelerate the delivery of this beast mode wonder jet. The Navy is low not just on ships but rotary assets too. Tranche 1 Typhoons will never deploy overseas and we need to keep them in service on UK Air defence supporting tranche 2 and 3s until a decision is made on whether more tranche 3s are… Read more »

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

I’m a fan of Typhoon personally but I’d be happy with a few squadrons of F35A – as long as this was in addition to the F35B and didn’t take anything away from that.

Fully agree re: P8s and E7s. 9 and 3 are not enough! 15 or at least 12 P8s, and 7 E7s.

I think we need to work up from our current 8 fast jet squadrons to 12 at least. Ideally 15.

Ian Brown
Ian Brown
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

Couldn’t agree with you more Mark. Last night I was checking out FlightTrader24 and the number of fast jets, tankers and other assets in the air was astonishing. Clearly the gaffers are in a flap and upped the temo to a 1990 level. The acute issue is we do not have enough assets. The RAF needs more Typhoons, or go for the F35A and allow the RN to keep the B varient, but increase the number to a full load out for both Carriers. Something is in the offing, at work, our tempo has fone through the roof. It’s like… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Ian Brown
Mark franks
Mark franks
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

I would suggest the F35As would be an additional buy. The Phoon is slated to be replaced by Tempest if all goes according to plan. 4 x Sqn of F35s,14 airframes each. It would give us the push of hard power to go along with our soft power approach. Loyal wingman drones such as it is will if it works make for a potent combination.

Last edited 2 years ago by Mark franks
Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

Is that 4 squadrons of F35A?

As long as that’s in addition to the B-version purchase, not instead of.

Could work well:

  • 7 squadrons of Typhoon
  • 4 squadrons of F35A
  • 4 squadrons of F35B

15 squadrons would be amazing! Possibly wishful thinking but never know.

Mark franks
Mark franks
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Yes Steve in addition to the B model. The unit price of the A model has dropped $20 million I believe.

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

78 million as of mid 2021 and that excludes engines and government furnished equipment.

Mark franks
Mark franks
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Interesting thanks for the info.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark franks

I found this quite interesting in light of loyal wingmen. No idea if we have any access to this work mind. Considerably more advanced on the surface than the drone demonstration carried out here by Qinetiq recently I would say though not necessarily working to the same goal of course.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/bae-systems-demonstrates-manned-unmanned-teaming-capabilities-in-flight-test

Last edited 2 years ago by Spyinthesky
Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

I read earlier in the week it was a pair of f35 in Estonia. Maybe it expanded but I imagine a full squadron deployed would be getting shouted from the roof tops.
This is there other role after all austere landing strips etc

David Lloyd
David Lloyd
2 years ago

Why on earth are the Admiralty despatching our carriers without enough F-35B or their T45 air defence destroyers? The RN has been waiting for ten years for the propulsion issue to be fixed. Sunak, Wallace and Johnsonski need to sort the MoD out, PDQ. Like it or not, we may very well be involved in a proper shooting war in the near future.

Martin
Martin
2 years ago
Reply to  David Lloyd

because it’s an amphibious group surrounded by NATO protection assets.

Tommo
Tommo
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

👍 And POW and QE can carry more Junglies that our own Assault Ship can Deck space counts

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago
Reply to  David Lloyd

POW is joining a major NATO wargame so plenty of other support, QE is just sailing to Scotland to restock on ammunition then returning to port.

William Robson
William Robson
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Bit of a false economy why not bring the supplies to the ship and not expect the ship collect

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
2 years ago
Reply to  William Robson

Munitions are dangerous. Explosive etc. How would you get them from the hill side storage in Scotland to Portsmouth? Does Portsmouth have the right loading equipment? If it does go boom u take out your naval base and countless civilians etc etc.
Much better and safer to keep the weapons hidden under a hill right next to a loch with hardly anyone near by.
It experience for the crew aswell.

Last edited 2 years ago by Monkey spanker
Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
2 years ago
Reply to  David Lloyd

It mentions a T45 I think.

Order of the Ditch
Order of the Ditch
2 years ago

In 2007 the UK had over 200 fast jets, now we have just over 100. An F35B now costs about £79 million so let’s allow £90 million for each jet to bring it into service. If we ordered another 90, which would bring us up to the envisaged 138 that is £8.1 billion. Spread over a 6 year acquisition period (15 extra aircraft a year) that is £1350 miliion p.a. Something that frankly is perfectly affordable if there was political will. We could then send 20 jets to each carrier, when both happen to be at sea for training and… Read more »

Martin
Martin
2 years ago

Yes but you would have to scrap most of the Typhoons to get the pilots and the budget to run them.

Order of the Ditch
Order of the Ditch
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Not with a modest budget uplift. I can’t imagine there is a terrible shortage of able people wanting to be fast jet pilots.

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago

I bloody would if I had the chance!

I wanted to when I was a kid but when I got to age 14 I realised that because I needed glasses I had no chance.

Maybe the RAF should increase their advertising. Maybe pay the TV channels to play Top Gun a few times a year!

