British Military Pictures Thread

[Obi Wan Russell]

We seem to have been left out a bit so far so I'll start a thread for matters UK here. Our forces may not be as large as they once were, but they are still top notch and you mess with them at your peril... as many have discovered. Please feel free to contribute any Army, Navy or RAF pics you'd like to share here.

[Jeff Head]

We seem to have been left out a bit so far so I'll start a thread for matters UK here. Our forces may not be as large as they once were, but they are still top notch and you mess with them at your peril... as many have discovered. Please feel free to contribute any Army, Navy or RAF pics you'd like to share here.Here are a few more:

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/invincible3.jpg

The UK carriers decks are very busy...which speaks to their experience and expertise. Only American carrier decks are more active and busy in my experience. MOst others, although they represent significant cost, experience, and capability, are not 1/2...or maybe even 1/3 as busy and active. The French in particular probably represent an exception to this.

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/ocean1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/ocean5.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/ocean6.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/invincible6.jpg

[bd popeye]

Jeff sez;

The UK carriers decks are very busy...which speaks to their experience and expertise. Only American carrier decks are more active and busy in my experience. MOst others, although they represent significant cost, experience, and capability, are not 1/2...or maybe even 1/3 as busy and active. The French in particular probably represent an exception to this.


So true. Ever see pics of the flight deck of any Russian CV? Devoid of action. Where is the crew? Where are the directors? It just lacks the sea-going symphony that the USN, RN & FN have. Up on the "Roof" is where I wanna be...I loved workin' da' "Roof!"....

[Jeff Head]

Ever see pics of the flight deck of any Russian CV? Devoid of action. Where is the crew? Where are the directors? It just lacks the sea-going symphony that the USN, RN & FN have. Up on the "Roof" is where I wanna be...I loved workin' da' "Roof!"....These two pictures are about the "busiest" I have ever seen of the Kuznetsov.

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/kuznetsov1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/kuznetsov3.jpg

Compared to this:

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/kittyhawk2.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/jfk1.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/nimitz5.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/nimitz1.jpg

...and, as I have said, as regards the UK and this thread, these pics, which show how a much smaller piece of real estate can be extremely busy and effectively used.

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/invincible3.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/worldwideaircraftcarriers/ocean1.jpg

[Obi Wan Russell]

The Royal Navy has always made a virtue of making a little go a long way. Our Carriers may be small but they punch well above their weight (as Argentina found out in 82) and when the new CVFs join the fleet in the next decade we'll be able to punch even harder. Also maybe the yanks will stop complaining about our ships during cross decking ops; back in the sixties US pilots from the USS Ranger (60,000tons) took one look at HMS Hermes (28,000 tons) and concluded the Brits were "Nice guys but nuts!", in return the Hermes' pilots looked at the Ranger and suggested "Formation landings" and "not bothering to put the hook down!". I know USN pilots look forward to cross decking with RN carriers because US ships are 'dry', and thankfully RN ships are not!
http://img311.imageshack.us/img311/8364/hmshermesr1225sw1.th.jpg (http://img311.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr1225sw1.jpg)http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/7331/usnphantomshortfinalsdragginghookonto1wirearkroyal vd1.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usnphantomshortfinalsdragginghookonto 1wirearkroyalvd1.jpg)http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3725/sintrudersfromindependenceinarkfly1qb3.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sintrudersfromindependenceinarkfly1qb 3.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1281/usmarinephantomrncolours02yq3.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmarinephantomrncolours02yq3.jpg)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8914/cvf1dec05bigpi7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Of course, if the CVFs are built to this configuration then the only Yanks quenching their thirsts in her wardroom will be Marines (they are the only branch of the US armed forces scheduled to receive the STOVL F-35B) but if we go down the CTOL route then USN pilots can look forward to a drink or two as well!
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/6130/pa2fsrichelieur92ye5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Just like the good old days...
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1268/hmseagler0503gy9.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmseagler0503gy9.jpg)http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3622/arkroyal1hb1.th.jpg (http://img133.imageshack.us/my.php?image=arkroyal1hb1.jpg)http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3007/hmsvictoriousr3807sq1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsvictoriousr3807sq1.jpg)http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/434/hmscentaurr0611ya2.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmscentaurr0611ya2.jpg)http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/2773/hmshermesr1209da9.th.jpg (http://img75.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr1209da9.jpg)

[bd popeye]

Nice pictures guys ..But as a mod try post them as thumbnails..OK???:)

Obi-Wan...Those pics of the Intruders on the deck of the remind of Sep'72 on the USS John F Kennedy we were in a NATO excersise called "Strong Express" and we were operating with the RN CV "Ark Royal". We had some RN Phantoms on our flight deck...Those were the days!

[Obi Wan Russell]

I'm sure the Russians would like to be able to afford a full air group for the Kuznetzov, but they are probably paying for the existing aircraft on HP and interest rates haven't been so good lately... but seriously, some air power at sea is always preferrable to no air power at sea. The pic of the Marine F-4 with 892 NAS tail markings came about after said aircraft went unserviceable during cross deck ops and was relegated to Arks Hangar deck for a few days... when it was ready to leave it had been mysteriously redecorated for its return flight. Such incidents were not that unusual, when 892's Phantoms visited a Florida Naval air station they received 'graffiti' from the locals, replacing the words 'ROYAL NAVY' on the fuselage with 'COLONIAL NAVY', and the roundels on the intakes sprouted 'stars and bars', as well as other local insignia! Those were the days indeed.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/2633/colonnialnavy0001ii7.th.jpg (http://img114.imageshack.us/my.php?image=colonnialnavy0001ii7.jpg)http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/125/colonnialnavy0002yp2.th.jpg (http://img161.imageshack.us/my.php?image=colonnialnavy0002yp2.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9500/baeseaharrierfrs103di2.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfrs103di2.jpg)http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9226/vixen136onfinallaunchfromeaglewaistcatbeforegoingu sbr2.th.jpg (http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vixen136onfinallaunchfromeaglewaistca tbeforegoingusbr2.jpg)
And the pilot of this Sea Harrier is called Bond, James Bond (Well he is a commander in the RN!) Also the RN is not averse to a little 'end of service' redecoration as these De Havilland Sea Vixens from 899 NAS aboard HMS Eagle demonstrated back in 1972. Some had 'For Sale' painted on them along with assorted 'Flower power' symbols! Definitely not regulation issue!

[Obi Wan Russell]

And here's another selection from the vaults of Obi Wan, past present and future of the senoir service.
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8370/hmseagler0511pa0.th.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmseagler0511pa0.jpg)http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/8963/eaglefromaftfacinglandingby8.th.jpg (http://img283.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eaglefromaftfacinglandingby8.jpg)http ://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4015/hmsbulwarkr0811oy5.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsbulwarkr0811oy5.jpg)http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3109/hmsalbionr0711jh2.th.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsalbionr0711jh2.jpg)
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3347/801omegataileo2.th.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=801omegataileo2.jpg)http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/6079/baeseaharrierfa201oi4.th.jpg (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa201oi4.jpg)http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/9319/seaharrierlgzj8.th.jpg (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=seaharrierlgzj8.jpg)http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/1392/baeseaharrierfa210fs5.th.jpg (http://img116.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa210fs5.jpg)
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4938/baeharriergr101hv0.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr101hv0.jpg)http://img312.imageshack.us/img312/5941/baeharriergr309wi8.th.jpg (http://img312.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr309wi8.jpg)http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2503/bucc101lininguponeaglewaistcatfromplaneguardhk3.th .jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bucc101lininguponeaglewaistcatfrompla neguardhk3.jpg)http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/606/blackburnbuccaneers207ce9.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers207ce9.jpg)
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/9459/cvf20060001sv7.th.jpg (http://img385.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cvf20060001sv7.jpg)http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8952/cvf20060003we3.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cvf20060003we3.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2294/cvfstovl1bigue0.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cvfstovl1bigue0.jpg)http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8921/lmjsfrnlw3.th.jpg (http://img252.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lmjsfrnlw3.jpg)
Top row left; HMS Eagle off New Zealand 1971, Eagles flight deck looking aft, LPH HMS Bulwark in 1975, LPH HMS Albion late 60's.
2nd row;801 sqn 'Omega' tail markings prior to disbandment, 800 NAS SHAR at RIAT RAF Fairford 2002, Trials Sea Harrier grinning with pride!, 899 NAS SHAR in pre disbandment hi-viz markings,
3rd row; RAF Harrier GR1 aboard HMS Ark Royal 1971, ex-RAF GR3 in pseudo Navy markings, 800 NAS Buccanneer about to launch from Eagles' waist cat 1971, 809 NAS Buccaneer from Ark Royal in 1977 with RAN A-4G Skyhawk from VF-805 behind,
4th row; HMS Queen Elizabeth artists impression, comparative diagram of flight deck size and layout, another artists impression of HMS Queen Elizabeth, and artists impression of F-35B in RN service.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Think I'm getting the hang of this thumbnail business! Here's a few more from the dark recesses of my hard drive;
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1982/faireygannetaew302ln7.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=faireygannetaew302ln7.jpg)http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2971/westlandseakingaew201jl9.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=westlandseakingaew201jl9.jpg)http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/7391/hmsmanchesterd9501id9.th.jpg (http://img160.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsmanchesterd9501id9.jpg)http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/7889/type45dt10yu9.th.jpg (http://img160.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type45dt10yu9.jpg)
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1008/hmsfearlessl100001fa8.th.jpg (http://img160.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsfearlessl100001fa8.jpg)http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1685/mountsbayseawa6.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mountsbayseawa6.jpg)http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/6852/albionclasshz8.th.jpg (http://img160.imageshack.us/my.php?image=albionclasshz8.jpg)http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7105/sbdvre3bma9.th.jpg (http://img258.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sbdvre3bma9.jpg)
Top row; Fairey Gannet AEW3, its' belated replacement the Sea King AEW2, the Type 42 DDG HMS Manchester, and her replacement the Type 45 DDG.
2nd row; the now decommissioned LPD HMS Fearless in Portsmouth dockyard with HMS Ark Royal behind, the new LSD RFA Mounts Bay, the two Albion class LPDs Albion and Bulwark, and a slightly suspect shot of an old LSL (RFA Sir Bedivere) which may be in jest but is a little too close to the truth!
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9011/dhseavixenfaw218bc3.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixenfaw218bc3.jpg)http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/8021/dhseavixenfaw219ij7.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixenfaw219ij7.jpg)http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/6656/dhseavixenfaw221jc8.th.jpg (http://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixenfaw221jc8.jpg)http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9379/dhseavixenfaw206td3.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixenfaw206td3.jpg)
3rd row; some shots of the RNs primary interceptor from 1959 to 1972, the DeHavilland Sea Vixen FAW2,
http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/1311/700phmseagler0501pl0.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=700phmseagler0501pl0.jpg)http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/5416/700phmseagler0502rf4.th.jpg (http://img479.imageshack.us/my.php?image=700phmseagler0502rf4.jpg)http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/9118/767nasfg102fs0.th.jpg (http://img173.imageshack.us/my.php?image=767nasfg102fs0.jpg)http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/3279/767nasfg103gk9.th.jpg (http://img479.imageshack.us/my.php?image=767nasfg103gk9.jpg)
4th row, Some F-4K Phantom shots; two from 700P NAS trials aboard Eagle in 1968, and two of 767 NAS aircraft RNAS Yeovilton 1972.
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/687/baeseaharrierfrs106rm6.th.jpg (http://img361.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfrs106rm6.jpg)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2251/baeseaharrierfrs105ue1.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfrs105ue1.jpg)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6792/baeseaharrierfrs109sy5.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfrs109sy5.jpg)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2386/baeseaharrierfrs111wm5.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfrs111wm5.jpg)
5th row; a selection of Sea Harrier FRS1 shots from the 80's,

[Finn McCool]

I figured that we should get some of the British Army in here too.

