Expensive and absurdly

A month later, a small, July 4 at the shipyard in Rosalie, Scotland, held "baptism" new ship of the British Royal Navy. Aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" officially got its name after the famous daughter of Henry VIII, founder of British sea power. The new ship, the head of its class, will be the largest in the history of the British Navy, but its role in service is not yet clear.

Heirs of the Falklands



Most unusual in this ship is its concept - a large aircraft carrier with aircraft STOVL - Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing, in the Russian language means close, though not quite correct abbreviation VTOL - vertical takeoff and landing. This scheme, of course, offers certain advantages, primarily simplification and cheapening of ship: instead of complex and demanding energy catapults - springboard instead arresting gear - a platform on the deck of sufficient size with heat-resistant coating.

In the age of jet aircraft, these benefits were allowed to build a light aircraft carrier - British ships of the "Invincible" had a displacement of 22 tons, and the most modern light aircraft carrier, Thai "Chakri Narubet" Spanish shipbuilders "fit" of 11.5 tonnes. Build a large ship such a scheme is very strange, because the big ships come to the fore shortcomings - especially severe limitations on the air group, except for specialized STOVL aircraft (inferior counterparts, taking off from a catapult take-off weight, and hence on fuel and combat load) based on it can only helicopters. This greatly complicates the development of a balanced air group, the lack of which can still be forgiven light aircraft carriers acting in a compound on an equal footing with other ships or amphibious assault ship, but it is unacceptable for "superavianostsa" around which not only carrier battle group, but also in broadest sense, the entire surface fleet of the country.


Construction work on the "Queen Elizabeth", February 20, 2014


Perhaps the British at such an extravagant step pushed the successful experience of the use of airplanes "Herrier" in the Falklands War in 1982. In 2002, as the basis for a future aircraft carrier air group was officially selected American multi-role fighter of the fifth generation F-35, or rather its modification STOVL - F-35B. Previously, since the late 80s. Britain actively participated in joint programs with the U.S. perspective STOVL-aircraft, primarily carrier-based planning. So the choice was predetermined. However, there was not without embarrassment - in September 2010, unexpectedly announced the decision to return to the classical scheme with a catapult and angled deck with aerobatsplanes and modifications basing F-35C. Most likely it was caused by problems with vertical landing F-35B, which took place in that period.

But the decision was clearly ill-conceived - the redesign of the second ship of this type, "Prince of Wales", should participate in the development program together with the electromagnetic catapult the U.S. would cause unpredictable, but certainly very serious costs and delays. The first ship, the actual "Queen Elizabeth", is already under construction, planned and all has been in use for several years as a helicopter-training ship to try to sell it, and if the buyers are not there - let the metal. To understand what to build an aircraft carrier for the price of two and a long delay time, albeit somewhat better - not the most optimal solution, the British took a year and a half. In May 2012 they returned to the original design and layout. For all sorts of research and development and evaluation of methods and feasibility of modifications ships during this time has been spent about $ 157 million.


The front section of the aircraft carrier at Portsmouth factory before shipment to Scotland, May 14, 2012


Price nonstandard

After abandoning the extremely belated attempt to bring them to a "normal" form, carriers of the "Queen Elizabeth" now have all the chances for the title of the most bizarre modern warships. As mentioned above, it is intended to base STOVL aircraft carriers springboard displacement 70.6 tons - more than three times greater than the "Invincible" and almost twice equipped with catapults French nuclear aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle". They are inferior in size only to the American nuclear "superavianostsam" related types "Nimitz" and "Gerald Ford."

Size "Queen Elizabeth" bypass domestic aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" and its Chinese sistership "Liaoning" in the fight for the title of the largest non-nuclear located in the ranks of the warship. When looking at the "Queen Elizabeth" primarily striking two equal size superstructure - the first run of the ship itself, and the second, with a glazed perimeter, with the team on the flight deck and air group. Solution control stations spread very interesting and if justify itself during operation, can have a serious impact future aircraft carriers. Now it "disturbs the minds" and domestic shipbuilders - promising layout carrier in vision "Krylovskogo State Scientific Center" (formerly known as "CRI them. Acad. Krylov") was with two add-ons similar purpose.

