200 years to go from a fleet made of wood, rope, and biscuits, with single-shot weapons, that conquered most of the world, to this. The Captain on that ship could have had a grandfather's grandfather who sailed with Nelson.
John Fisher joined the Royal Navy in 1854 and served on a wooden ship of the line. During his career he rose to Admiral and saw the introduction of HMS Dreadnought, the first all-big gun battleship. He finally retired for good in 1915, meaning he saw the introduction of early aircraft carriers.
HMS Defiance was a shore based collection of three old late 1800s ships which were in use as 'Torpedo School' right up until 1954, including HMS Inconstant (1868). My grandfather learned his navy diving on them, so he and many others served on a ship from the mid-1800s, all the way in the mid-1900s
Those who trained at HMS Defiance (shore) a bit earlier (up to 1931) would have been on the actual HMS Defiance (1861 ship) which was the last wooden line-of-battle ship launched for the Royal Navy.
https://ibb.co/WvNQhx5d - HMS Defiance in the 1940s consisted of HMS Inconstant (1868), HMS Vulcan (1889) and HMS Andromeda (1899) which were renamed Defiance I, II, III as they entered service as part of Torpedo School.
https://ibb.co/21yMnZjN - Stern of the HMS Inconstant (1868) as it made up part of HMS Defiance
Many hundreds/thousands would have served in Torpedo school in Devonport right up until 1954, of which there are presumably some still alive. Those assigned would have lived and slept there. Survivors accounts describe the conditions as 'Victorian' and full of rats which is appropriate given that's what the ships were!
This means there's probably a few survivors around who genuinely served on board a Victorian ship from 1868.
HMS Victory was commissioned in 1778, and is the world's oldest commissioned warship. She has served as the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012.
Last line-of-battle ship, but interestingly the RN was still building wooden ships (Ton class minesweepers) in the 1950s. One of their commanders (Roy Clare) later commanded HMS Invincible, one of the last RN carriers prior to HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen Elizabeth Class are conventionally powered in an Integrated Electric Propulsion configuration.
They have 2 Gas Turbines and 4 Diesel Generators. The Gas Turbines require a large amount of trunking for the intakes and exhausts which, if the GTs were placed low down in the ship (in the usual position) the trunking would take up a significant amount of room.
To avoid this, they've placed the Gas Turbines just below the flight deck, with the trunking routing straight up. The GTs are separated to ensure that, in the event of damage to one, the other is available. This has resulted in the twin island design, with each island being based around their respective GT trunking.
This also has the added benefit of placing the Bridge in the Forward Island, which is the optimum position for navigation and FLYCO in the Aft Island, which is the optimum position for aircraft operations.
It also gives a measure of redundancy, with a reversionary FLYCO position in the Bridge and the Emergency Conning Position in the Aft Island. It also means that some of the sensors, ie the navigation radars, can be positioned to ensure 360° coverage, with no blind spots and that they don't interfere with one another.
It's pretty much that, but also compared to just having a really long island, the two island arrangement also creates less turbulence apparently.
This way they get the benefit of having the engine rooms far apart, without wasting space during all the intakes into one island, and have optimum positioning for both navigation bridge and flight ops.
They most certainly don’t just grab one. I’m sure there’s a very systematic assignment process. Like truck drivers don’t just grab a truck, they’re assigned one with a route based on maintenance, needs, capabilities, ect.
I just never miss a chance to give the limeys across the pond a little shit is all. Nothing serious like sending money and weapons to the IRA or anything… Allegedly.
That's not true. Latency kills, you don't have time to stream data from sensors to a server and back to your display. Moreover, fighters need to be able to function in situations where radio is denied by jamming. The F-35 is meant to perform both nuclear strike and SNOCAT operations so that includes continent-wide EMPs.
What you are presumably confused by is the US data package. Essentially, F-35 operators have access to certain US intelligence in programming missions. It is conceivable for the US to deny that intelligence. However, the aircraft would still function without it. Another point of concern is the US ownership of spare parts before they are put onto the aircraft, which is required for Lockheed to run "lean" supply chains.
200 years to go from a fleet made of wood, rope, and biscuits, with single-shot weapons, that conquered most of the world, to this. The Captain on that ship could have had a grandfather's grandfather who sailed with Nelson.
John Fisher joined the Royal Navy in 1854 and served on a wooden ship of the line. During his career he rose to Admiral and saw the introduction of HMS Dreadnought, the first all-big gun battleship. He finally retired for good in 1915, meaning he saw the introduction of early aircraft carriers.
