SinoDefence Forum

Scratch · 06-12-2010

Some days ago the CdG and Harry Truman practiced combined ops to improve interoperability between the french and US navy. Rafales & Hornets were doing Touch & Gos on the other carrier. One Rafale actually landed on the Truman and had an engine replace in the Hanger for the first time, with machinery previously transfered from the CdG.

bd popeye · 07-15-2010

Oh my of my! This once very popular thread has been dormant for nearly a month..here's a few pix of the USN ex-USS New Orleans LPH-11 being sunk as a target. Be sure to read the caption & check out the hi-res links!

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Quote:

Ex-USS New Orleans served in the United States Navy between 1968 and 1997. The ship was used for high end multi-national target practice during Exercise RIMPAC 2010, being fired upon by Harpoon missiles, laser guided bombs and finally a barrage of naval gun fire from eight ships. (Australian Defense Forces photos/Released)

tomcat21 · 07-15-2010

I remember my dad deploying on that ship in the 80's. She looked very good in San Diego harbor back then! Man this makes me feel old! LOL! I had no idea she became a target ship! Rest in peace NEW ORLEANS! You were a great ship. And the first carrier I ever went on!

As for my question to the board, any new updates on BOTH of INDIA's Carrier programs? Any new photos or postings? I am eager to see what progress they have made!

Plus has anyone found out what happened to Sao Paulo of Brazil? What is her new armament outfitting and has she any new deployment photos?

bd popeye · 07-15-2010

Tomcat..I'll look into your questions tomorrow!

bd popeye · 07-18-2010

Tomcat, the San Paulo is in port and the Brazilians plan on using it..So it's a wait and see..

The Indian's are still waiting for the Russians to deliver their refurbished CV and the steel was cut some time ago for their indigenous design.. There are some pictures in this thread.

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Follow this link for some photos of the HMS Ark Royal in a recent deployment off the US Carolina coast!

British Military Pictures Thread

bd popeye · 07-20-2010

Beautiful cutaways of the RN CVF HMS Queen Elizabeth. Enjoy!

Obi Wan, Mr T and all CV fans..what do you think???

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/6803/hms1k.jpg

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7190/hms2.jpg

Scratch · 07-26-2010

Some good news for the RN. The MoD is indeed spending money on the development of an EMCAT. That is in case the F-35B buy doesn't go ahead, or other A/C are to be operated.
So if the money is already being spent on development, why not just put the cats on the ship right away? I can't imagine two operating systems are that expensive to buy and operate, when they are already developed.
And what's the price difference between the -B and -C model anyway, I'd guess that the -C might actually be cheaper / less maintanance intensive.
And then, with a CAT installed, wich seems a pretty minor thing from here on, why still buy any -Bs at all?
Could the RN be interested in SuperHornets or Rafalés? I don't really think so. It's all following some wiered logic here, IMO.
And maybe they'll also operate Hawkeyes at some point.

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jn...0726_1_n.shtml

Converteam develops catapult launch system for UK carriers

By Tim Fish - 26 July 2010

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing in the development of an electromagnetic catapult system for the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers in case procurement of the F-35B short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter is abandoned.

Power conversion specialist Converteam UK announced on 20 July that in 2009 it was awarded a GBP650,000 (USD1 million) follow-on contract to continue the design, development and demonstration of high-power electrical systems for its EMCAT (electro-magnetic catapult) system and that work on the contract was nearing completion.

The naval director at Converteam UK, Mark Dannatt, told Jane's on 22 July that a small-scale EMCAT system had been completed in 2007 to prove the operation of modern linear motor, energy stores and control systems. Since then, extensive testing of the system has been successfully undertaken, as well as further work at the request of the MoD to enable Converteam UK to scale the system up to a full-size catapult suitable for the RN's new aircraft carriers.

