Just over a year since HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Portsmouth for the first time, she will sail for her longest and most significant deployment yet. Known as Westlant 18, the primary purpose of the trip is for QE to conduct the first of class flying trials (FOCFT) with the F-35B Lightning II. (Some of the aviation aspects are discussed in more detail in our earlier article).
Itinerary
Before crossing the Atlantic, the ship will embark more helicopters and conduct a few days of additional rotary wing flying trials in UK waters. She will then head to the eastern seaboard of the US which is likely to take around 10 days, depending on weather and the flying programme. When close to the US, the Merlin Mk4s will fly off Royal Marines to conduct a small demonstration assault landing. This is not a full-scale test of QE in the assault role (HMS Prince of Wales will undertake the main development of amphibious capability) but is a preliminary trial of the ship’s ability to embark troops onto helicopters and launch them simultaneously. The Royal Marines will then participate in joint exercises ashore with their US Marine Corps counterparts.
QE’s is expected at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia in early September. She will unload Royal Marine equipment and take on test equipment required for the F-35 flight trials programme. While the crew get some time ashore, the ship is likely to be of a subject of great curiosity to the US military who have generously provided much support for the regeneration of UK carrier strike. Norfolk is home to six of the US Navy’s ten supercarriers and QE is a showcase for a radically different approach to aircraft carrier design.
The F-35 flight trials off the east coast will consist of two Developmental Testing periods (DT-01 and DT-02) which are scheduled to last around about 3-4 weeks each, with a break in between. The first F-35 landing on QE will probably be in the 3rd week of September. A historic occasion will be the ship’s arrival in New York sometime in October, which will attract considerable public attention in the US. QE will come to anchor with small boats used to ferry visitors and personnel to and from the ship. The RN is in negotiations with the New York harbour authorities for a ‘high profile anchorage’. Prominent US and British politicians are likely to visit the ship and this will be the first big demonstration of her potential as a floating ambassador for the UK. Before returning home in December, the ship will make a second visit to Norfolk to re-embark equipment and Royal Marines.
QE may spend some time in the Caribbean to test her performance in hot/humid conditions. The RN has also done some contingency planning in case the ship is called on to assist in hurricane relief operations in the region. 700 tonnes of disaster relief stores and equipment are embarked on QE but fortunately weather patterns this year would suggest that hurricanes are likely to be less severe than last year when HMS Ocean was called upon. (RFA Mounts Bay is already in the area and available to assist). As always, the Westlant 18 programme may be subject to change in response to events.
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Alongside the Princess Royal Jetty as last minute preparations are made prior to sailing -
The yellow wind and turbulence sensor aerial used to gather data for the flying trials (seen in the lowered position). -
Engineers at work on the communications mast that can be hydraulically lowered for maintenance and to allow the ship get under bridges. -
View down the starboard side with the aft aircraft lift in the lowered position. -
The specially designed cable boom that carries High Voltage shoreside power supply cables to the ship, while allowing for tidal movement. -
Making sure she looks her best, touching up the paintwork. -
Life in a blue suit – there’s always something that needs cleaning.
Task Group
Westlant 18 is not an operational deployment or a formal excise and it is important to remember QE and her aircraft are still in an extended trials phase before she declares Initial Operating Capability (IOC), scheduled for the end of 2020. However, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG), Cdre Andrew Betton and his staff are embarked and will exercise command over the small task group. Around 40 of the UK battlegroup staff will join QE out of the 65 in total.
Sailing with QE will be the frigate HMS Monmouth and the brand new support tanker RFA Tiderace. US Navy warships will also operate with the group for some of the time. No official comment will be made but it is likely the group will have a protective shadow of RN or US navy submarine assets, especially in light of much-increased Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic. (It is notable that HMS Monmouth does not have a 2087 Towed Array sonar ‘tail’ effective in detecting submarines at range in open ocean.)
