RN Aircraft Carriers: Queen Elizabeth Class

[Pelican]

The QEC were not the first aircraft carriers to lower their masts:
"The supercarrier Saratoga, then the world's largest and most powerful warship, cruises toward the Brooklyn Bridge on its way out to sea, 1957.
Note the mast on the right being lowered so that the vessel may clear the bridge."

[Brian James]

An RAF F-35B on HMS Queen Elizabeth during Exercise RUSKA 23 off Finland.

[Brian James]

USMC Lockheed F-35B Lightning II operating off HMS Prince of Wales, October 18th 2023.

[Pelican]

Development of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier – a design history

In this article, we review how the design of the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers evolved. This is a broad subject, worthy of several books but this article provides an overview.
Given their size and limitations, the three Invincible class carriers (CVS) had served the nation very well but by the late 1990s consideration of how to replace them was being discussed. In 1997 the MoD began some outline concept studies for potential future carriers. At this stage, it was accepted they would be considerably bigger than the CVS and most likely operate VSTOL aircraft, although a conventional carrier operating Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet or even a navalised ‘Sea Typhoon’ were briefly considered. Operational analysis suggested that 50 aircraft would be needed to ensure campaign success in medium-intensity scenarios and would probably require a ship displacing at least 38,000 tonnes. Probably for the benefit of the Treasury, the MoD did, however, examine life extension refits and hull-stretching the CVS but unsurprisingly in 1999 concluded that the hulls were too old and lacked the beam to comfortably operate larger future aircraft (the JSF eventually grew to twice the size of the Harrier).

The decisions of the 1998 Defence Review were generally sound and promised the navy would have “two 40,000 ton aircraft carriers, with a complement of up to 50 aircraft and helicopters each. The first will have an in-service date of 2012”. The Future Aircraft Carrier project to build the CVF was formally launched in January 1999. In the light of the capabilities forecast for the QEC by the mid-2020s it is interesting to reflect on how closely they will fulfil the 9 original Key User Requirements (KUR) that were laid down in 1999.

Interoperability – able to contribute to joint and international operations
Integration – able to integrate with the joint battlespace and support air group operations with command, control, communications and intelligence functions
Availability – able to provide one operational ship available at all times
Deployability – able to deploy worldwide
Sustainability – able to mount sustained operations
Aircraft – able to deploy offensive air power without host-nation support
Survivability – have a high probability of surviving damage
Flexibility – able to operate the largest possible range of aircraft
Versatility- able to operate in the widest range of roles.

Design competition

The assessment phase began at the end of 1999 with initial £5.9M Analysis of Options contracts awarded to two consortia lead by British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) and Thomson-CSF (now Thales). This was followed by the award of a second year-long £30M assessment phase contract to both teams in July 2001.

There was considerable scope for creativity and innovation and the only major stipulations beyond the KURs were that the ship must be built in Britain, carry up to 48 aircraft, be single-hulled and not nuclear powered. Affordability was obviously a major consideration and through-life costs were to be given very high priority. Because the crew is such a major factor in the cost of ownership, a target ships company of around 600 was suggested by the MoD. Both consortia gave this considerable attention and the resulting low manpower requirement is a major achievement.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/development ... n-history/

[Pelican]

Project Ark Royal – Plans for angled decks and drones

At the ‘Combined Naval Event 2023’ conference held in Farnborough in May, Colonel Phil Kelly, the Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation within the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate, presented an ambitious vision for the Royal Navy’s future in maritime aviation.

This vision, part of the broader Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) initiative, includes ‘Project Ark Royal’.

Colonel Kelly’s presentation highlighted several pivotal challenges and objectives:

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/project ... nd-drones/

[Pelican]

Project Ark Royal – Plans for angled decks and drones

At the ‘Combined Naval Event 2023’ conference held in Farnborough in May, Colonel Phil Kelly, the Head of Carrier Strike and Maritime Aviation within the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate, presented an ambitious vision for the Royal Navy’s future in maritime aviation.

This vision, part of the broader Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) initiative, includes ‘Project Ark Royal’.

