Aircraft Carrier Queen Elizabeth - moored in the Solent.

[bulleidboy]

The aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth is anchored in the Solent off Stokes Bay on Gosport. You can see her on the Solent webcam when the camera pans round towards Southampton. She left Portsmouth a week last Wednesday and didn't go far. She was moored off Lymington for a while. Before she left Portsmouth the crew were tested. A fall out, from the numbers who had fallen victim on a number of US carriers and the French carrier, Charles de Gaulle. One crew member tested positive and was taken off the ship. I'm told she will be in the Solent until 15 May. At some point from then she will go sea as part of preparations for the F35 planes.


https://isleofwightwebcams.co.uk/solent-webcam/

[Walkingthedog]

Thanks Barry. Saw it on the webcam yesterday. Thought it was to do with VE day, thanks for the update.

[Walkingthedog]

Pretty standard thing to say every military thing we have is outdated. Journalists and 'experts' seem to take great delight in knocking everything.
They said the Daring class destroyers were obsolete before they were built, but a few years ago HMS Dragon was invited to take part in an exercise with the US miltary. The US navy was the friend and the USAF the foe. F15's were sent to attack the ships. After about 30 minutes Dragon was asked not to take part any more but just to observe as it was downing every F15 before it came over the horizon.

[Mr Bones]

Whether carriers should or shouldn't have their own missile systems is often debated, but most seem to agree they shouldn't. I know that the older (Illustrious, Invincible etc) carriers had Sea Dart. When ever a carrier is around she's always provided with mutli layered protection from other vessels. The argument for them having their own missile systems, opens more questions than it answers. Should they be anti missile missiles or anti aircraft missiles, then why not their own anti submarine torpedoes? The list could go on and most of these things would detract from their primary objectives.

Generally they don't put themselves in direct danger. During the Falklands war the main task force was well back and the Destroyers, ourselves (Glasgow), along with Sheffield and Coventry provided the long range air defence as well as a limited amount of anti submarine protection between the islands and the task force. The Frigates around the carriers provided the close range air defence as well as the main anti submarine protection.

Carriers having missile defence can also interfere with flying operations, A missile launch creates a lot of debris and flight desks have to be kept spotless. A delay in launching aircraft could be fatal.

[Walkingthedog]

The American carriers have a huge escort. Like you said you can’t launch missiles when you need to launch aircraft.

[Mr Bones]

Stena Seaspread. That name bring back memories. She aided us after we were bombed. Having a 1000lb bomb go straight through us meant we had used up all our luck. What she provided was help. However, the internal damage was so bad we headed home as we could only make 10 knots. Not enough to avoid torpedoes or stay within the chaff clouds due to the high winds. First ship home and then first ship back down there again