Britain launches its largest warship - HMS Queen Elizabeth - Polidicks

Edward Kenway could still take it.

[QUOTE=Sableye;45294262]Fly by wire, the only thing the f35 has over the harrier as well as supersonic flight[/QUOTE] The F-35 can only go supersonic speeds with the afterburner. It cannot supercruise like the 5th gen fighters can.

[QUOTE=Zambies!;45291009]:smug: [t]http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/528282d2ecad0463559f9e8d-850-1076/carriers-2013.gif[/t] *crying eagle*[/QUOTE] The UK carriers shown there aren't the QE-class that this topic's about, though. This is how the new ones compare: [t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Aircraft_carrier_comparison.jpg[/t] If we brought both of them into service (seems unlikely really) I think Britain would be second only to the US in terms of supercarriers.

But are the QE classes more up to date than the the US carriers seeing they're new?

[QUOTE=Midas22;45295434]But are the QE classes more up to date than the the US carriers seeing they're new?[/QUOTE] Don't worry we're building new ones too. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gerald_R._Ford_(CVN-78)[/url]

[QUOTE=Cabbage;45289863]Something about the imagery of The Queen bottling a massive ship is quite funny :v:[/QUOTE] I name this ship the Queen Elizabeth, Bless her and all the imaginary aircraft that sail insider her.

[QUOTE=goon165;45295934]I name this ship the Queen Elizabeth, Bless her and all the imaginary aircraft that sail insider her.[/QUOTE] Well, the craft exist, they just haven't quite figured out the air part yet.

Yes a big boat now we can solve the problems we have.

[QUOTE=ChestyMcGee;45289944]and still smaller than a nimitz. those things are ridiculous[/QUOTE] A lot smaller, at that. Really puts those giants to scale As for a carrier being a sitting duck. One Nimitz class aircraft carrier houses close to 80 aircraft, a stronger air force than 70% of the world's air forces. They so heavily defended by a group of ships and submarines you'd have better luck digging into Ft Knox with a spork

[QUOTE=Bat-shit;45291410]Wow, no wonder about your national debt. [editline]4th July 2014[/editline] But regardless pretty impressive fleet.[/QUOTE] each Nimitz and its posse costs 25 million per week to maintain during peacetime, and closer to 50 million during wartime :v:

[QUOTE=MatheusMCardoso;45293091]Yes, but it's soon to become the world's first floating football stadium.[/QUOTE] Snake did it first.

[QUOTE=Trumple;45289919]I hear the F-35 would be a suitable, reliable candidate[/QUOTE] And quite a bargain too

[QUOTE=Midas22;45295434]But are the QE classes more up to date than the the US carriers seeing they're new?[/QUOTE] I think they've got much improved automation inside, for example in bringing ordnance up to the deck - that's pretty clear from the fact that it'll only have about 600-1000 crew, compared to the 5600 or something on a Nimitz. But it doesn't have any sort of catapults, let alone the electromagnetic ones I think they're putting on new US carriers, and it doesn't use nuclear power. I guess the computer systems will be more up to date though, and maybe radar too, by virtue of being newer :v:

[QUOTE=Capnscarlet;45300063]I think they've got much improved automation inside, for example in bringing ordnance up to the deck - that's pretty clear from the fact that it'll only have about 600-1000 crew, compared to the 5600 or something on a Nimitz. But it doesn't have any sort of catapults, let alone the electromagnetic ones I think they're putting on new US carriers, and it doesn't use nuclear power. I guess the computer systems will be more up to date though, and maybe radar too, by virtue of being newer :v:[/QUOTE] An electromagnetic catapult was being developed for the ship, a few of the earlier renders show the ship with them. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/HBIBc8d.jpg[/IMG] They changed their minds in 2012 and went with the Ski jump though. The ship does still have the space for it if needed in the future and can potentially go up to 71,000 tons apparently with upgrades over the years. It's a shame they didn't add them in, apparently the costs rose quite a bit and delivery wouldn't have been until something like 2023. I imagine part of that decision was also because there are some UK companies with a vested interest in the F-35B, particularly Rolls-Royce who are the ones who designed the lift system for VTOL.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;45296745]A lot smaller, at that. Really puts those giants to scale As for a carrier being a sitting duck. One Nimitz class aircraft carrier houses close to 80 aircraft, a stronger air force than 70% of the world's air forces. They so heavily defended by a group of ships and submarines you'd have better luck digging into Ft Knox with a spork[/QUOTE] remember when even china could get their shitty subs within strike range? [url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-492804/The-uninvited-guest-Chinese-sub-pops-middle-U-S-Navy-exercise-leaving-military-chiefs-red-faced.html[/url]

[QUOTE=laserguided;45293691]It would not be able to stop it once it's moving. It's a metal slug. It's goal isn't to soften up the target, it's to send a massive slug through the carrier and sink it.[/QUOTE] Kill rods still have issues against modern active counter measures. I mean they're lot more dangerous obviously and much harder to track, but not impossible.