"The EMCAT is designed to fit in the space envelope that has been allowed within the aircraft carrier for a catapult. The intention of building and designing a small electromagnetic catapult and then developing the technology so that it could be scaled up was always a de-risking exercise in case the MoD did not choose the STOVL aircraft or it was considered necessary to launch other types of aircraft from these ships. The option would then exist to fit a catapult and operate conventional carrier-borne aircraft," Dannatt said.

tomcat21 · 07-26-2010

I would like to see their decks filled with not only Super Hornets, but also Growlers, and Hawkeye's. That way they'll be completely able to operate with U.S. carrier airwings and French airwings! Its time for the RN to own its planes and keep the RAF away!

Mr T · 07-30-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by bd popeye

Beautiful cutaways of the RN CVF HMS Queen Elizabeth. Enjoy!

Thanks, very nice indeed!

It will be interesting to see whether Harriers or Tornadoes are retired early. It would make sense for it to be the latter, given that it would save more money and allow the RN to keep the experience of operating fighters. No point in having carriers (which we will do, they're well under construction) if you can't fly birds off them!

Obi Wan Russell · 4 Weeks Ago

More CVF pics released into the wild!

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bd popeye · 4 Weeks Ago

I really like these RN CVFs. They will be very capable..

I'm curious though.. With a crew of only 1,500(600 ships company) including air group how will they keep it clean? A smaller crew will mean less clutter and dirt but still..take it from me ships get dirty..

Obi Wan Russell · 4 Weeks Ago

Re: cleaning the ship.

I remember reading a book about HMS Hermes which, during the 70s was converted from a fixed wing strike carrier to a Commando Carrier (LPH). After a few years she was re roled to ASW which basically meant swapping troop carrying Wessex helos for sonar equipped Sea Kings. One senior member of the crew remarked on the change of role, that he would "Miss those 800 strong cleaning parties we used to embark..." The new carriers are designed to act as Commando Carriers as well (I prefer the term to the rather sterile LPH) and can do so at the same time as operating at least part of the regular air group. My gut feeling is the ships will often deploy in such manner, part Strike carrier and part Commando carrier, so that should trouble brew whilst out on deployment they are ready for whatever eventuality. If the carrier is required for the strike role then the Booties can disembark to other ships of the task force and then back to the UK, or vice versa the Fixed wing aircraft can disembark to make more room for Booties, Wokkas and Junglies. In the meantime they can cruise the oceans in multi role format delivering a lot of (varying varieties of) Bang for the Bucks!

The RN has been moving to a different model of manning for some decades now, with tasks such as deep cleaning of the ship subcontracted out to private companies who 'blitz' the ship whenever it comes into port. The crew still carries out day to day cleaning but the long term burden is reduced. A lot of forward planning goes into this sort of thing, in terms of the ships design itself so that large areas can be cleaned by as few people as can be spared. Heck, when I was much younger (21) I worked for a few months as a school cleaner, and I was responsible for cleaning a huge two storey block and only had two hours to do it each night. This is the 21st Century after all, you don't scrub floors by hand!

A few more pics, plus for comparison a recent pic of the USS gerald Ford under construction in the US:

bd popeye · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

The RN has been moving to a different model of manning for some decades now, with tasks such as deep cleaning of the ship subcontracted out to private companies who 'blitz' the ship whenever it comes into port. The crew still carries out day to day cleaning but the long term burden is reduced.

Thanks Obi Wan..you are indeed wise as Yoda has foretold..

I know that some of the mundane work on board USN ships when in their homeport is done by civilian contractors. This has been on going for more than 10 years. By mundane work I mean Mess attendents, working parties to on load stores.

bd popeye · 4 Weeks Ago

Many nations would love to have just one of these beauties!

Download HiRes

Quote:

SEA OF JAPAN (July 27, 2010) The Republic of Korea Navy amphibious landing ship ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111) is underway in the Sea of Japan with the guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93). The Republic of Korea and the United States are conducting the combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise "Invincible Spirit" in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010. This is the first in a series of joint military exercises that will occur over the coming months. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas/Released)

Mr T · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by bd popeye

Many nations would love to have just one of these beauties!

I wonder how many more years it will be before Japan and South Korea start building aircraft carriers. It won't be in the immediate future, but maybe 10-15 years?

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Aircraft Carriers II

Aircraft Carriers II

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