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Royal Navy will have a second aircraft carrier, “Prince of Wales”

Thursday, September 11th 2014 - 16:19 UTC
Full article 30 comments

The UK Royal Navy is to get the second operational aircraft carrier, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced. Britain is building two 65,000-ton aircraft carriers in a £6.2 billion deal with a BAE Systems-led industry alliance, but the Conservative-led coalition had previously said it would mothball or sell the second warship due to the cost of operating two carriers. Read full article

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  • Da_pict

    Mean while the libertad is being pressed into service in a search and rescue role.
    Hmmm that going a bit backwards ins't it?

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    Hurrah! Trebles all round!
    More good news. Well done Dave, finally got something right!

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 05:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Zethee

    We all knew it was going to happen anyway.

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 06:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    We could do with 3 or 4,
    but two will do, if we have the proper amount of planes to fly of them,

    but now we need the escorts / combat ships, those in the know want at least 25,
    the government will start it at abt 18, reducing it to 12 siting cost and over runs,

    we will be lucky to get 7-8 and that will be a great conservative present, to the minnow's,

    be grateful for small mercy's he will say..

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 06:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Monkeymagic

    Where will it built...who gets the jobs...not Scotland surely....LOL

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Amazing what next week will bring,

    Christmas for some,
    fireworks for others.

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 07:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    I wish the UK could go ahead with both carriers, but it perhaps is going to be far too expensive. Sadly the loss of the Sea Harrier was due to the UK government relying too heavenly upon the Americans and it looks like the F-35 is a disaster.

    No one in the Pentagon wants to admit the F-22 is a mess and now the F-35 development is in real deep trouble. Besides the cost overruns, the other design problems are becoming real issues.

    The Americans still have a few Harriers, and their older fighters, such as the F/A-18 variants, but for Britain they may eventually have to consider a new alternative to their carriers. (A modified F/A-18 won't work...) that leaves only the Dassault Rafale along with the Russian Sukhoi Su-33 for carrier use. (The Chinese and Indian Navies jets not considered...)

    If Scotland leaves the Union, how will the UK afford the relocation of your submarine base and fund two aircraft compliments for two carriers? ..And before accuse me of being anti anything, please note I'm very pro Navy-UK-USA...

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    5
    Typical Canadian know nothing....it's common knowledge in the UK that the two ships were being constructed in tandem...ie. sections fabricated at the same time....
    even as I speak the hull sections have been successfully docked.....
    That's in Rosyth shipyard...SCOTLAND...the only place in the UK capable of building it.....
    Is it difficult keeping up with the UK news from Canada...;-))))

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    @7
    we can afford both,
    we can afford more ship , soldiers , planes,
    but we have a government that tells us to cut back, whilst giving billions to aid, EU , ECHR.

    we can afford lots, but we just have a disinterest government.

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 07:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • CaptainSilver

    When England is free of the Scotch all the shipbuilding will get brought back where it belongs, together with relocation of the Royal Navy. The fishy duo have sealed Scotlands (and the Labour Party's fate. Bye bye socialism. Bye bye scroungers, hello prosperity!

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 08:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussiesunshinee

    Just been watching the Invictus Games and I must say the men and women
    participating in these games are inspiring to watch.I have criticized Harry before for his playboy attitude but I have to take my hat off to the guy for organising these games...well done Harry.
    www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2752011/The-prince-wheels-Harry-arrives-Invictus-Games-bicycle-ahead-day-competition

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 09:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    #9 Briton

    With all respect to your opinion, the cost is only one factor. The Americans can always subsidize it export sales of the F-35 to the UK. The major problem is that it may prove to be impractical. I'm a great admirer of the USA aircraft technology. Chile has been extremely fortunate with our F-16s. Your carriers need reliable/proven fighters, which just do not exist except from Russia and France.

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 10:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    10
    Prosperity....??.... more doughnuts for you then...?
    ...no wonder you cycle...try jogging for a change.....

    Sep 11th, 2014 - 10:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    Voice, buy yourself a cup of tea and reflect on your real value to humanity...

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 12:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    8 Voice
    Contemptible sh!t.

    We can see you, as well as right through you.

    Won't you be upset after next week !!

    LOL !!

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/yougov-polling-blog/2014/sep/11/scottish-independence-no-vote-support-rises-yougov-poll
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/yougov-polling-blog/2014/sep/11/scottish-independence-no-vote-support-rises-yougov-poll

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 04:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • tezza

    @10

    Scots not scotch, else comment ok.

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 05:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Troy Tempest

    Canadians get their news ...

    http://m.thestar.com/#/article/news/world/2014/09/10/canada_picks_no_side_in_close_scottish_referendum_race.html

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 06:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @tezza. You need to research the use of the word 'scotch'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_(adjective)
    Can you think of a reason why the word shouldn't be used with its pejorative meaning?
    Not content with being assisted and protected for 307 years, the scotch want to steal more as they leave. They even want more if they stay. In 1707, the scotch were given a large loan. Haven't seen any sign of a repayment. The figure, including interest, is now more than £2 quadrillion. I tell you frankly that many English people will be glad to see the back of the scotch. The majority of the scotch don't yet understand how much they will lose. For example, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth will simply sail by. Officers and crew members will seek advantageous positions from which to take pictures of scotland being invaded. Frantic cries for help. Sorry, nothing to do with us.
    @7. Perhaps you should be reading the article. Then you would see that the UK WILL be commissioning both vessels. There ARE alternatives to the F-35B. As I have pointed out to my government. Eurofighter GmbH proposed a navalised Typhoon years ago. Proven aircraft with some upgrades. Upgrading the undercarriage, folding wings, a tailhook. And, on the carrier, arrester cables.

