Aircraft Carriers III
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Without check in details...I see UK but not sure 2+ CV capable host jets Ark Royal yes and also i think Eagle but a 3rd close Bulwark ? only helo carriers IIRC.
In 1950, 60s have more than 2 with propeller planes.
But a matter for Obi Wan Russell
The
The RN did have HMS Victorious which after re-construction was capable of carrying a similar air wing as Ark Royal & Eagle. She was however a member of the Illustrious class, unlike Ark Royal & Eagle which were members of the Audacious class. I'm sure that Obi Wan can add more details.
Without check in details...I see UK but not sure 2+ CV capable host jets Ark Royal yes and also i think Eagle but a 3rd close Bulwark ? only helo carriers IIRC.
In 1950, 60s have more than 2 with propeller planes.
But a matter for Obi Wan Russell
The RN did have HMS Victorious which after re-construction was capable of carrying a similar air wing as Ark Royal & Eagle. She was however a member of the Illustrious class, unlike Ark Royal & Eagle which were members of the Audacious class. I'm sure that Obi Wan can add more details.
Now THAT is what I am talking about my friend.
CDG with 24 Rafales aboard and ready for action.
GREAT stuff.
No other carrier as powerful right now other than US super carriers.
When the QE come out, once they are loaded up with 30 F-35Bs, perhaps they may be considered more powerful...but then again, they do not have the E-2 Hawkeye.
Anyhow, thanks for that pic!
During the 1960s the RN fielded 5 CTOL carriers plus two LPH commando Carrier conversions, HMS Eagle R05, HMS Ark Royal R09, HMS Victorious R38, HMS Hermes R12 and HMS Centaur R06. The two Commando Carriers were of course Centaur's sisters HMS Albion R07 and HMS Bulwark R08. For spurious political reasons the RN's carrier force was prematurely run down without replacement (mostly) so that it shrank to one CTOL carrier from 72-78 and two LPHs for most of the 70s.Without check in details...I see UK but not sure 2+ CV capable host jets Ark Royal yes and also i think Eagle but a 3rd close Bulwark ? only helo carriers IIRC.
In 1950, 60s have more than 2 with propeller planes.
But a matter for Obi Wan Russell
Centaur paid off into reserve 1966 used as accommodation ship for carriers in refit until 1972 then scrapped.
Victorious decommissioned after a small fire during refit in 1967, scrapped 1969
Hermes withdrawn as a fixed wing carrier 1970; converted to LPH 1971-73. switched to CVS 1977 fitted with ski jump ramp 1980-81. Paid off 1984, sold to India 1986, finally paid off 2016!
Eagle paid off early January 1972 (had been due to serve until 1984). scrapped 1978
Albion Paid off 1973 as there was only enough money to run two LPHs and the Navy wanted to keep Hermes (newer ship). Sold for commercial use with the North Sea Oil Industry but scrapped months later when deal fell through.
Ark Royal paid off February 1979 without CTOL replacement, scrapped November 1980.
Bulwark paid off into reserve 1976, reactivated as ASW carrier 1978-79 to bring RN carrier force level back up to three ships (with Hermes and the newly completed Invincible). Paid off march 1981 as part of defence cuts. Scrapped 1984.
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Question..what will the QE use for AEW?... Perhaps Westland WS-61 Sea King as modified for AEW???
To see especialy for French with a surprise... but the more intresting are militaries capacities, power dépends CAW, aviation facilities and much also logistic, ammmos, fuel quantities we see it also after.
Project CROWSNEST (quite apt for shipboard AEW?) will involve fitting upgraded Searchwater radars (based on those used by the current Sea King ASaC7s of 849NAS) to Merlin HM2s, in fact the system will be modular and can be installed on any of the HM2 fleet as required, presumably to simplify fleet maintenance. 849NAS will operate the aircraft allocated to AEW on the new carriers. The current Sea Kings have been extended beyond the planned OSD of 2016 for at least a couple of years to maintain the capability until the new Merlins are ready, but are unlikely to deploy aboard 'Big Liz' themselves.