One small jump on the new British aircraft carriers automatically reduces the number of starting points to one fact, however, this restriction can be partially circumvented by having built planes one after another and running them sequentially. But in this case has been designed to fit the rear of the flight deck. However, in fairness, it should be noted that carriers with corner deck can not use all the starting positions, implementing parallel landing aircraft.


Scheme "Queen Elizabeth"


Another non-standard solution is to base on the new British aircraft carriers heavy transport helicopter CH-47 "Chinook", thus without any modifications - that is, even without folding propeller blades. Helicopters are used to transport Marines (on aircraft carriers Kubrick provided to accommodate 250 Marines - in fact, two companies). To ensure their possible landing on the deck of the simultaneous deployment of up to ten helicopters "Merlin" or the unspeakable amount of "Chinook" (probably no more than six). Troopers of the two companies best equipped in the light transport is a rather dubious strike force. Perhaps we are dealing with a combination of the desire to compensate for the lack of the Navy amphibious ships and the traditional concept of "generals preparing for the last war." In this case feel the influence of the Falklands campaign of 1982.

Fleet Air Arm exceed 50 different aircraft, but this load will be extremely difficult missions, as in the hangar fit only about 20 cars and the rest will be occupied by a large part of the deck. The optimum size - less than 40 aircraft and helicopters. At the same time, which is traditional for the British navy, air groups, there is no rigid convoy. It must be defined and objective conditions. It is known that wing "peace time" will include a total of 12 F-35B. These will complement the family of helicopters "Merlin" - ASW (up to 9 units.) And long-range radar (4-5 units.). Some of this air group resembles that of the carriers of the "Invincible," which under joint NATO naval forces in the Atlantic also pinned antisubmarine tasks.


"Queen Elizabeth" in dry dock at the shipyard in Rosalie, Scotland, February 8, 2013


In general, despite the size of the ship, wing it closer to the size and capabilities of the French aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" (displacement of 42 tons) than the American "superavianostsam." At the same time the French ship has advantage in having decked AWACS aircraft. At full staffing of aircraft similar to the English aircraft carrier air group can carry and domestic "Admiral Kuznetsov" (full displacement - 59 000 tons).

A few days after the christening ceremony docking an aircraft carrier will be filled with water and the ship will be towed to another pier to continue equipping the various systems and interior finishes. Freed dock is busy second aircraft carrier series - "Prince of Wales". By sea trials "Queen Elizabeth" is scheduled to begin in August 2016, aviation (helicopter) - in 2017. Formally adopt the ship of the Royal Navy is scheduled for May 2017, even without aircraft.

Test F-35B are scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2018 from the east coast of the U.S. - they will participate British pilots and planes, but with the American airfields and probably with the support of American experts. British pilots have already participated in sea trials F-35B in the U.S. UDC "Wasp." However, perhaps, if the weather permits, the first F-35B and the "Queen Elizabeth" already meet at the ceremony of baptism. Several planes just come to the UK to participate in the Farnborough Air Show and have information about their potential participation in a ceremony on July 4, probably in the form of a solemn passage of the ship. Fully operational aircraft carrier with aviation group to reach in 2020. Construction of the second ship hull sections of this type, "Prince of Wales" is now. According to the plan the second aircraft carrier to be removed from the dock by July 2016, sea trials are scheduled for January 2019, the transfer of the fleet - in August of the same year.

Evaluating the project and its potential as a whole, we can say that in spite of the significant growth opportunities of the British Navy not essentially increased. Received two new aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy was able to conduct local operations against third world countries. That is exactly the same that were available to him in the presence of carriers such as "Invincible", or would have been available during the construction of the new amphibious assault ships (UDC) with the possibility of basing aircraft type STOVL. Four or five of these ships would cost half the budget. New carriers have already cost the UK 6.2 billion pounds while their aircraft features below and forwarding - are much lower.


Heavy aircraft carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" in the port of Murmansk
Photo: Vasily Maximov / "Kommersant"


At the same time, higher compared to the UDC, the rate of new aircraft, it facilitates the task of combating the enemy fleet. However, it is already beginning to affect the imbalance in the air group. Relatively small number of STOVL fighter aircraft without the support of long-range radar, with limited range and payload, does not constitute any threat to the Chinese or Russian Navy, even in its present state. Perhaps Royal Navy fears of a new conflict with Argentina?

Author Alexander Ermakov
Originator http://lenta.ru/articles/2014/05/26/queen/
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Salam.