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First crew members join HMS Queen Elizabeth
02 October 2012
Eight crew members have been invited to join the ship during the assembly process, and Butler received the first 'cap tally' for the new carrier, something the 29-year-old from Middlesborough described as a "fantastic honour".
"My main task will be to set up the routines and procedures that will allow the rest of the crew to do their jobs," she said of her role in coming years. "We are all well trained and, as a team, will make sure this warship becomes operational and helps to safeguard the world's oceans."
The ship is expected to be completed in 2017, before sailing to Portsmouth in 2018 to begin flying trials with the F-35B.
Captain Simon Petitt said that much of the ship, currently being assembled in Rosyth, was already fitted out.
"Today is the first day that the ship's company arrives in the dockyard to start to breathe life into the ship," he said. "You can see a fantastic ship being built, but it's people that matter.
"We're here to build the ship's company, learn how to use the ship, start to do some training and put in place procedures so that we can fly jets off it in 2018.
"She's an amazingly complex ship in terms of size and capacity so it's tremendously important we get all the procedures in place before the ship goes out. We want to make sure that we can operate it as soon as we can."
"She's wonderful. Because she's built in various parts of the country, inside she's painted, there's pipework in place and there's cabling in place. The bakery has the ovens, the mixers and all the things you'd expect to see in a bakery. There are bits of the ship which are hugely advanced.
"This is the largest ship we have ever built and that's why we need to be here early so that we can start to look at it properly and think how we can operate it. She'll be in service for 30, 40, 50 years, protecting the seaways, protecting all of our interests."
Rear Admiral Steve Brunton said that the main assembly of the ship would finish in 2013, with installation of the ship's systems due to begin shortly afterwards.
"We've already started to build HMS Prince of Wales, the second ship, and many of the ship's systems are being tested ashore ready to be brought on board," said Brunton. "So it's exciting times."
Around 10,000 people are said to have worked on the construction of the two carriers to date.
HAVE YOUR SAY
02 October 2012
SOSo sweet, can't wait
"This is the largest ship we have ever built and that's why we need to be here early so that we can start to look at it properly and think how we can operate it. She'll be in service for 30, 40, 50 years, protecting the seaways, protecting all of our interests."
I hope it will see it's natural service end date.
Now my last wish is to see ALL f.35b/c?? to be navy owned.
andy - solihull
02 October 2012
andy - solihull
Just as long as both enter service, one available, one as a ready reserve. All we need now is some planes (pity its not the F35C and EMALS) and some escorts and we are in business.
I might upset you by saying I'm not too bothered by Joint Force Lightning, though I think we would need to see the RAF aircrew harmonise with the FAA deployment schedule and not have (I think) a three month limit.
My understanding was Joint Force Harrier worked okay and I like the idea that the RAF could surge (just like the Falklands War when they ably assisted the FAA) and provided a much needed increase in aircraft strength and CAS experience, which allowed the SHAR to do what it did best and provide CAP.
Rob - Telford
02 October 2012
Nice to see the crew start to gather and train now, this may well save a lot of time in the future,
And the same for the Prince of Wales,
The only thing that bothers me, is the other day the government stated that brazil wants ships,
And an aircraft carrier,
Let hope and prey this dove does not intend to sell one of our carriers and give it to them,
Its ours, the Brazilians can orders one that would keep British jobs.
Thanks
cris of herts - london
03 October 2012
She'll be made redundant far before the ship sees any water!
Seriously though, good luck to her
JC - UK
03 October 2012
Andy
You just don't get it do you! The F-35 is not being purchased solely because of the carrier program it is because both services are pushing for it and both have a requirement for the fifth generation technology. Both services will operate it of that have no doubt.
Joint Forces is the future so get used to it and it will be the way with JFL.
Graham - High Wycombe
03 October 2012
I agree with Rob
Would like F35C, but it is B so lets get behind it and get it into service.
On 2 carriers, not 1. WE MUST HAVE 2.
If 1 is in refit other takes over.
If we could use both full time even better.
Assume manpower would be a problem for this?
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
03 October 2012
cris of herts - london
Good point, Cameron and his industry mates should be pushing for the Brazilians to buy a new build carrier off us and we should not get rid of either of our new ones.
Rob - Telford
03 October 2012
Rob - Telford,
From what I have read to date the plan favoured within the MoD and the service chiefs is that one carrier would be in extended readiness while the other is in service allowing them to be rotated with planning.
However both this and the final number of F-35 to be purchased will be decided in the 2015 SDSR.
What I have read in US aviation press says Hammond gave a firm commitment to LM that we would definitely purchase at least 48 F-35B but stated the final number will be decided by the next government probably 2015.
Also we would have to be very careful with Brazil they support Argentina over the Falklands.
Graham - High Wycombe
03 October 2012
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
The RN will probably not have enough manpower to crew a single QE with all their other staffing commitments unless something changes.