Colonel Kelly’s presentation highlighted several pivotal challenges and objectives:

F-35 Deployment Limitations: The colonel pointed out the current constraints, stating, “Lack of Mass – F35 mass will not reach level required to resource both QEC with full Combat Air potential.“
Urgency for Uncrewed Platforms: Emphasising the inevitability of adopting these platforms, he noted, “The question is not ‘if’ the Naval force will prioritise and leverage un-crewed platforms and systems, but how quickly and efficiently, in resource constrained environments.“
Automation for Increased Capacity: Colonel Kelly underscored the importance of automation, “We must free up warfighter capabilities for critical operations, by automating routine/repetitive tasks.“
Operational Complexities: The focus is on “operating in complex and contested areas all the while reducing the risk to life, force, and mission.“
Enhancing Operational Reach: The presentation highlighted the need to “increase our range, endurance, and persistence in order to build advantage.“
Retrofitting
As part of the FMAF vision, the Royal Navy aims to retrofit arrestor gear and assisted launch equipment to the Queen Elizabeth class.

We’ve known about this part for some time, back in 2021 the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Queen Elizabeth class carriers might be fitted with catapults ‘in the coming years’ in order to launch certain types of aircraft.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/project ... bw0UBOecww

[Pelican]

Sir Humphrey
The decision to not sail HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH has generated significant negative media coverage.
Pinstripedline blog explains why the decision made sense, the very positive story it does tell about the Royal Navy and reasons to be an optimist!
See - https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... -navy.html

[Pelican]

Cats, traps and claptrap. Why the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers operate VSTOL aircraft

There is a consistently held view that the Royal Navy was mistaken when it chose to adopt Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (VSTOL) aircraft carriers. In this long read we look at the convoluted history of the issue and review the arguments both for and against.

Background
During the development of the QEC aircraft carriers, various configurations and aircraft options were considered (see previous article) but the STOVL B variant of the Joint Strike Fighter was formally recommended by the navy in September 2002 and approved in July 2006. From the outset the design was specified as ‘adaptable’, should it be decided to reconfigure the ship as a conventional carrier in future. Work on STVOL carriers proceeded until 2010 when the coalition government made the announcement that the QEC would instead be configured for Catapult Assisted Take-Off and Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR colloquially known as ‘cats and traps’). The C variant of the F-35 would be purchased and the UK would be back in the conventional carrier business (which they had effectively pioneered but were shut out of in 1966 with the decision not to build the CVA-01 carriers).

The Prime Minister saw the main advantage of the change as cementing relations with the US and France as the RN’s carriers would be fully ‘interoperable’ with the conventional carriers of our key allies. Most in the navy and many commentators (including this writer) initially backed the decision as it offered a significant uplift in capability and was an apparent bright spot amongst the carnage of the 2010 defence review. Both carriers would be completed (The ACA sensibly locked the MoD into a contract for the 2 ships that was too expensive to cancel on the whims of political or financial expediency) but one would be ‘held in extended readiness’. In practice, this meant one would be put into mothballs and possibly sold, but there were hopes this decision could be overturned in time as finances improved.

An 18-month study into converting HMS Prince of Wales to CATOBAR began but it rapidly uncovered serious cost implications and delays that the changes would entail. Alterations and new equipment required were estimated at £886 Million per ship in November 2010 but by February 2012 the figure was £2 Billion and rising. Perhaps even more intolerable was the realisation that the conversion work would have added another 3 years to the construction time. Purchasing the F-35C would leave HMS Queen Elizabeth unable to operate any fixed-wing aircraft until she was replaced by the second carrier around 2023. Something had to be done.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/cats-traps- ... -aircraft/

[Pelican]

Sir Humphrey
Lewis Page is back with more drivel about CTOL carriers and the mysterious cabal of MOD Civil Servants so secret that no one but him, a failed clearance diver knows about it...
Great fiction ideal for use lining a cats litter tray!
See - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/0 ... -timeline/

[Pelican]

Out of service date confirmed for aircraft carriers

Don’t worry, the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are planned to remain in service until 2069.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/out-of- ... -carriers/