Wednesday 19 August 2015

War is boring: Aircraft Carriers

The United States operates 10 nuclear carriers — each with an air wing of 60 or more planes — plus 10 smaller, non-nuclear amphibious assault ships that can launch small numbers of vertical-landing Harrier attack planes.

The UK - 0 aircraft carriers.

The French have four. But they aren't great. The Chinese and the Indians Have few and have vast plans.

But the USA well they still rule the waves.

The UK does have 2 carriers under construction. One due for completion in 2016 and one for 2018. They will carry 40 planes each (although we have no planes for them yet!). There have been lots of arguments over design but they will be big and well equipped.

Combined with the current lack of Radar planes the fact we have no carriers is a massive hole in our military hardware and severely limits our ability to project power and protect our sphere of influence. In other words on the world stage no one currently has to listen to us as much anymore. Soft power only comes with hard power.

You tube of our new carrier here.

Queen Elizabeth classEdit

Main article: Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier

ShipAircraftDisplacementPropulsionService
Laid downCommissionedFate
HMS Queen Elizabeth40
[1]
65,000 long tons (66,043 t)
[1]
2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
[1]
7 July 2009Expected 2016
HMS Prince of Wales40
[1]
65,000 long tons (66,043 t)
[1]
2 x Rolls-Royce MT30 Gas Turbines
[1]
26 May 2011Expected 2018

 

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