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Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 17:11
by Chris Trott
They may be eyeing purchasing the F-35C (Carrier Variant) instead of the F-35B (STOVL Variant) as the F-35C will probably be available quicker. Additionally, there may be merit in having a "mixed buy" of both the B and C models as it will increase flexibility of the platforms since the F-35C can carry more armament than the F-35B. If they do buy a "Super Bug" variant, I would think they'd buy the EA-18G Growler ECM aircraft and not the F/A-18E or F/A-18F as both are large aircraft with a lot of duplication of role to the F-35.

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 17:35
by jonesey2k
Buccaneer with modern avionics anybody. :lol:

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 17:51
by sketchy74
jonesey2k wrote:Buccaneer with modern avionics anybody. :lol:
Put me down for one!! :)

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 18:57
by AndyG
The F-35C was being mentioned on Radio 4 this morning, I think that is the route they are going - cats & traps has other advantages, means they can add Hawkeyes to the mix, instead of a costly custom AWACS solution. But Typhoon IS an option; my understanding is they are sufficiently over-engineered that additional strengthening wouldn't be that necessary - an intriguing possibility.

However, this does have a familiar feel to it; I seem to remember a Conservative government making savage cuts like this on a previous occasion, even down to the discussion of selling a newly built 'through-deck cruiser' to an overseas navy. The result that time was the Falklands War, and Australia never did get their hands on Illustrious!!

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 19:10
by John
Well whoever ordered the carriers in the first place must have guessed this would hit us, as the design was 'future proofed' from the start. Look carefully at the drawings, you'll see that have both had the trenches for catapult tracks in from day 1. What aircraft will they fly? Lord alone knows, the Typhoon IMHO would need far too much work (therefore cash) so that's probably out, they may have some odd idea that we can just use her as a FOB for the French and American birds. The sensible solution? My best guess would be F35Cs... cheaper and with a bigger, harder hitting load. With the bigger flight deck the vertical capacity probably isn't essential like it was on the old Through deck Cruisers.

Kind regards

John

Ps It's a sad day for 'the ark', with the crew she has now she's a great ship!

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 19:24
by Hot_Charlie
gordon-in-aberdeen wrote:Typhoons already have hooks on the bum, would it take much to mod the undercarriage for cat launching? :-#
I think the controlled crash/landing would be the bigger issue! :)

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 19:44
by jonesey2k
Looks like BOAR is going, everybody out of Germany by 2020!
Seems either Ocean or Illustrious will be going soon too.

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 20:07
by John
jonesey2k wrote:Looks like BOAR is going, everybody out of Germany by 2020!
Seems either Ocean or Illustrious will be going soon too.

My money is on Ocean, closely followed by an assault ship? Albion or Bulwark?

JR

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 20:11
by Harry Basset
We seem to be placing a lot of faith in beastly foreigners not attacking us until we are ready in nine years time ( Plus the inevitable delays ) I can't recall any defence project coming in on time.

Re: Ark Royal and Harriers to be Scrapped

Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 20:40
by DarrenL
John wrote:
jonesey2k wrote:Looks like BOAR is going, everybody out of Germany by 2020!
Seems either Ocean or Illustrious will be going soon too.

My money is on Ocean, closely followed by an assault ship? Albion or Bulwark?

JR
Ocean being a converted civilian will go.

As for the Queen/PoW having cats from the start, I think you may have been looking at the French version which was always going to be a CATOBAR carrier, our ship's artist impressions were always shown as alpine ski jump carrier designs. We have stolen the French design for PoW now. :)