Both the RN and RAF are being pegged at 30,000 post SDSR however I would think the RAF level could be lowered as we approach 2019 and the Tornado retirement as they will probably only operate two squadrons of F-35B(*) and the planned five Typhoon squadrons which is four squadrons less in total than now with Tornado in service. Add to this the Transport fleet will be reduced from around 25 VC10/Tristar to 14 A330 MRTT (perhaps only 9 in service unless the remainder are required for operations under current plans) then the two Merlin squadrons being disbanded as they are handed over the FAA to replace the Sea King 'junglies' and also only 22 A400 to replace all the C130 variants and it is likely that they can be cut below 30,000 to allow the RN to increase numbers as it will have to as its needs will grow with the introduction of the QE/F-35 (again probably two squadrons).
So just to get one QE in service will mean ending parity between the RAF/RN and allowing the RAF numbers to fall as the RN increases otherwise we will simply not be able to operate one QE properly let alone both together.
However one caveat I think we will probably regenerate an MPA capability so that will have to be taken into consideration but I would still expect the RAF figure could be lowered by two or three thousand by 2019 which could be done at the same time as allowing the RN to increase its numbers. This would allow the RN the necessary manpower in time.
(*) current plans talk of the RAF operating a 'super sized squadron' of around between 20 and 25 a/c but as this is the same as two squadrons I would expect sense to prevail and they will operate two squadrons if not initially as they work up then eventually once it is fully in service and supported/understood perhaps once the FAA are up and running with F-35?
Graham - High Wycombe
03 October 2012
Graham - High Wycombe
On the Brazil thing, I read an article last week on the BBC News web-site that linked into a report stating that yes, publicly Brazil, like all South Amercican countries wants to see an end to perceived European colonisation in South America, I assume they also mean the French, however it also appears they are trying to distance themselves more and more from the outrageous rhetoric and policies that are coming out of Buenos Aires.
They are now seeing Argentina as a destabilising influence in the region (economically), and the way that Kircher is cosying up to Chavez is causing concern amongst the majority of South American states.
With a bit of luck (going back to the F35), the initial 48 will just be the start, I was hoping that figure would eventually be the FAA buy, 2 x 12 plane fontline squadrons, 10 to 16 for training and OCU, with the rest as attrition spares.
I would have thought that the RAF requirement alone would be at least 60 aircraft, but then thinking about it, you would pool your training, OCU and attrition aircraft in one pool (drrr the beauty of JFL).
We will just have to wait and see what is in store for us in the next treasury lead defence review won't we?
Rob - Telford
03 October 2012
With regards to Brazil, as we know they have recently purchased the three improved River Class ships (Amazonas Class) originally ordered and cancelled at the eleventh hour by Trinidad and Tobago, it is my understanding that they wish to build further examples of this class in Brazil as in the case of the single example currently under construction in Thailand for the Royal Thai Navy. Presumably as has been previously mooted elsewhere Brazil may well be in the market for Type 26 as well, no doubt as a potential replacement for their 'Niteroi' Class and possibly their three Type 22's. Again as with the 'Niteroi' class it would seem likely Brazil would seek to build the majority of these under licence in their own yards, doubtless should a carrier be on the shopping list, similar considerations might apply. As regards the carrier, 'Sao Paulo' formerly the French Navy's 'Foch' she dates from 1963 and currently operates A4 Skyhawks in the conventional CATOBAR mode, plus helicopters. At about half the size of the QE Class, it would seem unlikely they'd be in the market for one of ours, limited as they will be to operate only F35B.
Hereman - Wirral, England
03 October 2012
this is my final comment on this subject (banging my head against a brick wall is more productive)
no graham i assure you i do get it
2 years ago RAF had no requirement for harrier/stovl but amazingly following sdsr 2010 when the coalition decided that the cvf was too far gone/too expensive/too vital for our nation to scrap (take your pick which one you all believe.)
now i ask you all do you really think if cvf had been scrapped the RAF would have accepted the f.35b for their use only!!!!!!!!!! please don't make me laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is only on their radar so they could have a say/veto on future carrier ops
RAF for UNIQUE land ops only
RN/FAA/RM for UNIQUE carrier/seaborne ops only.
andy - solihull
03 October 2012
rob
ask RAF JFH and they will have a somewhat different view about how effective JFH was.
they hated the thought of going to sea for months as one JFH put it to me once.
"if i wanted to go to sea i would have become a f***ing fisherman"
andy - solihull
04 October 2012
The era of ramjet-powered supersonic anti ship missiles will make all aircraft carriers as obsolete as the battleship was in the WW2. This project will be seen as a huge waste of money by future generations
GB - Kingdom of Fife
04 October 2012
http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/ORD_LRASM-B_Concept_lg.jpg
GB - Kingdom of Fife
04 October 2012
GB - Kingdom of Fife
You will find that missiles like Sea Viper will give a QE a good chance of survival. They have the development potential to intercept supersonic cruise missiles from some distance. It is a process that is already under way with the latest variants under development.
The QE class are designed to have the capability for two sylver launchers. Although not fitted for now it is my hope that it will be in refit as I believe it necessary that the carrier can defend itself as a last resort rather than relying on T45.
Andy
The future is joint force and both services know they have to buy into it.
Graham - High Wycombe
05 October 2012
andy - solihull
I did my resettlement course with a JFH ground crewman and he did say that opinion was divided, my comment was not on how content the individuals were, though I agree that is an important consideration, but how effective the force was, which was effective. Perhaps the RAF should only be used for surge operations and not deploy on long cruises . . . .
Rob - Telford