The Warrior, one of the worlds premiere IFVs.
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/warrior/images/warrior1.jpg

The Javellin ATGM, in operation with the other Army in the British Isles, the Irish Army!!!:china::china:(Irish Flags)
http://www.army-technology.com/projects/javelin/images/Javelin_10.jpg

What Kind of gun is that?
http://images.theglobeandmail.com/archives/RTGAM/images/20030322/wmain0322/1britishtroops.jpg

The SAS, doing what they do.
http://www.military-page.de/einheit/sas/bild_sas_14.jpg

The British Army is famous for its fashion sense.
http://www.replicaters.com/ww2%20british%20army/British%20ww2%20shorts.jpg

The British Army was there in the Falklands too, even if Obi-Wan denies it!
I have proof!
http://www.biocrawler.com/w/images/thumb/2/27/250px-Troops_Falklands.jpg

And more proof!
http://www.anselm.edu/academic/history/hdubrulle/WarandRevolution/graphics/Paintings/Falklands%20Argentine%20Prisoners.jpg

Challenger 2 in Oman
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/challenger2-tcr2dsrt.jpg

Westland Lynx
http://www.rampantscotland.com/leuchars/graphics/westland_lynx_sh-14d_268_5296l.jpg

The British Army in Ballymurphy, Northern Ireland.
http://www.corsophotos.com/images/Recon_Patrol.jpg

[Jeff Head]

Think I'm getting the hang of this thumbnail business!Another comparison of the new English (UK) carrier to others...including the Kuznetsov.

http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/carriercomparison.th.jpg (http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/carriercomparison.jpg)

[bd popeye]

Great pictures guys!!!:)

Hey Obi Wan..Do you in the deep recesses of your hard drive have any more pictures of USN/USMC aircraft on the flight deck of a RN CV? If so please post 'em! Thanks!..

I use to have a bunch of pics of RN F-4's on the JFK back in '72 ..but my nutty ex-wife in a fit of rage destroyed my old USN pics I left behind instead of sending them to me...:mad: Oh well....

Quick question Obi Wan..Why are there two island's on the "QE"?

Thanks!

[Jeff Head]

Quick question Obi Wan..Why are there two island's on the "QE"? I know you asked Obi Wan...but I will take a crack at it if you don't mind.

My guess is that the aft island focuses on landing ops, while the fore island is for launch and C&C. That way the two islands are each closer to their areas of responsibility on deck. I may be completely wrong and out to lunch, but those are just my thoughts on it.

What do you say Obi Wan?

[bd popeye]

Thanks Jeff..I have been thinking along those lines. But I think two islands take up valuable deck spce that is needed for suppourt equipment and aircraft...

I too wanna' know what Obi Wan sez...:confused:

[Jeff Head]

I think two islands take up valuable deck spce that is needed for suppourt equipment and aircraft...Agreed. I've thought the same about the size of the Island on the Kuznetsov, the Varyag, and the INvinsible for that matter...as well as the two Island config on the QE. I guess we shall see, I am sure they have their reasons, which to them will be perfectly logical and understandable.

[Obi Wan Russell]

The two Island configuration puzzled me too, but it kind of grows on you. The forward island is the ships bridge and fore funnel combined while the aft Island is Flyco (flying control) and the aft funnel (stack) and added together would take up about as much space as a regular island. The arrangement also allows for some redundancy in case of battle damage, ie the aft island can double as an emergency bridge and the fore one as flyco if needed.
Glad to see other arms of the British forces depicted here, after all I did call this the British Military Pic Thread.This is an open party, anyone can join.
I have some more pics of cross deck ops, and here they are!
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6884/hmshermesr120030abd8.th.jpg (http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr120030abd8.jpg)http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2589/hmshermesr120030bcf5.th.jpg (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr120030bcf5.jpg)http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/863/hmshermesr120032rn5.th.jpg (http://img78.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr120032rn5.jpg)http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6894/hmshermesr120033apd9.th.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr120033apd9.jpg)
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/4163/hmshermesr120033bzm3.th.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr120033bzm3.jpg)http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4551/hmshermesr120035hd4.th.jpg (http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr120035hd4.jpg)http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/5639/usmarinephantomrncolours03gannetinforegroundyl7.th .jpg (http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmarinephantomrncolours03gannetinfor egroundyl7.jpg)http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2417/usmarinephantomrncolours0720offwaistcatxb2.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmarinephantomrncolours0720offwaistc atxb2.jpg)
Top row; HMS Hermes cross decking with USS Ranger, hang on didn't the UK Gov. say Hermes was too small to operate Phantoms? third from left is a Banshee from USS Coral Sea getting a close look at HMS Eagle's deck in 1955
2nd row; two shots of F-4s from VF-102 from USS Independence aboard HMS Ark Royal in 1975, and a cople more of that USMC F-4 that 'joined' 892 NAS for a while.

[bd popeye]

Obi Wan..U da' man!..Thanks so much for posting those pictures.

I love Phantoms. You could see them comming. All that black exhaust. And they landed so hard. If you were in the hangar deck and a F-4 landed..you knew it...Tough aircraft..very tough.

How old are those pics of the Ranger aircraft "cross-decking" as we use to say?

[Obi Wan Russell]

The Ranger/Hermes cross decking pics date from January 1963 off the Phillipines. I've heard some criticism of the Phantom for it's smoky exhausts, but I preferred to think of it as an open invitation to enemy aircraft to 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough', kind of way. British Phantoms had RR Spey engines, which were a lot less smoky, and the US nearly bought the spey engined F-4 for the USN. Designated the F-4L and would have been suitable for Essex class CVs, but things got in the way as usual and the order never materialised. Perhaps they couldn't get their heads round the fact that it would have been an Americanised Angliscised American Aircraft. Try saying that after a few beers!
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8011/892nasfg122wy0.th.jpg (http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=892nasfg122wy0.jpg)http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2816/892nasfg105ge6.th.jpg (http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=892nasfg105ge6.jpg)http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/136/892nasfg112mg2.th.jpg (http://img509.imageshack.us/my.php?image=892nasfg112mg2.jpg)http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2328/892nasfg1usssaratogacv601969gs2.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=892nasfg1usssaratogacv601969gs2.jpg)
from left; 892 NAS spent two weeks aboard USS Saratoga in 1969 for Carrier Qualifications during which their extra hot Spey Afterburners bent the 'Sara's JBDs! Middle two pics; 892 ops aboard the Ark Royal, and in the last pic you can make out the words 'USS SARATOGA' under the tail of the nearest plane.
http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/9457/ptffg101lc1.th.jpg (http://img272.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ptffg101lc1.jpg)http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/2422/ptffg102qh4.th.jpg (http://img272.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ptffg102qh4.jpg)http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/1209/yf4kphantomfg1xt59501ij4.th.jpg (http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yf4kphantomfg1xt59501ij4.jpg)http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8579/yf4kphantomfg1xt59503bz1.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=yf4kphantomfg1xt59503bz1.jpg)
after the demise of the Navy's only F-4 training sqn (767 NAS) in 1972, the Phantom Training Flight (PTF) was formed with seven FG1s under RAF control but Navy manned. The last F-4K in RN colours is one of the first manufactured and is displayed at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovliton in Somerset aboard the 'ARK ROYAL!'

[bd popeye]

British Phantoms had RR Spey engines, which were a lot less smoky, and the US nearly bought the spey engined F-4 for the USN. Designated the F-4L and would have been suitable for Essex class CVs, but things got in the way as usual and the order never materialised.

Well Obi Wan since you are a Jedi Knight I have to believe you..But as someone that served on a Essex class(USS Hancock CVA-19)..I don't think an Essex class could have handled a F-4. It's was just to heavy for the coating the USN had over the wooden flight deck. As it was F-8 Crusaders tore that deck up. In fact as one of those brave souls that stood between the Catapults during launch F-8's threw up splinters when they took off.(Uncovered wood planks ran along side the catapults) Also landing may have been a problem . Because of a (daytime) crash that I witnessed F-8's were forbidden to land on an Essex class at night after 1975...That is because new steel had been added installed under the arresting wire and it was raised a few inches and caused havoc with Crusader landings...Maybe the USN had some sort of re-fit planned if this re-engine plan came into being...Deck space would have not been a problem. Demension wise it was only slightly larger (hieght,width and folded wing span) than a Crusader. The F-4 would have had only one foot clearance in the Hangar deck...

Just my 2 cents worth..:o

[Obi Wan Russell]

Probably explains why they didn't buy it. Someone at McDonnell Douglas probably thought 'if an F-4K will fly from a British CV, they're about the same size as an Essex, maybe we can sell these to the US Navy too,' without looking too closely at the flight decks of the Essex class. When the Labour Government of 1966 cancelled the new CVA-01 program the US Government offered Britain three Essex class for next to nothing in order to keep the RN in the Carrier club (which three was never specified, but may even have been three of the unmodernised vessels so they could be refitted to British standards from the start). Having made one stupid descision the British government followed it up with another one and said no. Then to compound this they announced that the only operation Carriers were needed for was covering Amphibious ops, and as we would only do this in future alongside the USN, Carriers would be phased out altogether.
Since then, the RN has commissioned FIVE Carriers, by the simple expedient of not calling them carriers. Politicians may be opposed to them, but most don't even know what a carrier looks like.