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s core ships company now numbers 800 men and women. As we predicted there has been a significant growth beyond the 690 initial planned complement and Captain Kyd says he expects the number to rise slightly further in future. The average age of the sailors is 24 and about 30% have never visited a foreign port before. At the other end of the spectrum, there is a select group of just 7 men over the age of 50 serving on board. For Westlant 18, QE will sail with a total of around 1,500 personnel. Besides the battle staff, the additions are helicopter aircrew and maintainers, 70 Royal Marines of 42 Commando and a role 2 medical team comprising about 20 people. 200 personnel involved with F-35 including pilots, engineers and data analysts from the Integrated Test Force (ITF) will also join the ship.
Flying programme
The first F-35B aircraft to land on QE will fly from the ITF base at Patuxent River. Two fully instrumented ITF aircraft (BF-04 and BF-05) and four pilots are involved in this trials programme. One from the RN, one from the RAF, a USMC colonel and a UK civilian BAE Systems test pilot. Who will be the first pilot to land on the ship has been provisionally decided but will not be publicly announced until afterwards to allow for changes of plan or unforeseen circumstances. It would, however, be disappointing if the Fleet Air Arm pilot (Cdr Nathan Gray) is denied the honour of being the first to land on the Royal Navy’s newest carrier.
The F-35 shipboard developmental flying programme includes over 500 ‘test points’ that have to be checked off and the aircraft will conduct multiple landings and takeoffs, including the first F-35 launch from a ski-ramp at sea and the first live demonstration of the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) technique. There is plenty of spare time and flex allowed for in the schedule, should any issues be encountered. Alternatively, if tests are progressing well then the programme may move onto the next round of objectives. At the end of the DT-2 phase, the test aircraft will leave the ship and return to Pax River.
Three Merlin Mk4s from 845 Naval Air Squadron will be embarked on board for Westlant 18. 845 NAS is gradually receiving deliveries of the ex-RAF Mk3s that have been marinised and upgraded to Mk4 standard and this will be the first real test for these aircraft. Several more Mk2 Anti-submarine Merlins of 820 NAS will join the 3 already flown onto the ship in Portsmouth.
To date, the Merlin and Chinook have been successfully trialled and cleared to operate from QE, although Chinooks will not participate in this deployment. HMS Monmouth will have a Wildcat helicopter embarked and will make the first landing by the aircraft type on QE. It is planned the Army Air Corps Apache AH1 will be tested aboard QE for the first time next year. During the deployment, several US aircraft types are scheduled to land on the ship, and this will include the V-22 Osprey.
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US Marine Corps F-35Bs have conducted hundreds of successful landings and takeoffs at sea. There is no reason to expect any serious problems doing the same from QE’s much larger deck. (Photo: US Navy) -
Three Merlin Mk 4s will be embarked for Westlant 18. The Mk4 has a powered folding main rotor and tail (For space-efficient stowage at sea), upgraded flight controls and tactical computer. -
Anti-submarine Merlin Mk 2s of 820 NAS will almost always be embarked on QE as part of any tailored air group. -
US Marine Corps V-22 Osprey will land on board QE during the deployment (Pictured here landing on HMS Ocean, Oct 2015). -
“Wings” – Commander James Blackmore. -
Position in flyco for Lt Cdr Flying, the deputy to the ‘Wings’. -
The position on the left is occupied by the Landing Signals Officer (LSO) who will guide F-35 on landing. Cameras on the ship provide the LSO with a gyro-stabilised view of the aircraft’s approach. -
The view from Flyco – landing spot 3 is where the first F-35 is expected to land. The darker area is where the deck has been coated with TMS (Thermal Metalic Spray) to resist the heat generated by the jet wash during vertical landings.
QE’s Commander Air or “wings” is now 43 yr old Cdr James Blackmore. He has fast jet experience flying Sea Harrier, Harrier GR9 and a tour with the US Navy on F-18 Super Hornets. His time with the USN was especially useful in accumulating experience of big deck flying while the RN had temporarily been forced out of the aircraft carrier business. There is a certain symmetry to this appointment as he flew the last Harrier to take off from HMS Ark Royal back in 2010, also under the command of Captain Jerry Kyd.