HMS Defiance was a shore based collection of three old late 1800s ships which were in use as 'Torpedo School' right up until 1954, including HMS Inconstant (1868). My grandfather learned his navy diving on them, so he and many others served on a ship from the mid-1800s, all the way in the mid-1900s
Those who trained at HMS Defiance (shore) a bit earlier (up to 1931) would have been on the actual HMS Defiance (1861 ship) which was the last wooden line-of-battle ship launched for the Royal Navy.
https://ibb.co/B5GRkMZM - Torpedo School inside HMS Defiance, early 1940s(?)
https://ibb.co/WvNQhx5d - HMS Defiance in the 1940s consisted of HMS Inconstant (1868), HMS Vulcan (1889) and HMS Andromeda (1899) which were renamed Defiance I, II, III as they entered service as part of Torpedo School.
https://ibb.co/21yMnZjN - Stern of the HMS Inconstant (1868) as it made up part of HMS Defiance
Many hundreds/thousands would have served in Torpedo school in Devonport right up until 1954, of which there are presumably some still alive. Those assigned would have lived and slept there. Survivors accounts describe the conditions as 'Victorian' and full of rats which is appropriate given that's what the ships were!
This means there's probably a few survivors around who genuinely served on board a Victorian ship from 1868.
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pbtyc/Uniform/Vernon%20&%20Defiance.htm
HMS Victory was commissioned in 1778, and is the world's oldest commissioned warship. She has served as the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012.
Yes - and it's such an exciting ship to tour around. Really amazing - it's a special case though I guess.
Last line-of-battle ship, but interestingly the RN was still building wooden ships (Ton class minesweepers) in the 1950s. One of their commanders (Roy Clare) later commanded HMS Invincible, one of the last RN carriers prior to HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Love that double island arrangement
What is the advantage of two towers over the usual one?
It's due to the propulsion system.
The Queen Elizabeth Class are conventionally powered in an Integrated Electric Propulsion configuration.
They have 2 Gas Turbines and 4 Diesel Generators. The Gas Turbines require a large amount of trunking for the intakes and exhausts which, if the GTs were placed low down in the ship (in the usual position) the trunking would take up a significant amount of room.
To avoid this, they've placed the Gas Turbines just below the flight deck, with the trunking routing straight up. The GTs are separated to ensure that, in the event of damage to one, the other is available. This has resulted in the twin island design, with each island being based around their respective GT trunking.
This also has the added benefit of placing the Bridge in the Forward Island, which is the optimum position for navigation and FLYCO in the Aft Island, which is the optimum position for aircraft operations.
It also gives a measure of redundancy, with a reversionary FLYCO position in the Bridge and the Emergency Conning Position in the Aft Island. It also means that some of the sensors, ie the navigation radars, can be positioned to ensure 360° coverage, with no blind spots and that they don't interfere with one another.
That’s a great answer, thank you.
Thank you for this great answer! I would have never guessed that the propulsion system is the reason for this. I will take a deep dive into this now.
IRC because it's conventionally powered they needed two exhausts so it's a practical requirement.
Could be wrong
It's pretty much that, but also compared to just having a really long island, the two island arrangement also creates less turbulence apparently.
This way they get the benefit of having the engine rooms far apart, without wasting space during all the intakes into one island, and have optimum positioning for both navigation bridge and flight ops.
The predecessor and groundwork for the future Venator Star Destroyer.
Do the pilots each have their own particular plane? Or do they just grab whichever one is ready and most convenient?
On UK aircraft carriers, pilots do not have a permanently assigned individual aircraft.
Don’t they have the name of the pilot stencilled on the aircraft near the cockpit?
They most certainly don’t just grab one. I’m sure there’s a very systematic assignment process. Like truck drivers don’t just grab a truck, they’re assigned one with a route based on maintenance, needs, capabilities, ect.
Credit to LPhot Helayna Birkett
It’s a long way from Taranto.
And Tipperary
Is it just a trick of the light, to my eyes, some of the F35 canopies look almost clear and others have a very obvious tint? Different spec aircraft?
Diesel powered? I guess that’s ok for 20th century warfare…
Why do you think that?
I just never miss a chance to give the limeys across the pond a little shit is all. Nothing serious like sending money and weapons to the IRA or anything… Allegedly.
It is pragmatic. Supply ships and tankers are required for everything else so the endurance is much different.
Want to expand on that?
the britsh navy is so beoke they need italian help to outfit the carrier nice
Erm, no.
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That's not true. Latency kills, you don't have time to stream data from sensors to a server and back to your display. Moreover, fighters need to be able to function in situations where radio is denied by jamming. The F-35 is meant to perform both nuclear strike and SNOCAT operations so that includes continent-wide EMPs.
What you are presumably confused by is the US data package. Essentially, F-35 operators have access to certain US intelligence in programming missions. It is conceivable for the US to deny that intelligence. However, the aircraft would still function without it. Another point of concern is the US ownership of spare parts before they are put onto the aircraft, which is required for Lockheed to run "lean" supply chains.