[bd popeye]

Probably explains why they didn't buy it. Someone at McDonnell Douglas probably thought 'if an F-4K will fly from a British CV, they're about the same size as an Essex, maybe we can sell these to the US Navy too,' without looking too closely at the flight decks of the Essex class.

F-4 pilots had a saying.."Kick the tires..light the fires"..I can't imangine that afterburner light off on an Essex class..It would have brought that previous statement to fruition...jeez..On the JFK and Midway those F-4's shook the deck when they went to full afterburners prior to launch...Sparks would fly off the jet blast defelectors from the intense heat. Exhaust so intense it was blue...Awesome sight..Best sight though was an armed F-4 getting shot off the ship..awesome. Those USN paint jobs from "back in the day" are awesome...That F-4 pictured is from the Sun Downers of VF-111

This picture from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) about 1970...
http://www.usscoralsea.net/images/rt71721.jpg

[Obi Wan Russell]

I heard an F-4 pilot say that it's wings are just for decoration, it's a Rocket Ship! The F-4K used by the RN had an extra extensible (by 40inches) nose leg to give it a larger angle of attack on launch, but this meant the engines were pointing more at the deck when full afterburners were selected for launch. As I mentioned earlier, 892 NAS took its' aircraft for a two week cruise in the med aboard USS Saratoga in 69 to gain carrier quals as Ark Royal was still in dockyard hands. During that time they operated as part of SARA's air wing but they did cause damage to her Jet Blast Deflectors, so the effect they might have had on an Essex's flight deck doesn't bear thinking about...
Ark Royal was fited with special water cooled JBDs, when her sister ship HMS Eagle carried out trials with 700P NAS Phantoms in 68 she was fitted with a large steel plate behind her cats (her non-cooled JBDs were not used) to absorb the heat from the afterburners. It glowed white hot, and was cooled down by fire hoses after each launch so that the next aircraft could be moved across it. Eagle's captain asked if it could be kept aboard for emergencies but the MOD didn't want anyone to know that she could operate F-4s so easily. The excuse for her premature retirement was that she would be too costly to convert for Phantoms, so she couldn't be seen with them after the trials were over. Hermes was officially too small for Phantoms, but had also operated them in 63 as shown above, so a lot of lies were told at the time to justify a stupid policy that cost many lives in the Falklands some years later.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9132/700phmseagler0503fw8.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=700phmseagler0503fw8.jpg)http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/6209/700phmseagler0504km5.th.jpg (http://img272.imageshack.us/my.php?image=700phmseagler0504km5.jpg)http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/11/usmarinephantomrncolours04taxiingtocatsq6.th.jpg (http://img429.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmarinephantomrncolours04taxiingtoca tsq6.jpg)http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/410/usmarinephantomrncolours05apq4.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usmarinephantomrncolours05apq4.jpg)ht tp://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5661/usnphantomshortfinalsarkroyal197402us2.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usnphantomshortfinalsarkroyal197402us 2.jpg)
first two pics; F-4K trials aboard Eagle in 68, note steel plate behind the aircraft secured by chains to the deck, and three more shots of the USMC on Ark's deck.

[Finn McCool]

The rising sun on the tail is the coolest...sweet pic popeye. If I were a fighter pilot I would either have the rising sun on the tail or my helmet.

[bd popeye]

The rising sun on the tail is the coolest...sweet pic popeye. If I were a fighter pilot I would either have the rising sun on the tail or my helmet.

:off The Sun Downers aircraft back in the day were way too cool...
Got bad news for you about putting the sunburst on your helmet if you where a USN/USMC pilot. You can't. All flight helmets have to have a certian percentage of while reflective tape..About 75%..not sure but I know it is a lot...Here is the history of VF-111. And depending on your squadron designs it's helmets that's what your helmet will look like..Forget that Top Gun crap...

http://www.topedge.com/alley/squadron/pac/vf111his.htm

:off

Ahem..I found this pic of the Ark Royal with F-4's on deck..

http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/photos/aircraft_carriers/ark_royal_r09/04_ark_royal_r09.jpg

[Kampfwagen]

Eh. May as well throw in some sub-par images. I swear, I have no idea where you guys get those pictures but you have to start sharing! :D

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/images/royal.marines.jpg

Royal Marines in Afghanistan

http://photos.jibble.org/albums/YeoviltonAirDayStaticShots/Royal_Marines_Defending_Runway_IMG_9285.jpg

More pictures of the Royal Marines on a training exersise/demonstration. (Location Unknown)

http://photos.jibble.org/albums/YeoviltonAirDayStaticShots/Landrover_Being_Dropped_By_Sea_King_IMG_9305.jpg

Same Exersize. Royal Marines Landrover being dropped by Sea-King.

http://home.btconnect.com/REPAIRCRAFT-PLC/repaircraftcom//images/pic13.jpg

RAF Harriers on Artic/Winter exersise, painted in Artic Paint Scheme.

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ocean/images/ocean2.jpg

RAF Chinook deployed by the HMS Ocean

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/5314/cva011qg9.th.jpg (http://img109.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cva011qg9.jpg)http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4899/cva012ui4.th.jpg (http://img159.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cva012ui4.jpg)http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/7443/cva013es3.th.jpg (http://img112.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cva013es3.jpg)http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3329/cva01diaghv7.th.jpg (http://img238.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cva01diaghv7.jpg)
CVA-01, also to have been named HMS Queen Elizabeth (CVA-02 was to have been HMS Duke of Edinburgh). The original plan in 1963 was to build five vessels of this class to replace the five existing CVs (Eagle, Ark Royal, Victorious, Hermes and Centaur) during the seventies, altough a building program of that size would have run on into the eighties. The Air Group for each ship was planned to be 18 F-4K Phantom FG1s, 18 Buccaneer S-2s, four AEW aircraft (a business jet conversion was proposed, more likely a version of the E-2 Hawkeye would have been acquired) and five Sea King ASW/SAR Helos (Ark Royals' post 1970 air group was similar but smaller, with 12 F-4s, 14 Buccaneers, 4 Gannets and six Sea Kings). By 1965 the number of ships had been reduced to four, and studies were in hand to see if the Navy could manage with just three. Then the RAF's top brass started spreading the same sort of anti-carrier nonsense that has recently resurfaced here with regards to the Varyag, and also re-drew the map of the world to reinforce their argument that land based F-111s they were hoping to buy could do the same job as the CVs. The 'Healy Axe' fell on the CV force, then rebounded on the RAF when the F-111s were cancelled too. Thus the RAF then 'stole' the Navys' F-4s and Buccaneer S-2s, and stripped the Navys' Gannets of their AEW radar to be installed in decrepit Shackleton Maritime patrol aircraft to produce bargain basement AWACs that were still on duty in the late eighties!
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/3026/phantomcolourslu3.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=phantomcolourslu3.jpg)http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3794/sfromindependenceinarkfly1cn9.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sfromindependenceinarkfly1cn9.jpg)htt p://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3390/892nasfg107fw6.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=892nasfg107fw6.jpg)http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4227/hmsarkroyalr0921xm8.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0921xm8.jpg)http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/9819/hmsarkroyalr0924aco2.th.jpg (http://img103.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0924aco2.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9959/jas368ll7.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas368ll7.jpg)
Oh, and Kampfwagen, as to where we get these pictures, all I can say is Seek and ye shall find. Keep your pics coming, all are welcome here. But please, THUMBNAILS! So the pages don't take all day to load!

[bd popeye]

Golly gee Obi Wan! Those are great pics! Wherever did you get them???:D

Too bad the UK decide not to pursue their CVA 01 concept. More than likely ithey would still be in service today.:(

Looks like the RN had the same problem with the RAF the USN with the USAF after WWII...Those Air Force boys are a "royal" pain in the butt!

[Obi Wan Russell]

I always thought the Americans were right to retain two services instead of three up until 1947, and remember the RAF was formed on April 1st 1918! CVA-01 went beyond the angled deck concept by introducing the 'paralell deck', which would have worked even better on US CVNs due to their larger size. CVA-01 was supposed to replace HMS Victorious in 1972, CVA-02 was to replace Ark Royal in 74-76, CVA-03 would replace Eagle in 78-80 and CVA-04 would have replaced Hermes in 82-84. Even now, the design looks very futuristic and would compare well with any modern designs. Note the combined funnels and masts, flyco extending over the deck for maximum visibility, and the extended 'Alaskan Highway' outboard of the bridge to enable Aircraft movements without interfering with flying ops.
One statistic worth bearing in mind about the RAF, since the end of WW2, despite spending billions on the latest Air defence aircraft and starving the Fleet Air Arm of resources, has only shot down ONE enemy aircraft in combat. The FAA is responsible for all other air to air kills in the postwar period. To be fair, they are good at 'mud moving', but the Vulcan missions to the Falklands in 82 were a huge waste of resources that achieved nothing militarily, and were only mounted by the RAF to avoid being totally left out of the action. There are still 'landlubbers' who are trying to sink the CVFs before they are built thinking they can divert the money to more land based aircraft. Doesn't work that way. Money cut from one part of the defence budget doesn't go to another part, it goes to prop up some failing part of the Government's program and everybody loses. The RAF has committed it's Harriers and their replacements to part time carrier ops in support of the FAA's sqns. Cut the carriers, and the politicians will just say we don't need the aircraft they would have operated either and say good bye to the F-35. They don't think like normal people.
Did you know there was a documentary series filmed aboard the Ark Royal during 76? great footage of the air ops and revealing shots of everyday life in the RN in the 70's. Might be available on dvd in the states, it was a BBC series called 'Sailor'. I liked the comments in the show from a Florida Policeman when asked if British Sailors ever caused trouble, said that he wished all visiting sailors were Brits! "They have a laugh, get drunk, and fall asleep on the beach. They never start fights and are always polite even when drunk!"
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7441/vulcan1kw0.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vulcan1kw0.jpg)http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/334/vulcan3qs1.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vulcan3qs1.jpg)http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3568/hmsinvincibler0529nq6.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsinvincibler0529nq6.jpg)http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9780/hmsinvincibler0511qj1.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsinvincibler0511qj1.jpg)http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1504/hmshermesr1215kl9.th.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr1215kl9.jpg)
Two shots of Avro Vulcan B2s, middle;HMS Illustrious passes HMS Hermes on the latter's return from the Falklands 1982, HMS Invincible with Phalanx guns early 1983, HMS Hermes in 1981 (note deck approach sights on forward end of angled deck)

[Obi Wan Russell]