QE flyco is probably the best equipped flying control office at sea today with a superb view, equipped for day or night operations and Night Vision Goggle (NVG) certified. Those who had reservations about the physical separation of Flyco from the navigators on the bridge can be assured that the arrangement works well and Blackmore says is has helped formalise procedures. Besides the intercom, there is a video conferencing facility and both bridge and flyco have CCTV so they can easily see what the other is doing. From his raised position at the back of Flyco, typically wings overseas a team of five which include a Leading Hand responsible for deck lighting and logging aircraft movement, the Deck Operations Officer who controls aircraft in the hangar and on deck, Lt Cdr Flying who is wings deputy, an Air Traffic Control officer who monitors aircraft close to the ship and a Landing Signals Officer (a qualified fixed-wing aviator) who is in direct contact with F-35 pilots to assist them as they land.
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Venerable Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth will be QE’s main escort and ‘plane guard’ for Westlant 18. -
Brand new RFA Tiderace was only dedicated into the fleet on 2nd August but will sail to support Westlant 18. -
This is where you steer a 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier -
The captain’s custom leather chair on the bridge – supplied by Jaguar cars. -
The admiral’s suite beneath the bridge -
One of the few pieces of equipment onboard QE that would be familiar to sailors from generations past, the 10″ signal projector. Useful for communicating with other ships within visual range using morse code, when maintaining radio silence. -
Another banner on board reads “HMS Queen Elizabeth – the UK’s conventional deterrent”.
Westlant 18* has generated considerable excitement across the navy with competition amongst ships and units to participate. We can look forward to some iconic images, not least the first video and photos of F-35 landing on the ship. This will certainly be significant ‘good news’ story for UK defence, another big step on the way to the regeneration of carrier strike and an achievement for the nation as a whole. Filmmaker Chris Terril is on board for this trip to record the follow up to his BBC2 documentary ‘Britain’s Biggest Warship’, probably for broadcast in early 2019.
You can also follow @HMSQnlz , @HMS_Monmouth and @RFATiderace on Twitter.
*Westlant is a name that has been used for several RN exercises in the West Atlantic with US and NATO forces going back to the 1970s.
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I’m looking forward to the video of the first rolling landing technique they are going to use.
Very interesting article, thanks for the detail
Look forward to the documentary, good luck all and fair winds and following seas
Another good briefing article- many thanks
I imagine she’s going to be quite popular with a lot of personnel in Norfolk. There’s still the debate about what shape the USN carrier fleet should take: ever bigger and more expensive supercarriers in small numbers, or smaller and cheaper fleet carriers similar to HMS Queen Elizabeth, procured in greater numbers to give the USN more versatility and options regarding warfighting.
Personally, I’d say go for a high-low mix. Assuming the USNs plan is eventually for 11 Ford class supercarriers, instead trade perhaps 4 of those for 8+ catapult QECs
I agree that they could well end up building less Ford’s which are ferociously expensive and opting for something similar to the QECs.
It shouldn’t be forgotten though that they plan to have a fleet of 11 America class which at 45,000 tons and the capacity to embark 20 F35B will be as or more capable than most of the world’s fleet carriers.
I read a Senate report which says the America class can support 32 F35B for limited periods .
The lead ship of the Ford class has a few issues to resolve and at $12 billion a piece is exspensive real estate.
Fair point, but its worth remembering that the America class lack ski jumps and are ill-suited to sustained flight operations, so its wing of Lightnings would have an even more reduced fuel and weapons load.
Currently, the rest of the world has little to compare with the US carrier fleet, but there are a lot of significantly more capable vessels either under construction or being planned. Ignoring the highly unlikely Russian Shtorm design on the basis that its completely unaffordable, both China and India are moving towards CATOBAR carriers. NATO and our allies need to be able to show the flag in more places than we have capable ships for. Leave the assault ships to focus on helo ops, and build 8-12 catapult equipped conventional fleet carriers around 70-75,000 tonnes. In the name of saving money they could even go back and start from one of our original CVF designs for the QEC. It would obviously need modification, but its a good starting point
I agree with the consensus that it would be too expensive to convert QE class carrier to cats & traps at this point in time. Also taking into account the issue of launching and landing aircraft on CTOL carrier types in rough seas increases risks and reduced sortie rates.
