Stuart Galbraith Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5799027/RAF-9-billion-fleet-land-HMS-Queen-Elizabeth-Donald-Trump-visit.html Britain will put on a display of military might when Donald Trump visits next month – with a flypast of its American-made fighter planes. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is drawing up plans for the US President to watch the first of the RAF’s £9 billion stealth fighter fleet land on new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. But because the F-35 Lightning IIs were developed by American firm Lockheed Martin, the Ministry of Defence is considering adding a display by the Red Arrows for a more ‘patriotic’ touch. The first of 48 stealth fighters will arrive next week following a ten-year test programme hit by spiralling bills and technical problems. The RAF’s legendary Dambuster squadron reformed earlier this year to fly the jets. The £3 billion HMS Queen Elizabeth entered active service in December, while its sister aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is preparing for sea trials. They are the biggest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, with the MoD describing each as ‘four acres of sovereign territory’ and a ‘symbol of our international influence’. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonJ Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 He'll say good things about the United Kingdom and its relation with the US on that trip for sure. Next might be USS Ronald Reagan, HMS Queen Elizabeth, and JS Izumo passing through the SCS together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 He say good things, I have no doubt. Whether they will actually mean anything substantive is where my doubts set in. Anyway, Britannia is showing off again. We really ought to do it more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonJ Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Japan got good words from him for a whole year. I bet the UK can get twice that. By then, he'll be out of office, thus safe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 To sail for second part of trials today.https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-queen-elizabeth-to-sail-for-second-phase-of-helicopter-trials-tomorrow/ There is an interesting chart that displays when IOC for both ship occur's. Its getting there.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 On a related note.https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-queen-elizabeth-flight-deck-crew-experience-live-f-35b-jets/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 And the first 4 arrive. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44392148 Four new RAF F-35 Lightning stealth fighter jets have landed in the UK.The jets, which cost £92m each, made the 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic from a US Marine Corps base in South Carolina.The supersonic planes will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where they are expected to be in operation by the end of December.The UK's military has committed to purchasing 138 of the US planes from aviation company Lockheed Martin. A fifth jet which set off from the US Marine base returned to South Carolina after the aircraft took fuel from an airborne RAF tanker.The planes had been due to fly to the UK on Wednesday, but the mission was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.They will be part of the recently reformed 617 squadron - nicknamed The Dambusters after one of the squadron's missions during World War Two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Estes Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 (edited) The USN has a similar squadron lineage. The VFA-195 fies F/A-18E today but originally was VT-19 flying TBM torpedo bombers in 1943-46. Equipped with Skyraiders in 1947 the now VA-20 became VA-195. On May 1, 1951, the squadron’s Skyraiders, making precise low level runs, delivered aerial torpedoes on the heavily defended and strategically positioned Hwacheon Dam in North Korea. Destruction of the dam had been attempted by USAF and Navy bombers, but was finally accomplished by VA-195, earning them the nickname the Dambusters. A pal/classmate of mine from the same company at the Naval Academy. Edited June 7, 2018 by Ken Estes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 (edited) Oh yeah, I seem to recall having read something about that in a recent book on the Korean war. Was this the squadron in 1991 that retitled themselves sadDambusters on their aircraft? We seem to be possibly keeping our options open to commissioning another NAS Lightning squadron. Apparently the colours of 800NAS seem to have been preserved by the Ketterling sea cadets in the hope the squadron will one day be reactivated. It would be nice to see another Falklands Squadron bounce back. Edited June 7, 2018 by Stuart Galbraith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Estes Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 (edited) That was likely USAF, Stuart: Edited June 7, 2018 by Ken Estes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Ah yeah Weasels, that rings a bell. Thanks for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougRichards Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 And the first 4 arrive. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44392148 Four new RAF F-35 Lightning stealth fighter jets have landed in the UK.The jets, which cost £92m each, made the 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic from a US Marine Corps base in South Carolina.The supersonic planes will be based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, where they are expected to be in operation by the end of December.The UK's military has committed to purchasing 138 of the US planes from aviation company Lockheed Martin. A fifth jet which set off from the US Marine base returned to South Carolina after the aircraft took fuel from an airborne RAF tanker.The planes had been due to fly to the UK on Wednesday, but the mission was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.They will be part of the recently reformed 617 squadron - nicknamed The Dambusters after one of the squadron's missions during World War Two. just be careful about the squadron's mascot's dog's name is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 They will call him 'Digger' for his complete lack of political correctness and Social niceties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Some genuinely superb video here of them landing. Much to my surprise, and contrary to what was claimed, they landed in STOL mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Couple more videos emerged. Not quite sure what the F35's connection with Blue Circle Cement is though... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKEWPQvEUgY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 I just wish the MoD would grow a spine and put blue/red subdued roundels on the a/c instead of those silly colorblind things!!! If an opponent is that close, it won't make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Yeah it looks pretty daft doesnt it? I gather they had a similar problem with the SR71. Apparently they were not going to put any markings on the Blackbird at all because of the high cost of coloured paint, but the USAF demanded it, despite nobody other than the tanker guys ever seeing it in the air. I gather it proved to be quite expensive to have coloured paint that was heat reflective as well as radar elusive. As for this, well I cant see why they dont put some vinyl stickers on, and just take the damn things off when there is a war. I mean, how hard, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Jones Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 ...As for this, well I cant see why they dont put some vinyl stickers on, and just take the damn things off when there is a war. I mean, how hard, right? Pretty soon we'd be reading stories about British defence being so poorly funded that their planes were fitted for but not with national markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmgill Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Planes, what planes? Those are USN birds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 I THINK the ones that landed at Marham are British owned. The ones that will be part of the test program to land on the Queen Elizabeth later this year will be the US owned, instrumented birds. But it makes sense, in that the landing they are planning is something a bit different. They want to be sure the sotware all works properly. Besides, Im not seeing an issue really. Its nothing that hasnt happened before.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 HMS Queen Elizabeth underway replenishes for the first time.https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-queen-elizabeth-successfully-completes-first-replenishment-at-sea/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 While handy, 220 cubes doesnt sound nearly as impressive as 220,000 liters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Falcon Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) HMS Queen Elizabeth is crossing the Big Pond: HMS Queen Elizabeth sails for the United States – here’s the plan Just over a year since HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Portsmouth for the first time, she will sail for her longest and most significant deployment yet. Known as Westlant 18, the primary purpose of the trip is for QE to conduct the first of class flying trials (FOCFT) with the F-35B Lightning II. (Some of the aviation aspects are discussed in more detail in our earlier article).ItineraryBefore crossing the Atlantic, the ship will embark more helicopters and conduct a few days of additional rotary wing flying trials in UK waters. She will then head to the eastern seaboard of the US which is likely to take around 10 days, depending on weather and the flying programme. When close to the US, the Merlin Mk4s will fly off Royal Marines to conduct a small demonstration assault landing. This is not a full-scale test of QE in the assault role (HMS Prince of Wales will undertake the main development of amphibious capability) but is a preliminary trial of the ship’s ability to embark troops onto helicopters and launch them simultaneously. The Royal Marines will then participate in joint exercises ashore with their US Marine Corps counterparts. QE’s is expected at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia in early September. She will unload Royal Marine equipment and take on test equipment required for the F-35 flight trials programme. While the crew get some time ashore, the ship is likely to be of a subject of great curiosity to the US military who have generously provided much support for the regeneration of UK carrier strike. Norfolk is home to six of the US Navy’s ten supercarriers and QE is a showcase for a radically different approach to aircraft carrier design. Aircraft carrier heaven – Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia – the world’s largest naval base. The F-35 flight trials off the east coast will consist of two Developmental Testing periods (DT-01 and DT-02) which are scheduled to last around about 3-4 weeks each, with a break in between. The first F-35 landing on QE will probably be in the 3rd week of September. A historic occasion will be the ship’s arrival in New York sometime in October, which will attract considerable public attention in the US. QE will come to anchor with small boats used to ferry visitors and personnel to and from the ship. The RN is in negotiations with the New York harbour authorities for a ‘high profile anchorage’. Prominent US and British politicians are likely to visit the ship and this will be the first big demonstration of her potential as a floating ambassador for the UK. Before returning home in December, the ship will make a second visit to Norfolk to re-embark equipment and Royal Marines. QE may spend some time in the Caribbean to test her performance in hot/humid conditions. The RN has also done some contingency planning in case the ship is called on to assist in hurricane relief operations in the region. 700 tonnes of disaster relief stores and equipment are embarked on QE but fortunately weather patterns this year would suggest that hurricanes are likely to be less severe than last year when HMS Ocean was called upon. (RFA Mounts Bay is already in the area and available to assist). As always, the Westlant 18 programme may be subject to change in response to events. Task GroupWestlant 18 is not an operational deployment or a formal excise and it is important to remember QE and her aircraft are still in an extended trials phase before she declares Initial Operating Capability (IOC), scheduled for the end of 2020. However, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG), Cdre Andrew Betton and his staff are embarked and will exercise command over the small task group. Around 40 of the UK battlegroup staff will join QE out of the 65 in total.Sailing with QE will be the frigate HMS Monmouth and the brand new support tanker RFA Tiderace. US Navy warships will also operate with the group for some of the time. No official comment will be made but it is likely the group will have a protective shadow of RN or US navy submarine assets, especially in light of much-increased Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic. (It is notable that HMS Monmouth does not have a 2087 Towed Array sonar ‘tail’ effective in detecting submarines at range in open ocean.)HMS Queen Elizabeth’s core ships company now numbers 800 men and women. As we predicted there has been a significant growth beyond the 690 initial planned complement and Captain Kyd says he expects the number to rise slightly further in future. The average age of the sailors is 24 and about 30% have never visited a foreign port before. At the other end of the spectrum, there is a select group of just 7 men over the age of 50 serving on board. For Westlant 18, QE will sail with a total of around 1,500 personnel. Besides the battle staff, the additions are helicopter aircrew and maintainers, 70 Royal Marines of 42 Commando and a role 2 medical team comprising about 20 people. 200 personnel involved with F-35 including pilots, engineers and data analysts from the Integrated Test Force (ITF) will also join the ship. Do read the whole thing, as its useful for understanding how the QE is being worked up and she is to be used. Edited August 24, 2018 by Dark_Falcon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Galbraith Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Just so you all know what you are in for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanoid Posted August 24, 2018 Share Posted August 24, 2018 Is what I just got a so-called freedom boner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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