Just so the RAF boys and girls don't feel left out (I've nothing against them, just their misguided top brass) here's a selection of aircraft flown by the 'light blue', including a number of second hand Royal Navy types!
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7651/jas350pk0.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas350pk0.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8093/jas351ex9.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas351ex9.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1489/jas487oq8.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas487oq8.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4010/jas2227nz9.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas2227nz9.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6682/jas2109cv2.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas2109cv2.jpg)
The Phantom in low viz grey is an ex-USMC F-4J, one of 15 purchased in 1983 to make up numbers after a sqn of FGR2s was stationed in the Falklands, and they retained their original engines making them unique in British service. They were designated F-4J(UK) rather than FGR3.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7323/lightn1no9.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lightn1no9.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9945/lightning7uz6.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lightning7uz6.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/186/lightningt1le2.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lightningt1le2.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3729/limk3lf3.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=limk3lf3.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9616/limk6ub0.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=limk6ub0.jpg)
Here is the Phantom's partner in the air defence role during the 70's and 80's (a job it carried out alone in the sixties), the English Electric Lightning F6. A true Rocket ship!
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/200/blackburnbuccaneers2b07zr5.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b07zr5.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7622/blackburnbuccaneers2b08vt3.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b08vt3.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4480/blackburnbuccaneers2b11qh1.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b11qh1.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7592/blackburnbuccaneers2b24hc8.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b24hc8.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5524/blackburnbuccaneers2b27nm1.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b27nm1.jpg)
The primary RAF strike aircraft in the 70's and 80's, the Blackburn Buccaneer S2B (two thirds of which were ex-FAA)
You can paint these pirates in olive drab or desert pink, but their naval haeritage will always show through. The RAF fell in love with the Bucc after deriding it's lack of supersonic speed all through the sixties, when they discovered nothing else could catch it at sea level. The USAF changed the rules at Red Flag because the subsonic 'Banana' kept beating the latest supersonic jet fighters they had spent so much of the US taxpayers money on!

[Obi Wan Russell]

Some other RAF types...
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3334/canberra6jc9.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=canberra6jc9.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9923/hpvictork202be4.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpvictork202be4.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1804/jaguar09tc8.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jaguar09tc8.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3130/jas1654zv1.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas1654zv1.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8691/jas1653vy2.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas1653vy2.jpg)
from left; The Englsh Electric Canberra (this one is a PR9), the only British jet other than the Harrier to be procured in large numbers for the USA, The Handley Page Victor K2 Tanker (converted from a nuclear bomber), the SEPECAT Jaguar GR4 (very nearly a naval aircraft too, the french originally wanted it for the Clemenceau class), Westland Wessex HC2 SAR Helo licence built version of the Sikorsky S58 and it's big sister, the Westland Sea King HAR3 (Sikorsky S61).
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4282/jas1423xv8.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas1423xv8.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1250/jas1430ht9.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas1430ht9.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7091/shackletonvy8.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shackletonvy8.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7183/jas3143ld1.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas3143ld1.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5184/nimrod1hz9.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nimrod1hz9.jpg)
The AVRO Shackleton AEW2, the RAFs early 1970s solution to AEW using an early1950s aircraft equipped with second hand late 1940s era Radar (AN/APS-20) taken from Fairey Gannets, And the BAe Nimrod MR2, a Maritime Patrol Aircraft derived from the DeHavilland Comet 4 Airliner. The Shackleton was the ultimate development of the wartime Lancaster heavy bomber, but had a redesigned fuselage and RR Griffon engines instead of Merlins.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8923/jaguk6uh0.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jaguk6uh0.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6946/jaguk3sh0.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jaguk3sh0.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5306/wessexpa5.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wessexpa5.jpg)http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3687/huntert73eb4.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=huntert73eb4.jpg)http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3665/tsr203tw0.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tsr203tw0.jpg)
More Jags, GR1s and GR3s, and a Wessex HU5 (ex-RN). Also, the ubiquitous Hawker Hunter T7 and another case of 'what might have been' the BAC TSR2.

[bd popeye]

Obi Wan sez;
Note the combined funnels and masts, flyco extending over the deck for maximum visibility, and the extended 'Alaskan Highway' outboard of the bridge to enable Aircraft movements without interfering with flying ops.


Good design. Very good. The only thing I do not like, because I actually worked on the flight deck, is the placement of the aircraft lift(elevator) just foward of the flyco(island). It would intefere with the movement (re-spoting) of aircraft after recovery. This is the problem we had on the Hancock which had a lift between the catapults... Unless of course the ship was rearming and refueling as soon as the recovered aircraft landed. Just my opinion.

Great pictures Obi Wan. Just great!:)

Here is an 1957 picture of the Hancock with the lift down so you can see it's placement.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h97000/h97539.jpg

[Obi Wan Russell]

Apparently Commanding officers of several Essex class CVs during WW2 liked the deck edge lift so much they requested replacing the forward lift with one also. This was eventually done to the Midway class ships during the 60s and I assumed the only reason it wasn't done on the rebuilt Essex class was to save money.They had a lot of ships to refit and a finite budget, even for the USN. I agree about the placing of the forward lift on CVA-01, but it seems this layout was chosen because the ships were expecting to operate in the far north atlantic and a forward deck edge lift was thought to be liable to structural damage in heavy seas. At the time only two British ships had been fitted with deck edge lifts (Hermes and Ark Royal) and one had since been removed. Opinion on them was probably divided in the design office, later ships may have had their designs altered to replace the forward lift with a deck edge unit.
http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/8017/hmsarkroyalr0902ap7.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0902ap7.jpg)http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7386/hmshermesr1205mz7.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmshermesr1205mz7.jpg)http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3561/cvfstovl1bigqg7.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cvfstovl1bigqg7.jpg)http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2282/hmsinvincibler0530og7.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsinvincibler0530og7.jpg)http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2258/cvn21ij9.th.jpg (http://img236.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cvn21ij9.jpg)
The new CVFs have two deck edge lifts to starboard, the forward one is placed amidships to avoid sea damage, while the Invincibles couldn't be designed with them for the simple reason that when they were designed no one was prepared to admit they were carriers! They were ordered as 'Through Deck Cruisers' and side lifts would have been a bit of a giveaway...
I noticed the new CVN-21 design only has three elevators, perhaps a reasessment of their actual use has taken place and only three are needed, releasing more deck space for parking. Also the Island has moved even further back than on the Nimitz, any further and they'll have to tow it behind the carrier!

[bd popeye]

Obi Wan sez;
I noticed the new CVN-21 design only has three elevators, perhaps a reasessment of their actual use has taken place and only three are needed, releasing more deck space for parking. Also the Island has moved even further back than on the Nimitz, any further and they'll have to tow it behind the carrier!

You assesment of the CVN-21 design is correct Jedi master..You indeed are powerful as Yoda has said....:D

The reason for three elevators on CVN-21 insted of four is the simple fact that the elevator on a Nimitz class located behind the island is sledom used at sea. In fact it's only use is as a recieving platform during underway replenishments. Otherwise it stays at flight deck level and is used to store ground suppourt equipment while underway.

By the way CVN-21 is the name of the program. CVN-78 will be the first hull number. Unfortunatly the name of that ship maybe Gerald R. Ford if approved by congress...jeez..he was a clumsly oaf as a president:( ..

[Obi Wan Russell]

Yes I know about the 21/78 confusion, but my only knowledge of President Ford's performance in the job comes from a tape of Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live from the mid 70s. Not very inspiring. Especially as the ship will be the nameship of the first new class of CVNs for nearly forty years. Jeff Head and I concluded the best name for her would be Enterprise, as she will be a replacement for that ship (probably, hard to tell what will get the chop next. Some sources a few years ago were claiming the JFK would last until 2018). But if the USN is going to stick with Presidents, surely they can find one with a more distinguished track record. You haven't gone through all the good ones yet I hope? If there wasn't already a USS Roosevelt in the fleet I would suggest reviving the name FDR, but two Roosevelts could be confusing...

[Finn McCool]

How bout the popeye?:D

[Obi Wan Russell]

How bout the popeye?:D
Gets my vote! What could be more American?:D It's a name that is known and respected worldwide and will strike fear into the enemies of freedom everywhere!:nono: USS Popeye CVN-78 it is then!

[Obi Wan Russell]

Here's some other ships of the fleet, past, present and future;
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8964/hmsbelfastc3517xs1.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsbelfastc3517xs1.jpg)http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2360/hmsbelfastc3501ge8.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsbelfastc3501ge8.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1929/hmsbelfastc3516hw1.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsbelfastc3516hw1.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2846/hmssheffieldc2401pn3.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmssheffieldc2401pn3.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7628/hmsblakec9901tm2.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsblakec9901tm2.jpg)
Cruisers! HMS Belfast, now preserved on the River Thames in London and wearing her WW2 camouflage scheme was the first ship of the Allied fleet to open fire on D-Day, her half sister HMS Sheffield famous for having been attacked in error by Swordfish during the hunt for the Bismarck survived until 1967 when she was scrapped, and HMS Blake the last operational British cruiser decommissioned in 1980.Strange to think that the politicians wanted to replace the strike carrier fleet with ships similar to the Blake, Cruisers with a large Helicopter hangar aft and medium range SAMs forward. Luckily the RN managed to evolve the design into the Invincible class without telling the government!
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3404/hmsbirminghamd8601tn6.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsbirminghamd8601tn6.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6564/hmscardiffd10802wa4.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmscardiffd10802wa4.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5233/hmsedinburghd9702nj1.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsedinburghd9702nj1.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2281/hmsmanchesterd9501xq3.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsmanchesterd9501xq3.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7834/hmsnottinghamd9102wa5.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsnottinghamd9102wa5.jpg)
Type 42 Destroyers; HMS Birmingham, HMS Cardiff, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Manchester, and HMS Nottingham. The type 42s were heavily criticised after the Falklands War for deficienies in their radar fit and lack of close range AA armament, but these have been rectified now and the ships of the class are potent AAW Destroyers, and will be a bargain to any nation that buys them second hand in the next few years.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6082/type452206oj3.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type452206oj3.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/413/type452206ays4.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type452206ays4.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5018/type45dt11ch7.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type45dt11ch7.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3603/type45dt02yq3.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type45dt02yq3.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3484/type45dt12gl6.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type45dt12gl6.jpg)
The Type 45 Destroyers; We need 12, we've been promised 8 and they've ordered 6. Let's hope sanity prevails at the MOD (but don't hold your breath).
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1733/eagleoffpenzancefor826disembarkationlo5.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eagleoffpenzancefor826disembarkationl o5.jpg)http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/9255/hmscentaurr0614wf2.th.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmscentaurr0614wf2.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5048/hmsinvincibler0527uo7.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsinvincibler0527uo7.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/959/hmsillustriousr0608xe6.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsillustriousr0608xe6.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3927/hmsarkroyalr0707ue6.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0707ue6.jpg)
Some more shots of the flat tops; HMS Eagle the largest warship in the Royal Navy to date, HMS Centaur the smallest strike carrier of the 60s, and Invincible, Illustrious and Ark Royal, the ships that save the Fleet Air Arm from extinction. Incidentally, when Eagle was decommissioned in 1972, not only was she the largest ship ever to have served in the RN (her displacement, 54,100tons full load was slightly larger than her sister Ark Royal, 53,060tons) she also had the largest missile battery (6x GWS22 quad Seacat SAM launchers) and the heaviest gun battery (8x 4.5inch guns in four twin turrets) as well as the largest complement (2750 officers and seamen, Ark had 2637 as she was unarmed post 1970) of any ship in the RN! In contrast, HMS Centaur displaced 22,000tons, was armed with 8x 40mm guns in four twin mounts, no missiles and a complement of 1402.
The modern day Invincible class displace 20,000tons are armed with three CIWS (GOALKEEPER 30mm in INvincible and Illustrious and PHALANX 20mm in Ark Royal) and have a complement of 685 +386 air group.

