Aircraft Carriers III

Phalanx installation on QE; two of the three units have been fitted with the third to follow next year before operational deployment:

Obi Wan Russell said:

Phalanx installation on QE; two of the three units have been fitted with the third to follow next year before operational deployment:
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makes me wonder where's that third system now (assuming it exists)

Just noticed this week from a February article featured in Airforces magazine, the QE has tested out a landing technique for the F-35B called Short Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL). Basically unlike vertical landing, the F-35B glides in at 7 degrees and uses is jetborne blast to glide in and stop using its own brakes, This allows an additional 2000 lbs of carry back weight compared to a vertical landing.

A you tube of the landing.

Jura said:

makes me wonder where's that third system now (assuming it exists)

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It most certainly exists. RN Phalanx's are drawn from a 'pool' and only issued to operational ships about to deploy; QE has received two for now so they can be tested and integrated into the ship's combat system. She isn't expected to deploy on operations until 2021 and the third unit will be fitted before then along with her other 30mm guns. The third gun mount will be a simple 'bolt on' fitting by the time it arrives (fitting Phalanx to a ship takes less than a day anyway) so it's not urgent for now. The actual mount is probably sitting on a T45 at the moment until it goes into refit...

Dec 12, 2018

Jura said:

noted

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CSBA's newly-released vision for the Carrier Air Wing in 2040 calls for 74 aircraft, including 36 UAVs, 10 F-35s, 10 long-range F/A-XX and six E-2Ds.

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and a related USNI News appeared yesterday:

quote of the day comes from inside
Second Weapons Elevator Accepted Aboard USS Gerald R. Ford

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:
"Aside from needing the elevators to be in working order for Ford to be an active capital ship, Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer promised President Trump he would get all of Ford’s weapons elevators working."

by , on Flickr

by , on Flickr

Just for fun
This is CdG

This is what CdG would look like if it had the same island config as the American carriers

TheNavigator said:

Just for fun
...

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please post your next "fun" in
Funny Stuff Thread.... to loosen your day
which I don't follow

Jura said:

please post your next "fun" in
Funny Stuff Thread.... to loosen your day
which I don't follow

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I'm sorry. I did not know about that thread...