Scuttlebutt can help the Royal Navy

[dom]

The UK are planning two new high tech aircraft carriers:

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvf/cvf4.html

Aircraft will include the Lockheed Martin , the EH-101 Merlin helicopter and the Maritime Surveillance and Control aircraft (MASC)

Given that the old Swordfish sank the Bismark I think it would be sensible to equip the new carriers with aircraft along these lines - threby saving loads of wonka. The F-35B Joint Strike Fighter is OK in easy conditions but for tough work - just like with yachts - the traditional models must surely be better. No?

 

[bigroger60]

Since the navy can`t even protect a couple of RIBs in the gulf what chance have they got with a carrier, they don`t even have enough Frigates.

 

[Habebty]

Surely the RN would be better off bulk buying a fleet of stealth boats with a low radar signature like say a Bavaria 38 (or any other GRP tub) fitted with a single exocet mounting.

A lot cheaper than some Buck Rogers carbon fibre angular creation a la stealth bomber technology.

No one will pick it up on radar and the exocet will sink a destroyer/frigate/container ship etc etc. as the unfortunate sailors dicovered in the Falklands.

 

[rhumlady]

And just how small is the RN going to be to allow it to buy these carriers? What's the betting that they willbe scalled down or dropped? I believe they have all ready dropped the Joint Strike Fighter over maintenance arrangements.

 

[Searush]

They will be R/C models from Revell or LidL /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[dom]

Actually that is not such a bad idea! The thing with the modern attack aircraft is that they can't cope with any turbulence - really I am an expert! You should see the wings flex.

So a new meaning to the Joint Strike Fighter - The Revell and Lidl ...??? Well perhaps not!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Battlecruisers.

A battlecruiser required some 30,000 tons of steel and three years construction time. Requirements for large guns (modern smoothbore APDS or similar shells) and a bit (not lots unless we rerun the Admiral class) of decent armour. Chobham reactive stuff may be an interesting option. Ships would be based in Rosyth Dockyard, that's why it was built and all building work in Scotland.

Thats a lot of jobs in vanishing industries (Navy + shipbuilding +steelmaking) in Government constituencies or ones they would like back from the SNP. They would make excellent tourist attractions, one could double up as a Royal Yacht and hey, Fisher's concept would be vindicated as they were great when opposed by smaller or slower ships.

Got to be a winner.


Nurse. Mr Fanner's medication again please, and double the dose!

 

[HoratioHB]

Er - no the JSF is alive and well, although they may never build the vertical take off version so the carrier might have to revert to good old fashioned catapults and arrester gear. Actually the decision to go ahead has been delayed again to October. The really sad thing is that I had the privilege to work on this programme 4 years ago for a year and I still keep in touch and basically apart from the MOD continually changing its mind on what it wants, B****er all seems to have really happened. Don't bet on ever seeing them in the water!!

 

[rickp]

[ QUOTE ]
apart from the MOD continually changing its mind on what it wants

[/ QUOTE ]

So, just like every other Govt project....

Rick

 

[rhumlady]

If the decission has been put off again then the French will be well and truly P*ssed off as they want to get on with it. As far as MOD changing it's mind, there will be nothing different there then! And I will be very suprised to see them in the water. Remember that the Tridents are to be replaced and that will probobly take up any loose change the MOD has for the next 30 years.