[bd popeye]

Finn & Obi..you flater me...:o

USS Popeye CVN-78..jeez..beats Gerald Ford any day..

Actually I agree the name should be Enterprise simply because the "Big E' will be decomissioned when CVN-78 comes into service. America or Lexington would be good also.

Roosevelt would be confusing since there is an USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)already.

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1958/f8crusader0001no7.th.jpg (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=f8crusader0001no7.jpg)
Here's a shot that should bring back a few memories for you Popeye, F-8 Crusader about to be catapulted off the late lamented USS Oriskany. I think the USN should keep a name like Enterprise at the forefront of the Fleet, and revive names like Lexington and Hornet and other Battle honoured names rather than just using Presidents. Sooner or later 'Slick Willy' and his successor, the shaved chimp from Texas will get a CVN named after them too!
Of course, having two USS Roosevelts in the fleet could be a cunning ploy to fox the enemy...
Carrying on the tradition of Famous names in a navy is well established here, and that's why I want CVF-02 to be named Ark Royal instead of Prince of Wales (a name put forward by the pro royalist faction, the previous ship of that name was an 'unlucky' ship and I don't think it would be appropriate to name one of the two largest ships in the RN after either the earlier vessel or the current holder of the title) as she will be the replacement for the current bearer of the name.
Just to clarify, in Britain we are generally neither pro nor anti Royalist, we are usually indifferent to them in a polite kind of way. The Queen is everyones favourite Granny, but her family... well they're good for the tourist trade so we tolerate them. Most people think the crown will bypass Charles and go to William (making him William V), or at least we hope it will.
I've stated elsewhere on this forum that I don't think CVF-01 should be named Queen Elizabeth either, as it makes the ship sound like a cruise liner! The RN has plenty of 'in your face' names it could draw upon, and your biggest and most powerful warship should have a name that strikes fear into the enemy, not make them think about a cruise in the caribbean! Similarly, USS Gerry Ford is a name that scares no one, certainly not in the same way Nimitz, Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington etc do. These names have the weight of history behind them, people who didn't back down from a fight and had a just and fair reputation. Gerald Ford got the job after his boss got caught out and became president by default. He didn't even win an election in his own right, so why not USS Walter Mondale while we're at it? Congressmen. Jeez, where do you find these guys? Defence is too important to be left to politicians.

[bd popeye]

That is an old picture Obi Wan. The flight deck crewmen don't have on flotation gear or hard helmets...I had to stand between the catapults on the Hancock. My job was to count the ordanance being launched off the ship. and what aircraft it was on. I did the same when I was on the USS Midway but there I only counted missiles.

Sooner or later 'Slick Willy' and his successor, the shaved chimp from Texas will get a CVN named after them too!


:roll: Now that's funny....

USS Gerry Ford is a name that scares no one, certainly not in the same way Nimitz, Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington etc do. These names have the weight of history behind them, people who didn't back down from a fight and had a just and fair reputation. Gerald Ford got the job after his boss got caught out and became president by default. He didn't even win an election in his own right, so why not USS Walter Mondale while we're at it? Congressmen. Jeez, where do you find these guys? Defence is too important to be left to politicians.

I agree 100%..When I was a young sailor I was assigned to the USS John F Kennedy(CVA-67) as my first ship. I was very proud to have that name on the shoulder patch of my dress blues. For those of you that don't know, not only was JFK a president. He won the Navy Cross in WWII. Read this account.

http://www.orwelltoday.com/jfkpt109.shtml

He should of won the Medal of Honor....

[Obi Wan Russell]

Here's a slight twist on the subject of British Military, 'MADE IN BRITAIN' and succesfully adopted by others. Our politicians are rubbish, but our designs are world beaters (no harm in a bit of flag waving!)
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7955/araindependenciav105mk7.th.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=araindependenciav105mk7.jpg)http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9256/araveinticincodemayov205me5.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=araveinticincodemayov205me5.jpg)http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2184/bnsminasgeraisa1103ip9.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bnsminasgeraisa1103ip9.jpg)http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2459/hmcsmagnificentcvl2101cy9.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmcsmagnificentcvl2101cy9.jpg)http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1627/hmcsbonaventurecvl2204qi4.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmcsbonaventurecvl2204qi4.jpg)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9613/hmassydneya214exr1703ke8.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmassydneya214exr1703ke8.jpg)http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2759/hmasmelbourner2110xb4.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmasmelbourner2110xb4.jpg)http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1135/insvikrantr1104ud1.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=insvikrantr1104ud1.jpg)http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1695/050925n0000x001malabarhuy7.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=050925n0000x001malabarhuy7.jpg)http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2254/insviraatr2212li7.th.jpg (http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=insviraatr2212li7.jpg)
Flat tops; ARA Idependencia and ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, BNS Minas Gerais, HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Bonaventure,
HMAS Sydney and HMAS Melbourne, INS Vikrant and INS Viraat. Also such British inventions as the Steam Catapult, the Angled Deck, the Deck Approach Landing sight, the Ski-Jump Ramp, the Aircraft Carrier itself!
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5877/baeseaharrierfrs5101to8.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfrs5101to8.jpg)http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2871/mddbaeav8aharrier02wj4.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mddbaeav8aharrier02wj4.jpg)http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9509/mddbaeav8charrier01iz5.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mddbaeav8charrier01iz5.jpg)http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1391/mddbaeav8charrier02qv5.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mddbaeav8charrier02qv5.jpg)http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7150/harav8aspainthailandrl5.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=harav8aspainthailandrl5.jpg)
The Harrier; Indian navy Sea Harrier FRS51, NASA AV-8A, USMC AV-8Cs and Spanish/ Royal Thai Navy EAV-8As
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2686/jas3093um6.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas3093um6.jpg)http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/490/jas3094kq7.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas3094kq7.jpg)http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/117/jas4110fd2.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas4110fd2.jpg)http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6972/jas4111yt6.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jas4111yt6.jpg)http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8941/tav8s808sqrn1.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tav8s808sqrn1.jpg)
Some more shots of Spanish Navy Harriers, all built in Britain.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/3985/eh10145wv6.th.jpg (http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eh10145wv6.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7150/eh10152ry8.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eh10152ry8.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7757/eh10118lgks2.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=eh10118lgks2.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4169/us10104rm4.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=us10104rm4.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1013/westlandmerlinaew01cr6.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=westlandmerlinaew01cr6.jpg)
The Agusta Westland EH-101 Merlin, rapidly becoming one of the world's favourite helicopters, Even the US President is buying them for his personal transport! Also an artists impression of the proposed AEW variant with stub wings for extended range.

[bd popeye]

Nice pictures once again Obi Wan. You are indeed wise as the Jedi Master Yoda has said.

How old is that picture of the Enterprise? 70's or 80's? Since that pic the island was redesigned. And I see A-7's mixed with Tomcats on the flight deck.

[Obi Wan Russell]

The Melbourne pic with the Enterprise in the background is mid 70's by my guess as Melbourne is in her mid 70's configuration with A-4Gs on deck and American style deck markings. Enterprise had her 'facelift' in 79-81 and Melbourne was decommissioned in 1982, so it would have been before that.

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/9706/type82hmsbristold2309ux2.th.jpg (http://img283.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type82hmsbristold2309ux2.jpg)http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/149/type82hmsbristold2310nk7.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type82hmsbristold2310nk7.jpg)http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4630/type82hmsbristold2301ih4.th.jpg (http://img105.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type82hmsbristold2301ih4.jpg)http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7690/type82hmsbristold2302cc5.th.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type82hmsbristold2302cc5.jpg)http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9133/type82hmsbristold2303pq7.th.jpg (http://img200.imageshack.us/my.php?image=type82hmsbristold2303pq7.jpg)
A few shots of a unique ship in the RN, the sole Type 82 destroyer HMS Bristol. Intended as the lead ship of a class of up to eight carrier escorts to accompany the cancelled CVA-01, only Bristol was built as trials ship for the GWS 30 Sea Dart SAM and the IKARA ASW missile. She served in the Falklands and has spent the last decade as a training ship moored off Whale Island in Portsmouth.
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/4725/hawkerhunterga1101oz0.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawkerhunterga1101oz0.jpg)http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/1600/hawkerhunterga1105zb9.th.jpg (http://img64.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawkerhunterga1105zb9.jpg)http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/3508/hunternl5.th.jpg (http://img67.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hunternl5.jpg)http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/197/hawkerhuntert8m06la9.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawkerhuntert8m06la9.jpg)http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2955/hawkerhunterga1111sm6.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawkerhunterga1111sm6.jpg)
The Hawker Hunter. Last of the British Gunfighters. Seat of the pants flying and no radar, no fly by wire, no RIO, and no missiles. Perfect!

[Kampfwagen]

Oh, and Kampfwagen, as to where we get these pictures, all I can say is Seek and ye shall find. Keep your pics coming, all are welcome here. But please, THUMBNAILS! So the pages don't take all day to load!

