/r/QueenElizabethClass

Photograph via snooOG

Rules:

  • Images, videos, gifs are all allowed so long as they are on topic
  • Content not related to the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers will be removed
  • Include context in the title i.e, location, date

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/r/QueenElizabethClass

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11

HMS Queen Elizabeth at anchor [2048x974]

0 Comments
2023/03/09
08:34 UTC

10

HMS Queen Elizabeth at Naval Station Norfolk

0 Comments
2022/09/22
15:40 UTC

8

The two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers meet in Portsmouth for the first time in December 2019

0 Comments
2022/09/17
21:42 UTC

7

HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth for US

0 Comments
2022/09/13
06:08 UTC

11

Ships company muster on the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth for 96 gun salute to mark the passing of the queen.

0 Comments
2022/09/13
06:08 UTC

12

HMS Queen Elizabeth departure and arrivals

Anyone have any tips on best viewing places/parking for videoing and photography of this ship when it returns and departs Portmouth. Also HMS QE has returned to portsmouth due to bad weather and resupply, anyone know when she is due to depart?

4 Comments
2021/05/19
11:34 UTC

40

The Royal Navy's two Aircraft Carriers face each other alongside at Portsmouth Naval Base. HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) closest, with HMS Prince of Wales (R09) in the distance. Type 23 Frigate HMS Westminster is in the foreground on Pompey's South Railway Jetty. 20 August 2020. [2765 x 2394]

1 Comment
2020/10/23
04:40 UTC

25

HMS Prince of Wales (R09) viewed from the Liver Building, Liverpool, 1 March 2020 [4032×3024] [OC]

1 Comment
2020/03/01
13:46 UTC

32

Highlights of UK Carrier Strike Group Westlant 2019 deployment

0 Comments
2020/01/17
17:43 UTC

41

HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Portsmouth Harbour, joining Prince of Wales in HMNB Portsmouth for the first time

0 Comments
2019/12/04
23:00 UTC

36

HMS Queen Elizabeth launches an F35B whilst conducting Replenishment at Sea with RFA Tideforce

0 Comments
2019/11/15
17:33 UTC

59

HMS Queen Elizabeth has just flown the first British F35B multi-ship sortie [2048x980]

2 Comments
2019/11/15
12:59 UTC

33

A beautiful sunrise seen from HMS Prince of Wales (R09), somewhere in the North Sea, 17th October 2019 [1024x684]

0 Comments
2019/10/17
12:24 UTC

25

Lockheed Martin: "Capable of carrying 70 aircraft"

2 Comments
2019/10/14
07:24 UTC

37

Marine artist Robert G. Lloyd was recently tapped by Royal Mail to paint the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) as part of a eight-ship set. Add’l info in comments. [1500 x 1100]

1 Comment
2019/09/24
03:07 UTC

42

Rule Britannia! (1080x1080)

0 Comments
2019/08/17
11:11 UTC

53

HMS Queen Elizabeth Entering Portsmouth for the First Time [2048x1366]

0 Comments
2019/05/17
11:55 UTC

7

Questions regarding the lack of angled flight deck and catapults

I hope this doesn't offend anyone. I am half-british myself, and I really want the RN to reclaim its former glory, but these issues keep gnawing at me.

I am aware of the financial constraints behind the decision to scrap the CATOBAR setup. My question is strictly about loss of capability vs a CATOBAR carrier.

How much does the STOVL version of the F35 lose in terms of payload capacity, range and loitering time compared to its contemporaries on the Gerald Ford class? Or the Rafales on the CDG?

How is sortie rate affected? Can a QE-class recover and launch at the same time? This is one of the principal advantages of an angled CATOBAR setup.

Adding to this, won't the increased fuel consumption associated with STOVL operations make for higher long term operational costs? Wouldn't catapults help reduce operational costs and cost per air hours?

I've heard people refer to the QE class as "glorified helicopter carriers", as they are unable to operate fixed wing aircraft. The entire air wing consists of helicopters aside from the F35. This seems particularly limiting when it comes to AEW. Helicopters seem woefully inadequate as AEW platforms, as the much lower altitude, speed, range and payload capacity mean that the radar systems themselves will be much less capable in addition to being mounted on a very limited platform. This also applies to electronic warfare, which is going to be carried out from a Merlin.

It just doesn't seem to have anything near the capabilites of a CATOBAR carrier. The tiny air wing of 40 aircraft seems very strange as well, given the size of the ship. Is is becuase the sortie rate is too low, which would make a larger air wing pointless? The CDG weighs a full twenty thousand tonnes less and carries about the same amount of aircraft, most of them fixed wing.

Surely if cost is such a concern, one wouldn't build a pair of carriers to begin with? Because they are still expensive. British taxpayers seem to have gotten the worst of both worlds, having paid billions for two carriers seriously lacking in capability compared to their CATOBAR contemporaries.

I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable than me can shed some light on these issues. Perhaps I have it wrong.

There are a some other areas I'm concerned about but I'll leave them out for now.

11 Comments
2019/02/11
13:20 UTC

21

HMS Queen Elizabeth approaching New York, 19 October 2018 [1280 x 839]

0 Comments
2018/10/19
20:44 UTC

21

F-35 on board HMS Queen Elizabeth - great video.

1 Comment
2018/10/08
22:27 UTC

30

F-35B Aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth,

0 Comments
2018/10/03
14:08 UTC

15

HMS Queen Elizabeth as she prepares for helicopter trials after finishing CIP. 2nd June, 2018 (2048x1536)

0 Comments
2018/06/03
07:42 UTC

45

HMS Queen Elizabeth Dwarfing Portsmouth

0 Comments
2018/05/01
12:01 UTC

28

HMS Dragon Sailing Alongside HMS Queen Elizabeth

3 Comments
2018/04/30
11:38 UTC

28

HMS Queen Elizabeth Passing Gibraltar

0 Comments
2018/04/28
19:26 UTC

14

The old versus the new: HMS Queen Elizabeth is fitted out in Portsmouth

1 Comment
2018/04/15
12:40 UTC

22

Chinook on the HMS Queen Elizabeth "lift".

6 Comments
2018/02/09
15:28 UTC

17

Merlin Mk2 in the hanger deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth

3 Comments
2018/01/29
20:18 UTC

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