RN Aircraft Carriers: Queen Elizabeth Class

[Little h]

Mostly the same old terminoligy (with variations) - but presented in a modern fashion.


HMS Queen Elizabeth on Twitter
‏ @HMSQNLZ
9h9 hours ago

Time to deliver operational testing of the #UKF35
#Westlant19 here we go!
Streamed live departure here from 1215.
(Departure subject to weather conditions)
#Buzzing #BigDeckFastUKJets
@RoyalNavy @HMNBPortsmouth

Screenshot (4749).png

Screenshot (4750).png

Note 2nd comment:-

Happy sailing to the @RNReserve personnel of the Submarine Advisory team embarked for the first time. May this be the first of many successful deployments together.

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also; the following short excerpts from royalnavy.mod.uk taken from an article titled:-
Reservist submarine controllers’ skills put to test
07 October 2016

Reservist officers hoping to control submarines have taken part in their annual validation exercise.

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Reservist Submarine Operations officers deploy both on shore and at sea to augament Battlestaff teams as skilled subject matter experts.

Reservists are used whenever submarines are deployed with a naval task force – on NATO exercises or in a time of crisis - regularly deploying with multi-national task forces around the world.

Contrary to popular opinion the RNR Submarine Operations specialisation is open to all junior officers and ex-regular transferees - and you don’t have to be a submariner to join.

New joiners are fully trained on courses at the RN Submarine School and on NATO exercises. Once qualified, officers deploy with a Battlestaff at sea as a Submarine Advisory Team Watchkeeper.

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So that's who they are

[Little h]

Shipping Movements
Portsmouth Harbour shipping movements Friday 30 August 2019


HMS Queen Elizabeth sails from Portsmouth tomorrow for major deployment to Canada and US. Passing Round Tower around 1220.

Full #westlant19 briefing article to be published tomorrow morning.

Re; Full #westlant19 briefing article to be published tomorrow morning. - here's an excerpt or two:-

QE will be joined on the deployment by the destroyer HMS Dragon, the frigate HMS Northumberland and will be supported by tanker RFA Tideforce. 7 UK F-35B jets flown by RN and RAF pilots will fly on to the ship when she is on the eastern seaboard of the US. The jets and personnel will be drawn from the UK squadrons; the operational squadron (617 Sqn), the operational conversion unit (207 Sqn) and the test and evaluation squadron (17 Sqn based in California).

The UK-owned aircraft based at RAF Marham will not embark while the ship is in UK waters, instead, they will cross the Atlantic (using Air-Air Refuelling) for temporary basing on a US east coast airfield before joining QE, probably in the second week of October. The reason is that the landings will be these pilots’ first deck landings and ideal weather conditions are needed, with a diversionary airfield close by. Additionally, the jets only need to be embarked for the 5-week flight trials period, rather than the whole deployment. The British jets will be supplemented by up to 4 additional USMC F-35B aircraft. 9 rotary-wing aircraft, Merlin Mk2, Mk4, and Wildcat will be embarked on the carrier or her escorts. All UK military helicopters, except the ageing Puma, have now been certified for QEC carrier operations.

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In addition to working visits to Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Station Mayport, the deployment will include a formal visit to the Canadian port of Halifax. Utley described how the Royal Canadian Navy is a key partner and how their recent decision to adopt the Type 26 frigate design for their Surface Combatant Programme would bring the two navies closer together.

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Next year QE will join another group exercise on the way towards declaring an IOC (Initial Operating Capability) in December 2020. The first operational deployment, in 2021 (CSG21), is anticipated to include the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Pacific. CSG21 will be by far the largest and most powerful task group assembled by the RN for some time. QE will be escorted by 2 Type 45 destroyers, 2 Type 23 frigates, an SSN, a Tide-class tanker and RFA Fort Victoria. F-35Bs of 617 Squadron and a USMC squadron will be embarked. Full Operating Capability (FOC) with all-UK jets is planned for 2023.

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Read full article by opening this link to Save The Royal Navy in article titled:-

August 30, 2019

HMS Queen Elizabeth sails for the US where she will embark UK-owned Jets for the first time

[Pelican]

Tweet from HMS Prince of Wales

Today we packed our bags, left our shore based accommodation and moved onboard. @HMSPWLS is now home to her crew...let the unpacking begin!
See - https://twitter.com/HMSPWLS/status/1167118299320213507

[Pelican]

Finishing touches put to £30 million project to prepare Portsmouth for second aircraft carrier

The finishing touches are being put to Portsmouth’s Naval Base to prepare for the arrival of the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier.

See - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fini ... _iH0xFWd3g

[Pelican]

HMS Queen Elizabeth busy conducting rotary wing operations while crossing the Atlantic with HMS Dragon. Seen from RFA Tideforce. Via F. Tuckerman.

See: https://www.facebook.com/savetheroyalna ... =3&theater
For 4 photos.

busy???????????? I hardly think so

All looks rather laid back.