Argh, the system of that is so irritatingly bonkers for me. I can't get it to work. I realize it is a terrible inconvience, but I will try this time anyway, with an 'experemental' picture.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7238/convoypv8.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=convoypv8.jpg)

Thar we go. That should work.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Well done, but don't forget to tick the box that removes the size/resolution bar from the bottom of the thumbnail. Great shot by the way, really unusual angle. You don't see gunners from this point of view often.
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4871/blackburnbuccaneers216ku8.th.jpg (http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers216ku8.jpg)http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/6614/bucc025draggingthehookonto3wirearkroyalqf8.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bucc025draggingthehookonto3wirearkroy alqf8.jpg)http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/8646/blackburnbuccaneers215vl3.th.jpg (http://img420.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers215vl3.jpg)http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/415/buccoffeaglewaistcatfromfly1withshuttlehittingendm p2.th.jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=buccoffeaglewaistcatfromfly1withshutt lehittingendmp2.jpg)http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/640/bucclaunchoffeaglebowcatfinaldisembarkationxz8.th. jpg (http://img341.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bucclaunchoffeaglebowcatfinaldisembar kationxz8.jpg)
A few shots of my favourite aircraft, the Blackburn Buccaneer S2 in it's natural environment, at sea!
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2686/45133375tx8.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45133375tx8.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8232/blackburnbuccaneers2b02rx5.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b02rx5.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4320/blackburnbuccaneers2b12al7.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b12al7.jpg)http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7715/blackburnbuccaneers2b16xw4.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b16xw4.jpg)http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6177/blackburnbuccaneers2b25rv0.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackburnbuccaneers2b25rv0.jpg)
And some that are, not.
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4416/45133376gd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The final flypast of Buccaneers in 1994 saw the aircraft of 12 and 208sqns repainted to represent all the RAF sqns that had operated the type, but only one Navy sqn (809).

[Obi Wan Russell]

And here's something for landlubbers, the British Army and the Royal Marines.
http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1858/45110998zn0.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45110998zn0.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5954/45114022wu3.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45114022wu3.jpg)http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/4381/45140470lb1.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45140470lb1.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9693/45142222ys4.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45142222ys4.jpg)http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5663/45142319dx3.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45142319dx3.jpg)
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/683/45142956qw3.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45142956qw3.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8503/45143426fs1.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45143426fs1.jpg)http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/8837/45144054ro1.th.jpg (http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45144054ro1.jpg)http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8349/45145091kq5.th.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145091kq5.jpg)http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/709/45145792no6.th.jpg (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145792no6.jpg)
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7066/45145793tf1.th.jpg (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145793tf1.jpg)http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/3301/45145838vx4.th.jpg (http://img208.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145838vx4.jpg)http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4082/45145962ki7.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145962ki7.jpg)http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4354/45145979rs9.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145979rs9.jpg)http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7875/45146009hn9.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45146009hn9.jpg)
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9620/45146026kb5.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45146026kb5.jpg)http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1363/aacorbatlynx1nn5.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aacorbatlynx1nn5.jpg)http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6080/apachesideviewvc3.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=apachesideviewvc3.jpg)http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/457/dmocjmot1060070030038eha9.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dmocjmot1060070030038eha9.jpg)http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/9802/image08hz2.th.jpg (http://img93.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image08hz2.jpg)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4359/lynx09mp8.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lynx09mp8.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8089/45145235fe3.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145235fe3.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8895/45145680jz4.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145680jz4.jpg)http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5613/45145821my6.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145821my6.jpg)http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/4821/45145115az6.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45145115az6.jpg)

[bd popeye]

Royal Marines:confused: :D I was stationed on Diego Garica B.I.O T.( British Indian Ocean Territory) from July '85 until July '86. There was a contigent of Royal Marines there. From what I remember most of them seem to be very aloof and not wanting to deal with Americans...The Top sargent was a very likeable guy however..I still never figured out why those fellows were like that...Oh well...

Nice pictures Obi Wan...

[Obi Wan Russell]

Royal marine not friendly? Surely not! On the other hand, a Rottweiler is quite a fearsome guard dog, but I wouldn't want to pet it...

RMs are usually known as 'Booties', for the same reason US marines are known as 'Leathernecks', apparently a couple of centuries ago around the time some colonnial types were getting a bit uppity, Marines wore very stiff necked uniforms that chafed them so much they ended up with necks resembling boot leather, hence the American nickname leatherneck and it's British equivalent 'Bootneck', which soon became 'Booties' and when all RMs became commandos, 'SuperBooties!'.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Here's a selection of recent Harrier/Sea Harrier pics:
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5049/baeseaharrierfa229ii9.th.jpg (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa229ii9.jpg)http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7682/baeseaharrierfa221yo7.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa221yo7.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1993/baeseaharrierfa224ax5.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa224ax5.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7541/baeseaharrierfa223np1.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa223np1.jpg)http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6857/baeseaharrierfa230jn0.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa230jn0.jpg)
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2014/baeharriergr713ff7.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr713ff7.jpg)http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8818/baeharriergr714rz7.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr714rz7.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5752/baeharriergr715fe0.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr715fe0.jpg)http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6199/baeharriergr720uq5.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr720uq5.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7039/baeharriergr724vw1.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr724vw1.jpg)
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6445/baeharriergr725te5.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr725te5.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9857/baeharriergr726uv9.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr726uv9.jpg)http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2971/baeharriergr729qx4.th.jpg (http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr729qx4.jpg)http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2676/baeharriergr731ej6.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr731ej6.jpg)http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4225/baeharriergr7800sqn01ux8.th.jpg (http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr7800sqn01ux8.jpg)
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1120/baeharriergr7800sqn02nx5.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr7800sqn02nx5.jpg)http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/478/baeharriergr901dw4.th.jpg (http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr901dw4.jpg)http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3899/baeharriergr722as1.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr722as1.jpg)http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8866/baeharriergr723hs7.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriergr723hs7.jpg)http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6499/baeharriert1003dn5.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeharriert1003dn5.jpg)
Good to see High viz markings making a comeback after a couple of decades of drab and lifeless (and very necessary) low viz grey on grey. Also, it's worth noting, as Popeye and Jeff Head have pointed out, how busy and crowded RN flight decks are compared to the Russian Navy's Kuznetzov.

[Obi Wan Russell]

A selection of Tornados, F-3s and GR-1s and 4s:
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1810/panaviatornadof304gl1.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof304gl1.jpg)http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5563/panaviatornadof305mo3.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof305mo3.jpg)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7809/panaviatornadof308gr3.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof308gr3.jpg)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5457/panaviatornadof309mi5.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof309mi5.jpg)http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5392/panaviatornadof303kk2.th.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof303kk2.jpg)
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5379/panaviatornadogr101mm8.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadogr101mm8.jpg)http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/796/panaviatornadogr102oz8.th.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadogr102oz8.jpg)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1834/panaviatornadogr103ze7.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadogr103ze7.jpg)http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3008/panaviatornadof310ng1.th.jpg (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof310ng1.jpg)http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8923/panaviatornadof307rh6.th.jpg (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=panaviatornadof307rh6.jpg)

[Obi Wan Russell]

Rumours that British Aircraft have to be sponsored by private companies because of defence cuts have been vigorously denied by the MOD...
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8029/dhseavixend317bl9.th.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend317bl9.jpg)http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5104/dhseavixend318bl7.th.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend318bl7.jpg)http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/511/dhseavixend319jq7.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend319jq7.jpg)http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/53/dhseavixend320cd6.th.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend320cd6.jpg)http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7858/dhseavixend321si3.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend321si3.jpg)
...But at least it means better looking ground crew!
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4886/dhseavixend301ol9.th.jpg (http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend301ol9.jpg)http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4978/dhseavixend303fr3.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend303fr3.jpg)http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7188/dhseavixend305ll8.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend305ll8.jpg)http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5475/dhseavixend306bc0.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixend306bc0.jpg)http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1571/dhseavixenfaw223ex1.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dhseavixenfaw223ex1.jpg)
Mind you, the previous colour scheme of this particular plane (a DeHavilland Sea Vixen D3) wasn't much better! I personally prefer the original colours (end pic) and it's a pity the owners of this historic plane can't keep her in the air in her original scheme.

[bd popeye]

Nice pictures Obi Wan!

Do the little "birdies" come with the aircraft?:D ..Very nice indeed!;)

[Obi Wan Russell]

A few lastshots of the much loved Sea Harrier F/A-2, sacrificed on the politicians altar, gone before her time. The Last British Fighter Aircraft, and still the best.
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/3552/45146260dj6.th.jpg (http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45146260dj6.jpg)http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2680/baeseaharrierfa241to5.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa241to5.jpg)http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2112/baeseaharrierfa242qu3.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa242qu3.jpg)http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/3586/baeseaharrierfa243kx7.th.jpg (http://img400.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa243kx7.jpg)http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/761/baeseaharrierfa244cf4.th.jpg (http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baeseaharrierfa244cf4.jpg)
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/8762/45108414ni4.th.jpg (http://img60.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45108414ni4.jpg)http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7889/45108672av6.th.jpg (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45108672av6.jpg)http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3692/45137758mv5.th.jpg (http://img133.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45137758mv5.jpg)http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/8676/45137774fj4.th.jpg (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45137774fj4.jpg)http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3011/45138681gx8.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45138681gx8.jpg)

[FuManChu]

Nice pictures Obi Wan!

Do the little "birdies" come with the aircraft?:D ..Very nice indeed!;)

Not if you're American - they're for Brits only. :p

[Obi Wan Russell]

RFA Argus, Britains 'Fifth Carrier', which can carry up to twelve Harriers as well as a sqn of Merlins. The forward superstructure is less of an impediment to STOVL operations than it appears: Harriers can launch off the stern facing aft!
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3148/45142491en1.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45142491en1.jpg)http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4073/45142861ba9.th.jpg (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45142861ba9.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2398/45144691lt7.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45144691lt7.jpg)http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5827/mvcontenderbezantxn5.th.jpg (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mvcontenderbezantxn5.jpg)http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/293/rfaargusa13501tu6.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13501tu6.jpg)
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/527/rfaargusa13503hh1.th.jpg (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13503hh1.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8411/rfaargusa13504xj9.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13504xj9.jpg)http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2076/rfaargusa13505ft9.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13505ft9.jpg)http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/130/rfaargusa13506sf3.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13506sf3.jpg)http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4721/rfaargusa13507rn9.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13507rn9.jpg)

[TerraN_EmpirE]

I figured that we should get some of the British Army in here too.
What Kind of gun is that?
http://images.theglobeandmail.com/archives/RTGAM/images/20030322/wmain0322/1britishtroops.jpg

You asked no one answered so here's the answer. It's a L7A2 that's the bristish designation for the FN MAG known to Americans as the M240 it's a 7.62 nato GPMG general purpose machine gun they are found in infantry and mounted both on or in vehicles. reliable tough and proven

[Obi Wan Russell]

Some pics of British 'Aviation Support Ships', to use modern parlance.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9120/rfaargusa13512hr4.th.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaargusa13512hr4.jpg)http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6655/hmslofotenk0701br9.th.jpg (http://img174.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmslofotenk0701br9.jpg)http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5923/mvastronomerho7.th.jpg (http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mvastronomerho7.jpg)http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/268/rfarelianta131as0.th.jpg (http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfarelianta131as0.jpg)http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2550/rfaengadinek0801fc9.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfaengadinek0801fc9.jpg)
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/3759/rfareliant0001la6.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfareliant0001la6.jpg)http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8827/rfareliant0002em9.th.jpg (http://img166.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfareliant0002em9.jpg)http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/3247/rfareliant0003sm9.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rfareliant0003sm9.jpg)http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/351/45139313tm4.th.jpg (http://img71.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45139313tm4.jpg)http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7788/45144734el8.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45144734el8.jpg)
The last two pics show the large hangar and flightdeck fitted to RFAs Fort Victoria and Fort George which can accomodatebetween four to six helos, and when deployed with an Invincible class carrier provides a home for that CVs ASW helo squadron, leaving more space on the carrier for fixed wing operations.