As a STOVL carrier, QE class would have a potential to be a multi-role carrier, examples are: ASW platform, assault carrier, ‘Freedom of the Seas’ patrol carrier, war zone air dominance platform, disaster relief(LPH) platform.
But the QE class will not be able to fulfil some of the potential roles above, due to the limited types of aircraft procured. The MoD has taken a big risk by procuring only one type of STOVL fixed wing aircraft, the F-35b, optimize for strike and ground attack roles.
Why did not the MoD have the foresight to procure a specific STOVL ‘air defence/interceptor aircraft. This type of interceptor might be an advanced Sea Harrier, or a P1154 type of Harrier refined and modernized.
I find it difficult to believe the F-35b can fulfil the air defence role of a fleet. Could it beat back waves of 4 gen fighters(like the Falklands war)? Is it the reason why the US Marines procured the F-35 for it’s deep strike and ECW role? US Marines have already got F18’s for the air defence role.
Also the QE class need to be equipped with the V-22 Osprey, with having Crows-nest fitted to give greater AEW coverage.
Also potentially the V-22 could be used as a tanker to refuel other aircraft.
A lot of the technology to equipped a new type of Sea Harrier has already been developed for the Typhoon aircraft.
I look forward also to other common sense comments to the QE class carrier debate.
The USMC is currently attempting to convert a V22 into a tanker but is having problems with the weight and bladders.
Boeing has a mock up of a V22 AEW .
The Sea Harrier was, compared to other fleet defence aircraft like the F-14, incredibly lacking in most regards, it was a ground attack aircraft modified for AAW and only really intended to fight MPAs. It did so well in the Falklands because it was more maneuverable, had better radar and missiles, and our pilots were better trained, while the Argies were operating at the edge of their combat envelope with little fuel left for engagements.
In comparison, the Lightning is more capable than any Harrier ever was, so in comparison to the Harrier I can’t see where your concerns about its role as an air defence fighter come from. The F-35B is the modern P.1154: a supersonic V/STOL fighter. Any concept of an “advanced” Sea Harrier is flawed, as the result is either an aircraft that is already outdated or the F-35B, which was always intended to replace the Harrier.
I’m in full agreement with you regarding the V-22, although if the option is available the new V-280 Valor would be preferable (it has greater range, speed, weapons load, and modern design features that will make it cheaper to run, BUT I think its somewhat smaller than the V-22, which would make it less practical as a tanker and at-sea replenishment transport).
“The Sea Harrier was, compared to other fleet defence aircraft like the F-14, incredibly lacking in most regards,”
Actually Sea Harrier FRS.2 was widely regarded as one of the best air 2 air fighters in NATO. It’s radar was widely regarded as one of the best around and it actually deployed with Amraam significantly earlier than most other platforms.
Given the AIM-154’s appalling combat record and F-14 relying on Sparrow as its back up its likely that until F-14 got Amraam that Sea Harrier FRS.2 actually had a far better chance of making a kill at any range beyond visual range than F-14.
Have you actually got any sources for that? Because the Sea Harrier was a capable carrier aircraft, but it was inferior in many regards to other carrier fighters like the F-14 and F/A-18, and ESPECIALLY by land-based aircraft like the F-15.
Sticking with my initial comparison, the F-14 could carry twice the weapons load at more twice the speed, which isn’t just important for intercepting any aircraft, it gives launched weapons a huge kinematic launch advantage. While AIM-54 Phoenix didn’t have much success in US service, that was mostly due to highly restricted RoE and poor luck, in Iranian service its credited with 62 kills. It was also longer ranged than AMRAAMs original versions, which is still important even if the AMRAAM is clearly the superior weapon.
Sea Harriers did not deploy significantly earlier with AMRAAM? It entered service in ’91, and there were F-16s deployed with it it in the Gulf, so your claim is exaggerated at the very least.
“The US Marines have F-18’s for the air Defence roll”. The USMC flies the legacy Hornets, the old C models. Although the Marine pilots are trained in aireal combat, thier main mission in wartime would be expeditionary deployment with a main focus on supporting infantry by hitting ground targets.
As far as fleet Defence, the embarked navy FA/18 E+F airwing Hornets would be the platforms to carry out that roll.
