Aircraft Carriers III

gelgoog said:

The QE class design was intended to be able to be built with either catapults or not because the design was supposed to be shared with the French. The French wanted the catapults. The UK was supposed to operate the F-35B so they did not want the catapults. From what I understand once they started cutting metal it became impossible to retrofit the catapults into it. There was talk about building the Prince of Wales with catapults so they could buy the much more effective F-35C but they had to give up on that.

Click to expand...

They can just add catapults on top, China has catapults on land runways.

Integrating catapults into a ship after it was built is not that easy. It needs to be part of the design and it needs to be built for them.

gelgoog said:

Integrating catapults into a ship after it was built is not that easy. It needs to be part of the design and it needs to be built for them.

Click to expand...

Integrating catapults into QEC is not easy but far from impossible. It was designed to have space and power margins for EMCATs and AAG. It was designed with the possibility to refit to CATOBAR.

For the people talking about the shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL), it is a good "extra" but is not used much. SRVL was a requirement because F-35B was originally going to carry 2 Storm Shadow missiles on the wings and needed SRVL to land with them. When F-35B is in Air-Air configuration (4 AIM-120D/soon to be Meteor and 2 ASRAAM on the wings.) SRVL is not needed to land the aircraft with full fuel as far as I know.

MarKoz81 said:

And to think that Brits often mock Russia for Kuznetsov's problems which stem from lack of proper support when the pride of their navy was deliberately designed like this. This entire ship was designed so it can operate between 12 to 16 F-35Bs as a maximum at any given time. 5 billion USD not counting aircraft and ships of escort to be able to put 16 F-35Bs in the air.

Click to expand...

The QEC is a far far better carrier than Kuznetsov simply due to the aircraft it carries. I don't know where you have gotten your information because it's wrong. QEC can easily carry upwards of 36 F-35B at any given time if there is a will to do so. It will carry 24 F-35B on regular deployments simply due to the decision to have every aircraft in the hangar which can only fit 24 F-35B. In wartime, QEC can fit upwards of 48 F-35B but that is going to result in a cluttered deck which is really inefficient so the probable maximum is 36 aircraft. The bigger problem is the slow delivery of F-35B but that has nothing to do with the design of the ship.

In November 2022

Uncle Sam and Nato warships visit UK | USS Gerald R Ford


Homecoming: USS Gerald R. Ford


They were gone six weeks..that is NOT a deployment in my book. I made seven major deployments all of them over six months long...When I served we called those little six week junkets a "Short cruise"...C'mon man!!

Nimitz deployed November 28th 2022..betcha that old girl, commissioned in 1975 is deployed for at least six months


NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash. (Nov. 28, 2022) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) prepares to depart Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton for a scheduled deployment. Nimitz is underway conducting routine operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eduardo A. Torres)


NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash. (Nov. 28, 2022) –The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departs Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton for a scheduled deployment, Nov. 28, 2022. The Nimitz carrier strike group is underway for their deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Richard Tinker)

NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash. (Nov. 28, 2022) – U.S. Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) observe the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) depart Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton for a scheduled deployment Nov. 28, 2022. Nimitz is underway conducting routine operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eduardo A. Torres)

French Rafale fighter jets operate with USS George H.W. Bush

by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 5, 2022) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, taxies on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ian Thomas)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 26, 2022) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, flies over amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7). Tripoli conducts routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Malcolm Kelley)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 1, 2022) Sailors observe flight operations on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Julia Brockman)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 1, 2022) An EA-18G Growler, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Julia Brockman)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 06, 2022) Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Shannon Ward, from Greenwood, Miss., removes the cover of an F414 engine case in the jet shop aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy A. Carley Jr.)

Kick the tires..light the fires!..NOT from Top Gun!!..That slogan was painted on the ready room door if VF-211 aboard USS America(CV 66) in 1981.

by , on Flickr
PHILIPPINE SEA (Dec. 27, 2022) U.S. Navy Sailors monitor the launch of an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th fleet conducting routine operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Rowe)



by , on Flickr
PHILIPPINE SEA (Dec. 29, 2022) Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Jose Flores, from Adelanto, Calif., performs maintenance on a refueling system in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Hannah Kantner)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 20, 2022) An E-2C Hawkeye from the “Sun Kings” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116 prepares to taxi onto a catapult aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin McTaggart)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 13, 2022) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Clayton Wren)



by , on Flickr
PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 13, 2022) An F/A-18E, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Clayton Wren)

PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 12, 2023) U.S. Navy Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Mike Houtchens, from Pace, Fla., directs Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Hiram Martinez, from Kansas City, Kan., in towing an aircraft into the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caylen McCutcheon)



PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 12, 2023) U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Yusong Sun, from Los Angeles, directs aircraft elevator operations in the hangar bay aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caylen McCutcheon)



PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 12, 2023) U.S. Navy Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Yasha Stanford, from San Antonio, performs maintenance on an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Calabrese)



PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 12, 2023) U.S. Navy Culinary Specialist Seaman Tavie Hernandez, from Pearsall, Texas, adds ingredients to a mixer in the bake shop aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin Tang)

by , on Flickr
JAVA SEA (Dec. 18, 2022) Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) transits the Java Sea during a formation exercise with ships from Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Indonesia 2022, Dec. 18, 2022. This year marks the 28th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), operates in U.S. 7th Fleet with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kendra Helmbrecht)



by , on Flickr
JAVA SEA (Dec. 19, 2022) U.S. Navy Fireman Kaden Banning welds a bracket aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Dec. 19, 2022. Hull Maintenance Technicians plan, supervise and perform tasks necessary for fabrication, installation, maintenance and repair of shipboard structures, plumbing, sewage and piping systems.(U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eloise A. Johnson)



by , on Flickr
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 2, 2023) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Darien Haq directs an MV-22 Osprey, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 362 (Rein.), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Jan. 2, 2023. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua Martinez)



by , on Flickr
PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 10, 2023) A U.S. Navy Sailor directs an E/A-18G Growler from the “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Calabrese)



by , on Flickr
PHILIPPINE SEA (Jan. 10, 2023) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin McTaggart)