[FuManChu]

This isn't a picture, but I think it's an interesting short video on the Seawolf missile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6pwSTZtI7M&mode=related&search=

[Obi Wan Russell]

Seawolf may be short ranged, but it is extremely accurate and reliable. The kind of wepon system that gives attackers sleepless nights...

[FuManChu]

Seawolf may be short ranged, but it is extremely accurate and reliable. The kind of wepon system that gives attackers sleepless nights...

Seawolf is quite a nice little system all-in-all. And as it is designed for point-defence the fact it doesn't have long-range isn't a problem, as it has a shorter minimum range than say the Aster-15.

It's also just been upgraded to "Block 2", starting from last year. I'm not quite sure what that entails, but apparently they've used chips from the Aster missiles to upgrade it, amongst other things.

[Kampfwagen]

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/919/brmtraining22na1.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brmtraining22na1.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6218/brmtraining2yd1.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brmtraining2yd1.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5932/brmtraining4gw9.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brmtraining4gw9.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5782/brmtraining5um3.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brmtraining5um3.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/645/brmtraining7yc8.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brmtraining7yc8.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7712/brmtraining8nc7.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brmtraining8nc7.jpg)

More pictures of the 'Booties', this time training on Cyprus.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2921/aausizedec5.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aausizedec5.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8158/aalsizedum1.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aalsizedum1.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/171/aamvc3.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aamvc3.jpg)http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1087/abssizedij8.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=abssizedij8.jpg)http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/668/limagerapall11pv1.th.jpg (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=limagerapall11pv1.jpg)http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7840/commandoqu8.th.jpg (http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=commandoqu8.jpg)

First four are of British Army guys in Northern Ireland in the early ninties. The next two are miscelaneous pictures of the Royal Marines/Commandos.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Great Pics! Glad to see you got the hang of thumbnails too. Those 'Down the Barrel' shots are what the Taliban get to see just before they get to meet those 72 virgins...

[Kampfwagen]

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2341/vulcanplanview640pixcm7.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vulcanplanview640pixcm7.jpg)http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1807/vulcan5oj3.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vulcan5oj3.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8917/forsgrenvulcan2qo7.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=forsgrenvulcan2qo7.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6021/vulcan3kr3.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vulcan3kr3.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5783/vulcanvo9.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vulcanvo9.jpg)

Pictures of the 'Tin Triangle', the Avro Vulcan. Most famous for the Black Duck Raid.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1148/chal10so5.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chal10so5.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/1324/challenger2hi9.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenger2hi9.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4480/challenger2mainbattletankiraqwarukbritish05sj9.th. jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=challenger2mainbattletankiraqwarukbri tish05sj9.jpg)http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/538/b981029piy7.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b981029piy7.jpg)

First three are of the Challenger 2 MBT. The fourth is a member of the crew of a Challenger 1 circa 96' preparing for night-watch.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Pictures of the 'Tin Triangle', the Avro Vulcan. Most famous for the Black Duck Raid.


I think you'll find that was 'Black Buck' not Duck! Great pics though. There were five Black Buck missions, three dropping 21 1,000lb bombs on Port Stanley Airport and two anti radar Shrike missile missions. The result of which was only one bomb hit on the runway at Stanley (quickly repaired) and enough fuel burnt by the Victor Tankers as well as the Vulcans to fly round the world for months!

The Vulcan was a very capable aircraft, but the missions had little chance of success using 'dumb' bombs and were mounted mainly because the RAF was feeling left out of the Falklands war. I've seen the Vulcan at air shows and it is an awesome performer, especially when it flies at low level along the crowd line, pulls up slowly and at the point of stalling opens its throttles full! The first time I saw that manouver I was stood two miles away and couldn't hear a word said to me, it was so loud! I know I am not alone in hoping XH558 is returned to flight soon so more people can witness the power of this amazing bird where it belongs,- in the air.

[Kampfwagen]

Gah. I thought that is what I saw on Wikipedia...Yet another reason not to entirely trust that site. :rofl:

What I DO know is that the Vulcan was one of Britian's first 'Cold War' bombers, carrying a 'Gravity Bomb' before the United States had all the kinks in the Hydrogen bomb worked out.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Gah. I thought that is what I saw on Wikipedia...Yet another reason not to entirely trust that site. :rofl:

What I DO know is that the Vulcan was one of Britian's first 'Cold War' bombers, carrying a 'Gravity Bomb' before the United States had all the kinks in the Hydrogen bomb worked out.

Indeed. The Vulcan was one of three 'V-Bombers' developed for the RAF in the late 40s /early 50s, the others being the Vickers Valiant (the first in service in 1955 and the only British Bomber to drop live nuclear weapons during A-bomb and H-bomb tests), the Handley Page Victor (in service 1958, retired after the Gulf War in the early 90s) and the Avro Vulcan itself which entered service in 1957 and was in the process of being replaced by the Tornado when the Falklands war gave it a last chance for glory. The Valiant was withdrawn from service in 1965 shortly after being switched from high level to low level bombing after cracks were discovered in the airframes. The Victor was already in the process of being refitted as tankers and the Nuclear Deterrent role was handed over to the Royal Navy's Polaris Submarines in 1969. A single Vulcan (XH558) was kept flying for display purposes until the early 90s when it was retired for financial reasons, but a private organisation is trying to raise funds to complete the refit of the aircraft to restore it to flight worthy condition. Fingers crossed...
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/49/45133306yn3.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=45133306yn3.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/7119/hpvictork202wn0.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpvictork202wn0.jpg)http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2388/hpvictork206vu8.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpvictork206vu8.jpg)http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5656/hpvictork204tz1.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpvictork204tz1.jpg)http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5772/hpvictork205ck7.th.jpg (http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hpvictork205ck7.jpg)
The Handley Page Victor, which spent much of it's service life as the RAF's primary air refuelling tanker.

[Obi Wan Russell]

HMS Ark Royal has just completed her refit at Rosyth and has returned to sea:
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/633/hmsarkroyalr0729zp2.th.png (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0729zp2.png)http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2497/hmsarkroyalr0730ra6.th.png (http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0730ra6.png)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1739/hmsarkroyalr0731bj4.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0731bj4.jpg)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/859/hmsarkroyalr0734ut7.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0734ut7.jpg)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3320/hmsarkroyalr0735ee5.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hmsarkroyalr0735ee5.jpg)http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/9013/dockbottomji8.th.jpg (http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dockbottomji8.jpg)
And on the subject of Arks, here's something that has been doing the rounds:
In 2006, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in England, and said; “Once Again, the Earth has become wicked and over populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of every living thing, along with a few good Humans.”

He gave Noah the CAD drawings, saying “You have six months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for forty days and forty nights.”

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard – but no Ark. “Noah!” he roared, “I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?”

“Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “But things have changed. I need Buildings Regulations Approval because the Ark is over 30m2. I’ve been arguing with the Fire Brigade about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbours claim I should have obtained planning permission prior to building the Ark in my garden because it is a development of the site even though in my view it is a temporary structure, but the roof is too high. I had to appeal to the secretary of state.

Getting the wood was another problem. All the decent trees have Tree preservation Orders on them and we live in a Site of Special Scientific Interest set up in order to protect the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls – but no go!

When I started gathering the animals, the RSPCA sued me. They insisted I was confining wild animals against their will. Then the County Council, the Environment Agency and the Rivers Authority ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they had conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission on how many BMEs I’m supposed to hire for my building team.

The Trades Unions say I can’t use my sons. They insist I hire only CSCS accredited workers with Ark-building experience.

So, forgive me Lord, but it would take at least ten years for me to finish this Ark.”

Suddenly, the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder, and asked; “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?”

“No,” said the Lord. “The Government already beat me to it.”

[Finn McCool]

Good story Obi wan:rofl:

[Kampfwagen]

LMAO! Great story! :rofl:

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4166/rncarrierforcethreegenerationsum7.png (http://imageshack.us)
Further to my 'doodling' in the Aircraft carriers thread, here is a 'then, now and soon' picture of the RNs carrier force.

[Obi Wan Russell]

Can't leave anything alone for long... must be the engineer in me. Tweaked the above picture a little:
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/5121/rncarrierforcethreegeneld7.th.png (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rncarrierforcethreegeneld7.png)

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/391/ark068301xk2.th.jpg (http://img359.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ark068301xk2.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5143/ark068515yv0.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ark068515yv0.jpg)http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/981/arkapache1ss2.th.jpg (http://img455.imageshack.us/my.php?image=arkapache1ss2.jpg)http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/3575/arkapache2qm4.th.jpg (http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=arkapache2qm4.jpg)http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1838/fx061120a017ml8.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fx061120a017ml8.jpg)
Ark Royal enters indian territory! Some pics of recent trials of Army Air Corps AgustaWestland WAH-64D Apache Longbow from 667sqn aboard HMS Ark Royal showing the new folding rotor blades for ease of stowage aboard ships.

[FuManChu]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/WesSafari/DauntlessBow19-12-2006.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56/WesSafari/DauntlessPQ19-12-2006.jpg

HMS Dauntless last month. She's the second in the Daring-class and is scheduled to be launched in two weeks!

The photographer in question gets some great shots of ships on the Clyde - shame he doesn't have a website that hosts his pictures.