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 10:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    12 Chicureo
    I did not mention the F35, or any other plane,

    What we have at the moment is an aircraft carrier than connote fly planes like the f18 or any others like it,

    Only the F35,
    ,
    My point was , is that we can afford more and better, if we had a government that was more interested.

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    Briton/Conqueror

    With sincere respect..

    Correct Briton, but the Royal Navy has put itself in a corner as the F-35 is the only modern fighter jet capable of being used on your carriers.

    The Typhoon would require lengthy and expensive tests and would be very limited in weight loads.

    The excellent F/A-18 would need a cripplingly expensive redesign of your new carriers.

    Really the only other option would be the Rafael M. That would work...

    There was a very good study that covers the details: http://www.phoenixthinktank.org/2012/02/a-navalised-typhoon-is-this-a-practical-and-feasible-proposition/

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 12:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    You are both correct in ways,

    the stupid decision by the turncoat Cameron has landed us with an odd situation,

    this we will have to live with, besides if our idiotic government got its head our of its backside, the P.O.W. now, should be slightly delayed to have the fittings for the fighters,
    then at least we would have one,
    perhaps that's why I think we should more and made properly [ joke]

    as for @18
    navalised Typhoon , I still say that with money and expertise and a positive government we could have our own fighters [ navy]
    anything is possible.
    just a thought.

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 06:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    #21
    A navalised Typhoon is very possible, with time, money and extensive modifications to both jet as well as carriers. Refer to my link earlier posted.

    Sep 12th, 2014 - 09:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • War Monkey

    20 Chicureo (#)
    Sep 12th, 2014 - 12:51 pm

    I think that what you say has some merit. The design of these carriers make them a slave to STOVL operations and the F35B but not so long ago the government looked set to switch to CATOBAR operations and the F35C. I kind of wish they had. However they had to revert back to the F35B because of the delay and the cost of the redesign to the ships but also because punitive costs would have been incurred had they pulled out of the F35B programme.

    Now that they are fully committed to the F35B, if LM cannot deliver they will incur penalties which would include time lost converting the carriers to CATOBAR ops and the cost of the conversion work. So entry may well be delayed and the Royal Navy may well get the F35C or F/A-18E/F, but I suspect that the carriers and their air wings will still enter service sooner or later.

    Regarding the indyref vote on Thursday. If there is a yes vote the carriers will be completed in Scotland but anybody who thinks this kind of work, including deep maintenance can only be carried out at Rosyth are deluding themselves. BAE are already inspecting the mothballed sites in Portsmouth in case of a yes vote.

    Although these ships are being assembled in Scotland, fabrication and construction has taken place all over the UK but it is understood that sadly, if the vote is yes on the 18th, these WILL be the last Royal Navy warships built in Scotland.

    Sep 13th, 2014 - 12:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    War Monkey
    Thanks for your analysis. It explains a lot.
    Sad about what will happen if there's a yes vote, and it makes sense that they'll be the last warships built in Scotland.

    Sep 13th, 2014 - 02:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JuanGabriel

    @24 They won't be the last warships built in Scotland, even with an independence vote. They might be the last significant warships built there though. IS has stated its intention to have a pair of T23s and build a couple of T26s to compliment them, I can't see that happening but they will have need of OPVs

    With regards to the earlier comments about the Rafale. Using the Rafale would be no different to using the Super Hornet or the F35C, they would all require cats and traps. The argument for the F35B on the QEs is more than just cost. It provides flexibility over the reduced fast jet fleet. With Vtol pilots can transition quickly from land basing to sea basing without having to do extensive carrier qualification. Thus whilst the QEs will only routinely deploys with 12 F35B, they can surge to 36/48 without having to dedicate those squadrons/pilots to the carriers all the time. In an ideal world they would have 4 Fleet air arm squadrons all dedicated to the carriers but there is only so much money to go around and the F35B allows the most flexibility and capability in the UKs case.

    Sep 13th, 2014 - 09:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Chicureo

    #25 JuanGabriel
    Thanks. I was understanding that the Super Hornet would require more modifications to the carrier. I'm no great fan of the Rafale, but it seemed to be the most adaptable to the Queen Elizabeth current configuration.

    I was a great fan of the F-35 concept, as the F-22, but now I'm extremely skeptical that Lockheed Martin will fully meet all the promised specifications of their strike jet versions.

    Sep 13th, 2014 - 09:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • paulcedron

    “Royal Navy will have a second aircraft carrier, “Prince of Wales””

    meanwhile they have 14 million people under the poverty line.
    meanwhile they have +/- 4 million people starving

    Sep 13th, 2014 - 10:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    Sad attempt paul-carrion.
    You really should stop your infantile attempts at derailing a thread. You only embarrass yourse.
    Shush now. The adults are speaking!
    ----
    Thanks to others for the very informative posts.
    Much appreciated.

    Sep 14th, 2014 - 04:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • War Monkey

    25 JuanGabriel (#)
    Sep 13th, 2014 - 09:27 pm

    Thankyou but I said 'Royal Navy' warships.

    Sep 14th, 2014 - 11:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    That's why the decision will not be taken until after the referendum.

    Sep 14th, 2014 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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