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

Perhaps remake the film in the UK and charge the producers a Billion or two help fund the purchase 😀

Ian Brown
Ian Brown
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

How long does it take to train a fast jet pilot? Recruitment shows a waiting list for FO’s to be accepted. From induction to first rotary training? The USAF alone train over 1,000 pilots a year. Then the US has Navy and Marine aviation! I know the RAF being much smaller will have far fewer, but just how many? What about reserve pilots?

Not ever working on that side of the services, I have always been an operator on Per Mare, Per Terram!

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Depends on what happens on the 23rd budget-wise. If there’s a budget increase then it’s certainly doable.

In terms of pilots, I’d still say it’s doable, if we hurry to recruit this year. 3-4 years to train a fighter pilot, so in 6 years we could theoretically get a decent increase. I’m not sure how many people apply every year but I imagine some get turned away or diverted to other branches due to lack of spaces. If those spaces opened up then problem solved.

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve R

3-5% of GDP

Steve R
Steve R
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

Might be wishful thinking there though. 3% maybe but I can’t see them going beyond that. TBH I think it’ll probably be 2.5% (still a £6billion increase) plus perhaps a one-off sum like Germany, though I doubt we’ll get anything close to the €100 billion they said they’ll spend. 2.5% would be enough to cancel all planned cuts to army numbers, detain all Typhoon Tranche 1s beyond 2025, upgrade all 227 Challenger 2s and get the shitshow that is Ajax righted, plus buying in some anti-ship missiles for use by Typhoons, P8 Poseidons, F35s and from ships. 3% would probably… Read more »

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  Martin

We actually have a shed load of pilots. There is something like a 2.5 ratio of pilots to aircraft. It’s the airframes we really need!

Ian Brown
Ian Brown
2 years ago

In light of current events, couldn’t the UKGov arrange for the USMC pilots to provide the air wing for one of the carriers? If anything, it would be good training for all.

Geoff Roach
Geoff Roach
2 years ago

Deploy anywhere in the world at a moments notice, as long as they don’t need any aircraft. A real strike carrier???

William Robson
William Robson
2 years ago

Great marvellous . Why do yo not raise a sign over the control towers saying we are HERE. Why do you tell everyone that support vessels need replacing in 2025. Why don’t you open a direct line to Putin and give him updates daily. I watched the series on frigates and destroyers on TV recently and I have one big question. Why does the Navy park its forward guns facing forward. Why are they not parked backwards so rough sea does not destroy the seals around the barrels. Loved the series but it did give a lot away about the… Read more »

Uninformed Civvy Lurker
Uninformed Civvy Lurker
2 years ago

If a Madman was threatening to kick off WW3 and use nukes, wouldn’t it make sense to send some of our fighters in small groups to different airfields ( or countries ). Wouldn’t want all our F35Bs to be parked up at Marham, 2 Aircraft carriers parked at Portsmouth, all the army parked up at home. Send some troops and tanks somewhere abroad, the RM somewhere North, our amphibious assault vessels somewhere. Our fighters somewhere. All on “training exercises”. Disperse those assets around Europe and the U.K.

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago

Chill. Putin is not rattling his sabre – he is reminding people he has a sabre to rattle. He just wants NATO to stay out of the battle he is losing in Ukraine.

Frank62
Frank62
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark B

When the sabre is covered with blood & gore you should realise it’;s way past sabre rattling.

Mark B
Mark B
2 years ago
Reply to  Frank62

When there is such bloodshed the focus should be on bringing the killing to a halt and not escalating it which is easily done but in nobody’s interest. It will need cool heads and proportionate responses.

Leslie Leveson
Leslie Leveson
2 years ago

Rasputin will have his crazy Ivans trying to snoop aroind the Lizzie but remembering the will be a hidden Astute keeping a watchfull eye on the seas to deter a inquisitive adversay.

Esteban
Esteban
2 years ago

A 70,000 ton ASW carrier. That seems like a bit of a strange way to go about things.

Terry
Terry
2 years ago

The question on everyone’s lips must now be how vulnerable carriers, not just ours, are to hypersonic weapons?..with apparently no current defence against these things, have surface ships reached their limit of strategic use?

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Terry

Ah those weapons that arent proven to be able to hit anything other than a specific land mass let alone a small moving target at sea?

Yawn.

Gordon Clark Clifton
Gordon Clark Clifton
2 years ago

There’s a very real prospect of conflict with Russia now that Putin has gone full nutjob yet we’re sending a carrier to the Arctic. Why?

Varinder
Varinder
1 year ago

To be honest, I am just happy that we have two proper carriers and we are actually building more hulls in the Type 26, Type 31/32, the Astutes coming online and the Trident replacements subs being worked on as we speak. Of course I wish we would do things better especially to drive more value as I dread to think how many billions have been lost through waste, bad decisions and management over the decades, but we are finally moving in the right direction. With the Ukraine conflict, I hope this has opened the eyes of many and finally our… Read more »