The F35 has the advantage over the Harrier and F18 with its Stealth, a Low Probabilty of Intercept AESA radar which is light years ahead of the Harriers Blue Vixen and a step change over the F18s. It also has the next gen of IRST which is said to better than the excellent one fitted to Typhoon. Further, the aircraft has Network Enabled Capabilty which means one aircraft can control and use another aircraft’s weapons once it targets a threat. I believe the aircraft can carry internally four Meteors and two ASRAAM which although limited in capacity is still a formidable weapons load. I’m sure that underwing radar absorbant weapon pods will be developed to hold extra ASRAAMs to boast the weapons load.
Therefore “theoretically” the F35 should not need to engage in dog-fighting but predominantly beyond visual range engagements. An opposing 4th Gen fighter should never get within visual range of a F35. If the F35 is operating passively an just using the IRST, the opposing aircraft won’t know it has been targeted until the Meteors go active, which by then will be too late to counter fire. The F35 was never designed to be an out and out dog-fighter, but a first strike weapon system that can counter SAM networks and hide from AWACS style aircraft.
I think you should view the F35 in much the same role as the Tornado F35, which was predominantly a stand-off missile platform. I’m pretty certain that the F35 will be conducting the same role for fleet defence.
Apart from the V22 which is probably way too expensive for us to buy, Bell has three tilt-rotor aircraft also in development these are the V280 Valor, the V247 Vigilant and Eagle Eye UAVs. The V280 is the candidate to replace the Blackhawk in the US Army’s future medium lift aircraft whilst the V247 is being developed for the USMC as a strike/reconnaissance drone that can operate from ships. It can carry a payload of nearly 6000Kg, but apart from weapons can also sling load items below the aircraft. The wings and rotors are designed to fold much like the V22’s. The Eagle Eye is a smaller reconnaissance drone that’s currently used by the US Coast Guard. Perhaps the V280 and V247 would be better (cheaper) options for us to pursue.
. Thanks to All above in enlightening me to the F-35B! Is not the main disadvantage between a V/STOL F-35B and a CTOL F-35A is the payloads? Would it be feasible to use rocket-assist take-off or a propellant to boost thrust of F-35B? similar to that used for drag-racer cars? Also could not the range of the F-35B be increased by using non-metallic drop-tanks?
Great article.
I note USS Winston S. Churchill completed a recent RAS with RFA Tidespring in the Atlantic.
A good PR opportunity for QE group to meet up with these en route.
Or could USS Winston S. Churchill be a planned escort for QE?
https://mobile.twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/1030387893020360709
Might be the ideal chance to put the carrier in the shop window for the USMC to buy her. So the U.K. can reinvest the money and manpower back where it’s needed.
The U.K. simply doesn’t need aircraft carriers of this size and complexity, whereas the US can.
And how would that get around the US law that all USN ships have to be built in the US. So your first point can’t happen. Secondly have you actually done any back ground reading as to why the carriers are the size they are? Search this size and go read up. If a nation wants to do carrier operations, this is the size a modern carrier needs to be, anything smaller is actually playing at it. I bet when the French replace the CDG is will be approx. the same size as the Queen Elizabeth class.
The French will never replace the CDG , they do not have the money .
There fleet train is a absolute mess and there port facilities are in permanent chaos.
Heh. Like the RN is doing much better…
Yes the RN has very little money just like the French, but it’s fleet train is in good order and it’s dockyards are regarded as highly efficient and well administered.
Unfortunately French naval dockyards are bastions of unfettered union power and it’s fleet train has been neglected for over 30 years.
Why would a country that has real carriers want a stop-gap like the QE? As long as China keeps loaning us the money, anyway…
Cost and quantity. Any ship can only be in one place at once. If you have two ships for approx. the same money. One can be deployed whilst the other is in refit or being maintained.
Where’s moaning grubbie and Iqbal. This is about the carriers and they like to moan and whine, damn they will be gutted they missed out.
You had to say it, now they’re all over the next article like a Rash…
I’d hoped we’d gotten rid of them.
Thank you for the information. Appreciated
Why has the HMS Queen Elizabeth a “new” mast in the front right, next to the sky jump?