Harry have a decko at the pic and you’ll see a busy set of flying programme serials logged on the big LED display boards on the islands.
They are live and no longer being tested.
Oops?

[Little h]

HMS Queen Elizabeth busy conducting rotary wing operations while crossing the Atlantic with HMS Dragon. Seen from RFA Tideforce. Via F. Tuckerman.

See: https://www.facebook.com/savetheroyalna ... =3&theater
For 4 photos.

busy???????????? I hardly think so

All looks rather laid back.

Harry have a decko at the pic and you’ll see a busy set of flying programme serials logged on the big LED display boards on the islands.

They are live and no longer being tested.
Oops?

Not buying it David.... those LED Display Boards could simply be showing the movement of 4 x helo's from their respective spots on port side of flight deck - over and on to side elevators - lowered - and movement within hangar. There is clearly no flying going on especially so with all the bodies loafing around the islands and atop the ski jump, plus several tugs ranged across the flight deck - helo towing for the use of! Traffic light under Flyco indicate red on port side and green on stbd (where the geezers with their tugs are)

See comments that follow the three images in this linked tweet:-
NavyLookout on twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

.@HMSQNLZ busy conducting rotary wing operations while crossing the Atlantic.

Seen from @RFATideforce

via F. Tuckerman

[Pelican]

busy???????????? I hardly think so

All looks rather laid back.

Harry have a decko at the pic and you’ll see a busy set of flying programme serials logged on the big LED display boards on the islands.

They are live and no longer being tested.
Oops?

Not buying it David.... those LED Display Boards could simply be showing the movement of 4 x helo's from their respective spots on port side of flight deck - over and on to side elevators - lowered - and movement within hangar. There is clearly no flying going on especially so with all the bodies loafing around the islands and atop the ski jump, plus several tugs ranged across the flight deck - helo towing for the use of! Traffic light under Flyco indicate red on port side and green on stbd (where the geezers with their tugs are)

See comments that follow the three images in this linked tweet:-
NavyLookout on twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

.@HMSQNLZ busy conducting rotary wing operations while crossing the Atlantic.

Seen from @RFATideforce

via F. Tuckerman

Harry of course agree activity cannot take place with so many Bods around, more like a make and mend in the old days. I'm relying on some with links closer to the action and agree the boards indicate what is planned to take place as opposed to what is taking place - "Its a bit fuzzy at magnification if you don't have a HD screen but the screens have a full flying programme listed with half a dozen serials on there. What precisely they say is probably impossible to say. They are (given their known formats) a set of deck activity serials reflecting the flying programme about to come."

[Little h]

Not buying it David.... those LED Display Boards could simply be showing the movement of 4 x helo's from their respective spots on port side of flight deck - over and on to side elevators - lowered - and movement within hangar. There is clearly no flying going on especially so with all the bodies loafing around the islands and atop the ski jump, plus several tugs ranged across the flight deck - helo towing for the use of! Traffic light under Flyco indicate red on port side and green on stbd (where the geezers with their tugs are)

See comments that follow the three images in this linked tweet:-
NavyLookout on twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

.@HMSQNLZ busy conducting rotary wing operations while crossing the Atlantic.

Seen from @RFATideforce

via F. Tuckerman

Harry of course agree activity cannot take place with so many Bods around, more like a make and mend in the old days. I'm relying on some with links closer to the action and agree the boards indicate what is planned to take place as opposed to what is taking place - "Its a bit fuzzy at magnification if you don't have a HD screen but the screens have a full flying programme listed with half a dozen serials on there. What precisely they say is probably impossible to say. They are (given their known formats) a set of deck activity serials reflecting the flying programme about to come."

Thanks for your responses David.

I try not to perpetuate inexactitudes in my posts, thus my initial response reflecting my doubt at the description 'busy'.

So we have:- HMS Queen Elizabeth busy conducting rotary wing operations while crossing the Atlantic with HMS Dragon -V- the boards indicate what is planned to take place as opposed to what is taking place the former indicates present tense whilst the latter indicates the future tense (whilst precluding the present tense).
Conclusion; QE R08 was not busy conducting rotary wing operations.

Re; the Electronic Display Boards - they may indeed advise either deck activity serials or impending flying serials (or a combination of both) but I certainly can not discern half a dozen ... only four serials.

Not to worry mate - it appears to be a simple case of the initial tweet being poorly worded especially when associated with the accompanying images.

[Little h]

NavyLookout on twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

Pilot's view from 820 Naval Air Squadron Merlin landing on @HMSQNLZ in this 360º video.

#Westlant19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Gglt- ... e=youtu.be …

[Pelican]

NavyLookout on twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

Pilot's view from 820 Naval Air Squadron Merlin landing on @HMSQNLZ in this 360º video.

#Westlant19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Gglt- ... e=youtu.be …

Nice one Harry - was it on the board[s]?