Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier class ( Program CVF ) on active duty

[Scott Kenny]

The main focus for European militaries is Europe right now though, especially with the US's pseudo withdrawal.

Then the UK had better hurry the hell up with their new ASW ships.

 

[FighterJock]

Too true Scott Kenny, we need far more ASW ships.

 

[Hydroman]

Uss Enterprise during Cuban missile crisis carried a wing of strategic bombers. Also, it wasn't considered something primary by Soviets, ballistic missile and SAC bombers were.
This carrier role is mostly outdated(french keep it barely alive to some degree, of course). It was growing outdated right then, in fact, with shift to Polaris fleet.
Also, being blunt, UK economy is incapable of 6-carrier navy with such airwing.

Deterrent against whom?
You need to grow back global empire to do gunboat diplomacy, as to deter someone against relevant action x.
Otherwise it'll look like QE in SCS again: rather pitiful, yet expensive geopolitical show. About as relevant as Italian performances on China station in 1930s.

None are direct UK threats.
The closest one, Russia, isn't a naval threat, and carriers can have any primary relevance against Russia(i.e. when they're more impactful than other means) only when it has a navy. In modern era, it doesn't.
Massive UK investment into a stretched surface fleet is basically the best scenario for Russia...

China is a bit far away, and is a bit stronger.

DPRK is further still, and again, it just doesn't care about UK carrier power, 1 carrier or 16. They already live with hostile air force right over the border, twice the size of RAF.

Like, look at what you're doing. The only two entities you can negatively affect with 6-6 navy (funny historical parallels) is US and EU. Girls scandal isn't a big enough fallout to burn Washington just yet.

So why when anything gets hot, we park one or two carrier strike groups in the vicinity and normally things either calm down or we strike the targets? Yes, we have the bombers (they have to prep and the flight time) and we do have the SSBNs but why do you think we have carrier strike groups deployed globally, initially as deterrence? If China's military growth keeps increasing and they decide they want to be a real blue water Navy like the US then China could threaten any country, including the US and Europe. If China had a fleet of 10 to 12 large carriers, you know damn well they would deploy into the European theater. We (the US) cover everybody's asses anyway that is why "other countries" do not build their fleets up and have gotten to reliant with US protection.

 

[djpowell1984]

I think we still need Carrier, for 5 reasons:

1) Help out like the Canada or the Aussies, the New Zealand and other the Allied, under attack by China or Other threats (could be American as if they attack Canada or Greenland).

2) To fight distance rather wait for them to come fight near Uk which would difficult to defend as they will shield the fleet and fire long-range missiles which we don't have a defence against for Imt.CBM, hypersonic so best to fight them in the distance

3) Attack another country with a Carrier if the countries / Nations refuse to give us use airport to fight, or Falklands war part 2, so we need the carrier to strike them.

4) "What if" without USA Support for example Trump refused to help the UK or they left NATO so the UK needs to handle we would need Carrier's mission.

5) British Carriers often can multi-purpose humanitarian missions or other strike missions can adjusted the suitable the required, as flagship, and many more.

these reasons I think it the important to keep them to safeguard the UK.

that why i want see
"3" Carriers QE with Project ARK
"3" hybrid type UAXC Drone Carrier <--> Landing Helicopter Platform Carrier with Well Dock for Ampbious boat / landing craft. replace our

so 3 rotation Carrier strike Fleet - in peace time or 3 Strike Fleet in war so one will force north and one focus on south and one other location..

only issues is lack manpower and lack escort.

 

[djpowell1984]

I think we best focus on Escort ships first before as we are very under power or very weak escort for currently carrier strike fleet. (at moment rough 18-24)

i prefer to see Royal Navy have these

6-9 (prefer 9) x Type 83 AA/ASW/Anti-ICBM Cruiser
8-12x Type 26 ASW Frigate
6x Upgrade Type 45 AA & Anti-ICBM Destroyer (or replace them 8-12x non-stealth type 26 with focus AAW as T4X AAW & anti-ICBMFrigate)
6-9x Type 31 Basic ASW / Basic AA / Modular Mission Manned (Drug dealer or Escort Ship or Support Fleet etc)
6-9x Type 32 Basic ASW / Basic AA / Modular Mission Unmanned - Drone Mothership / Minelayer / Mine sweeper, Warship Survey Ship, Cable Protect mission

at moment we just have roughly 18-24 Fleet ready-action it is not good it is a very low - barebone fleet - so we need to increase to 32 Escort Fleet for start.. as priority...

Maybe i don't like this idea "maybe" Good idea sell one QE class to fund increase Escort Fleet - and replace 2 new future carrier x DronexLHA when once got enough money (increase 3-5%) and keep 1 old QE carrier to 3 Carrier Strike fleet)

(non-Escort Fleet) List

9x SIGMA 9113 Corvette (Replace River Class Mk.2)
for Coastal missions or Escort Ship (ie Russian ship), or outpost stations ie Falkand, Gibatator etc.

Submarine
6-9x Austue Class (Hunter Killer Sub)
6-9x AUKUS Submarine (Attack Sub)
4-6x ICBM Dreadnought class Submarine (ICBM Sub)

MRSS
8-12x MRSS (6-9x ELLIDA 180/200 type "Support Ship" Multi-Purpose Tanker or logical, Transport, Troop Transport or ambiphious assault and Survery, humanitarian , Ambulance Ship, many more roles etc / 2-3x Fearless Class "warship Lithoal Strike MRSS" for Royal Marine LRG)

Drone/Sloop of war
??x XV Patrick Blackett enlarged size with 40mm cannon (shipping container as missile launcher fc-asw / spear 3, camm or mission modular, Rescue etc more options)
and more type

Carrier
3x QE Carrier - Hybrid Style - STOBAR x Cat for CCA etc
3x Hybrid drone carrier UAX x LHA well dock

ofc Aircraft / Helicopter / Drone (i not include these list for now)
please remember i am not expert navy stuff just curiously and hobby ;-)