Video of new Royal Navy carrier under construction

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22474019

[mirth]

Thanks for the link. Didn't realize it was so far long in construction.

[GDS_Starfury]

I still dont get the two island idea on the flight deck.

[Steelgrave]

I still dont get the two island idea on the flight deck.

One for coming, one for going?

Is it really only going to carry a dozen warplanes? Seems like a lot of ship for so few aircraft.

[mirth]

I still dont get the two island idea on the flight deck.

One for coming, one for going?

Is it really only going to carry a dozen warplanes? Seems like a lot of ship for so few aircraft.

It'll have capacity for up to 40 F-35s. For budgetary reasons, they're only going to have 12 on board typically. The RN budget has been gutted over the past several years. A lot of people didn't want the new carriers built at all.

[Steelgrave]

I still dont get the two island idea on the flight deck.

One for coming, one for going?

Is it really only going to carry a dozen warplanes? Seems like a lot of ship for so few aircraft.

It'll have capacity for up to 40 F-35s. For budgetary reasons, they're only going to have 12 on board typically. The RN budget has been gutted over the past several years. A lot of people didn't want the new carriers built at all.

Ah, ok. Thanks for the clarification.

[bob48]

Not to forget that the price of the aircraft have risen considerably.

[mirth]

Not to forget that the price of the aircraft have risen considerably.

True, but the RN Harriers have already been dumped. The RN carriers have been reduced to helicopters only.

[Steelgrave]

Not to forget that the price of the aircraft have risen considerably.

That's like buying a new car and discovering it doesn't come with tires   8)

[bob48]

As much as I loved the old carriers and Harriers, this is just throwing good money (that we don't have) after bad. What in Gods name are we going to do with it?

Its a white elephant. The money could have been put to much better use elsewhere in the armed forces. I'm not even convinced that we have the capability to protect the damn thing if it ever comes to a real shootin' war.

Bah!

[Steelgrave]

I agree, Bob. I'm saddened by the decline of the British Navy, but I have to view two new carriers as more symbolic than functional.

[GDS_Starfury]

Not to forget that the price of the aircraft have risen considerably.

True, but the RN Harriers have already been dumped. The RN carriers have been reduced to helicopters only.

we could always sell the ones we bought from them back.

[bob48]

I agree, Bob. I'm saddened by the decline of the British Navy, but I have to view two new carriers as more symbolic than functional.

Yep, that is very much how I view it as well. But, in more realistic terms, and considering how much money it will take to keep the things running, the cash could have been better used for the armed forces. As it it, the government have farted about, not knowing what option to take, and wasted millions of pounds of tax payers money, (mine included!)

I have little faith in the F35 programme, and wonder if its an aircraft that really meet our needs or if other, more viable options, have ever been considered, especially since its been shown that the Typhoon is capable of being modified to operate off carriers.

It still seems in doubt as to if or not a second carrier will ever be built, and lets be honest, a single carrier is about as much use as a chocolate tea-pot.

Its a total clusterf*ck as far as I'm concerned, but still, good luck to the RN - a service for which I have nothing but the greatest admiration.

I feel quite put-out!

[Centurion40]

They must see the carriers as an investment in keeping the Falklands (or some other far-flung islands), so there must be some potential pay-off expected.

[mirth]

I have to admit, I don't see the need for the RN to operate full-sized carriers anymore either. With virtually all of the overseas possessions gone, the UK doesn't need that kind of power projection these days. The Falklands really aren't under threat the way they were in 82. The Argentines have declined even further than the Brits. With the enlarged garrison and Typhoons operating out of RAF Mount Pleasant, there's little risk of another Falklands invasion.