[COLzaw68]

Indeed. The Vulcan was one of three 'V-Bombers' developed for the RAF in the late 40s /early 50s, the others being the Vickers Valiant (the first in service in 1955 and the only British Bomber to drop live nuclear weapons during A-bomb and H-bomb tests), the Handley Page Victor (in service 1958, retired after the Gulf War in the early 90s) and the Avro Vulcan itself which entered service in 1957 and was in the process of being replaced by the Tornado when the Falklands war gave it a last chance for glory. The Valiant was withdrawn from service in 1965 shortly after being switched from high level to low level bombing after cracks were discovered in the airframes. The Victor was already in the process of being refitted as tankers and the Nuclear Deterrent role was handed over to the Royal Navy's Polaris Submarines in 1969. A single Vulcan (XH558) was kept flying for display purposes until the early 90s when it was retired for financial reasons, but a private organisation is trying to raise funds to complete the refit of the aircraft to restore it to flight worthy condition. Fingers crossed...

thanks to all those who upload RAF and UK airforces images,
I have never seen all UK military hardwares before surfing this forum.
Burma airforce got 2nos/ B2n islanders aircraft via India airforce.,I think that Burmese want to use these planes for offshore survilliance /B2N Islanders were produced in late of 1960...UK warns to India not to transfer these aircrafts because of sanction &embargo to burmese is still running.

For UK made aircrafts are poor in design but best in performance and very effective.Eg;Vulcan bomber DESIGN is very bad to see but its funtion may be better than russian bombers.

British are always becareful in safety ,comfort,performance,these are UK pratices...Eg:Taxi in UK are old design but passenger with baggages or family
can be ride very comfortable.!st I think that UK taxi are why so poor before I had not been to UK .I like verymuch after ride only one time,it was from waterloo station to ecesslton square hotel.Amazing...I love london taxi and
english girls??????????;) :rofl: :rofl:


So.i believe that UK weapons or aircraft must be perfect in funtions....
I'll never decide without study in practically for UK products and the design or good looking are not important for UK products.


But,German products are not only in design but also in performance.
So If I am director of procurement(defence ministry) I will choose germany and england made Tanks,some bombers,blowpipe SAM,germany made rifle,artillery,tanks to airdefence system.

let me see more UK germany weapons images.....thanks

[FuManChu]

http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2007/0701/0701_images/0007010901ax.jpg

The most up-to-date picture I have seen so far - launch on Tuesday!

[Obi Wan Russell]

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/1056/daringindrydockfi3.th.jpg (http://img403.imageshack.us/my.php?image=daringindrydockfi3.jpg)http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5331/dauntlessanddaringindrypi5.th.jpg (http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dauntlessanddaringindrypi5.jpg)http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7434/dauntlessindrydocklm0.th.jpg (http://img122.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dauntlessindrydocklm0.jpg)
Some more Type 45 under construction pics.

[bd popeye]

1) A British Royal Air Force (RAF) GR-4 Tornado fighter-bomber aircraft takes off from Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska (AK), (Released to Public) Location: EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA (AK) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) DoD photo by: SMSGT CHRIS DRUDGE, USAF

2) Three Royal British Army (UK) Soldiers armed with 5.56mm M16A2 rifles, assigned with the British Royal Gurkha Rifles, monitor activities around the Coalition Provisional Authority compound in Baghdad, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Pictured left-to-right are Mr. Tej Bahadur, Mr. Gopal Gurung, and Mr. Chitra Bahadur Chhetri. (Released to Public)
DoD photo by: SSGT QUINTON RUSS, USAF

3) Armed with Enfield L85A1 automatic rifles, members of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, British Army, demonstrate vehicle checkpoint security for the Marines at landing strip Viper, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. (Released to Public) DoD photo by: SGT MAURICIO CAMPINO, USMC

4) A British Light Armored Field Radar Vehicle Transportpanzer 1 Carrier sits at a Living Support Area (LSA) belonging to Regimental Combat Team 5, in Kuwait (KWT), during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. (Released to Public)
DoD photo by: SGT KEVIN R. REED, USMC

5) A British FV432 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) visits Camp Coyote during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. (Released to Public) DoD photo by: SGT PAUL L. ANSTINE II, USMC

Nice pics huh???. go here and type in your search!

http://www.defenselink.mil/multimedia/

[FuManChu]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/cyrilranch/DaringonthemovebyLesleyWild-3.jpg

HMS Daring fitted out, heading off for sea trials.

[bd popeye]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i258/cyrilranch/DaringonthemovebyLesleyWild-3.jpg

HMS Daring fitted out, heading off for sea trials.

This is awesome to see HMS Daring going to sea. Fair winds and folling seas to the RN. I pray this ship lives up to the hype...Unilke the USN USS San Antonio LPD-17 which is beset by problems...

[FuManChu]

This is awesome to see HMS Daring going to sea. Fair winds and folling seas to the RN. I pray this ship lives up to the hype...Unkile the USN USS San Antonio LPD-17 which is beset by problems...

Hey, Popeye, you'd better not jinx it! Otherwise you might wake up one morning to see a Sea Dart coming towards your bedroom window. :nono: :D

Though I am sorry to hear about the USS Antonio. Can the DoD force the contractors to fix the work for not too much more money, or did they get someone else to sort it out?

[bd popeye]

Though I am sorry to hear about the USS Antonio. Can the DoD force the contractors to fix the work for not too much more money, or did they get someone else to sort it out?

I don't think the USN can do more than gripe. They did take delivery of the ship and the ship passed sea trails...:(

Read about the woes of LPD-17 in this link;

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=122873&ran=35858

[FuManChu]

I don't think the USN can do more than gripe. They did take delivery of the ship and the ship passed sea trails...

Oh, so they can't claim because the ship is now having trouble? I don't know how it works with military vessels, but in the UK any work/product has to last a reasonable amount of time and be carried out with all necessary skill and care. You can't avoid that by having any disclaimers or refusal of warranty.

Thanks for the link.

[bd popeye]

Reguarding the LPD-17. I'm sure there are warranty issues that the builder and sub-contractors will take care of..
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Great Picture of the Royal Navy's HMS Daring

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/1038/hmsdaringroyalnavycf2.jpg

[FuManChu]

http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/content_image/bae_cimg_sfs_type_45_daring.jpg

This has to be the best picture I have seen yet of HMS Daring!!! :)

[Obi Wan Russell]

Here's a quick doodle of how a CTOL CVF might look. Fingers crossed for some of us...
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/6936/cvfoct04ctolaig6.th.jpg (http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cvfoct04ctolaig6.jpg)

[bd popeye]

I found these pics of HMS Daring on SKY News web site...

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/b850be43e279fcc045cb4ddad29ed309.gifhttp://www.dezh.de/imghosting/37a2f0fca7f65c5840dcdb57c0275903.gif

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/90bd076543456ef57f701800c315e441.gifhttp://www.dezh.de/imghosting/a1a2a8e0c9b5d864be14e5c548181ebf.gif

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/20a319fd6c91d6d37bb9874f960751b9.gifhttp://www.dezh.de/imghosting/221fdfb39d60340996f32d72ca9c60cd.gif

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/0f087cedaf87825c3c97b1af01f2d956.gifhttp://www.dezh.de/imghosting/e0b2ba5c426530d6c20083a40c76c4fa.gif

[FuManChu]

She really is a handsome ship. I honestly can't remember the last time I thought that about a warship in the last few years.

[bd popeye]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7549/46443026vd9.jpg

British soldiers keep guard near the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday Aug. 25, 2007. A suicide car bomber attacked a convoy carrying foreigners near the Afghan capital Saturday, wounding two foreigners and four Afghans, officials said. (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooya)

[bd popeye]

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/lancero_casa/outubro/6193b62c.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/lancero_casa/outubro/8b765be6.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/lancero_casa/outubro/3985cdd5.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/lancero_casa/outubro/4c7ef759.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/lancero_casa/outubro/15f8693a.jpg

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s111/lancero_casa/outubro/57531612.jpg

British soldiers tie a damaged US military vehicle to a truck after a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 06 October 2007. A suicide bomber rammed his explosive-filled car into a US military convoy in Kabul killing six people, including a US soldier. The suicide attack was the third by the Taliban militants since 29 September to hit Kabul which has targeted the Afghan army and police and claimed more than 40 lives

[FuManChu]

We've got your back, Popeye. :)

[bd popeye]

We've got your back, Popeye. :)

Thanks Fu! And we have your back!...Don't even think about it...:nono::nutkick::nono:

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/95f08ec844ab82a32b0938d175586789.jpg

Lord Louis Mountbatten of the Royal Navy, and USS Enterprise CV-6 Captain George Murray on the Big E's bridge, 25 September 1941.

[bd popeye]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior02.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior03.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior04.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior05.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior06.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior08.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior09.jpg

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/Scorchi0/warrior10.jpg

British Forces on duty!

[Obi Wan Russell]

No one who has seen a vulcan at an air show will ever forget it; the first time I saw one was at the age of 16 when my Dad took me to the Hurn air show at Bournemouth airport. Towards the end of the show we were starting to walk back to the car and when we were about a half mile from the display line the Vulcan started it's act: the manouver I remember most was when it flew down the display line slowly, turned away from us and climbed slowly and steeply; when it seemed it was about to stall in middair the pilots opened the throttles full and the roar was second only to the space shuttle for volume! At a half mile distance I couldn't hear a word my Dad was shouting at me from two feet away! Those four RR Olympus engines are similar to the four that powered concorde to Mach two and the four that push an Invincible class carrier around at 28 knots. If anyone out there gets a chance to see this amazing aircraft at an airshow, don't pass up the opportunity, you will not be disappointed!

[planeman]

14 years??!!!???? I feel old. Most awesome plane ever, anyone who's seen one live will agree. Makes the B-52 look extremely dull.

[bd popeye]

14 years??!!!???? I feel old. Most awesome plane ever, anyone who's seen one live will agree. Makes the B-52 look extremely dull.

Most awesome ever??? "B-52 dull"..Hummph:confused:

Recently I saw a program on the military chanell about the top 10 bombers of all time..The B-52 was number one...Vulcan?? Did not make the list..

http://military.discovery.com/convergence/topten/topten.html

1. B-52
2. B-2
3. B-29
4. De Havilland Mosquito
5. Arvo Lancaster
6. B-47 Stratojet
7. Tupelov Tu-95 "Bear"
8. Junkers Ju-88
9. Handley Page 0/100
10. B-17

Hey don't shoot the messanger!..Just their military.com opinions...Yest they do have a bias.....

If anyone wants to argue these selection please feel free To start a thread on this subject of top bombers of all time. Thanks!

[bd popeye]

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/63963188197d9fbf426cf70e1a4deaf7.jpg

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/1e208fb6aa88b0056dd8c6e480906758.jpg

http://www.dezh.de/imghosting/e4ca3675c0db9376751e64c122df6471.jpg

A British soldier secures the area outside where Iraqi soldiers hold an opening ceremony for the 14th Iraqi Army Division headquarters in the southern city of Basra, 07 November 2007. The 14th Iraqi army division includes counts 1,500 soldiers according to military sources. London, which was the key ally in the US-led invasion of March 2003, plans to reduce its military presence in Iraq by 1,000 to 4,500 troops by Ch