Meatbox8 Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 According to UK Defence Journal 820 NAS with their Merlin 2s will be the first air component to operate from HMS Queen Elisabeth when she leaves Rosyth next year. A major milestone although no doubt the press will have a field day moaning about her being a ship with no aeroplanes. Personally I'm looking forward to seeing the ship at sea and operating aircraft. In fact I think I'll try and get to Pompey to see her arrive in her home port for the first time. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vtecjack Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 Given the size of the new carriers ,I wonder if you could land a Swordfish on there ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnerboy Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 On 18/10/2016 at 5:25 PM, Meatbox8 said: In fact I think I'll try and get to Pompey to see her arrive in her home port for the first time. Me too Latest I've heard is that she will be down there in December, they are busy dredging the channel & quayside for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 (edited) Idle thought: it took a complement of 885 each to put 4 Sea Kings to sea in Tiger and Blake. By historical comparison, what will the complement of QE be when she embarks 820 Sq? Edited October 20, 2016 by Seahawk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 On 18/10/2016 at 5:25 PM, Meatbox8 said: ................ A major milestone although no doubt the press will have a field day moaning about her being a ship with no aeroplanes. IIRC HMS Invincible deployed on her first commission in 1980 with only a squadron of Sea Kings onboard. My unit embarked a little while later and underwent troop lift and load carrying exercises with them; so, nothing really new there. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 16 hours ago, sinnerboy said: Me too Latest I've heard is that she will be down there in December, they are busy dredging the channel & quayside for her. Great. I shall look out for updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Hmm not many aircraft on 820...still it's a start. Reminds me of their motto....unofficial..you ball with us and we will shove the bat up your......... As for Blake and tiger fairly man-drulic ships two gun turrets and very old steam turbines.....as a comparison fearless and insepid were similar large complements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wafu Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Seem to remember 820 had 8 Sea King MkV's on the Invincible 84/85. Operated those, 3 Mk2 Sea Kings and 5 FRs1's. Should be lost on the QE2 deck. MOD has no plans to expand the 101's on the squadron's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Are you saying 820's current complement is 8 Merlin HMA.2s? Couldn't find an answer on MoD websites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 2 hours ago, Seahawk said: Are you saying 820's current complement is 8 Merlin HMA.2s? Couldn't find an answer on MoD websites. It varies but if I say that there are 4 pinger squadrons and there are 30 mk2 then minus aircraft in depth ....that'll give you an idea which is in the public domain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mburnett Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 She wont be out of Rosyth until at least feb then has sea trials so wont be in Portsmouth till possibly April if not later I'm afraid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 On 19/10/2016 at 9:20 PM, vtecjack said: Given the size of the new carriers ,I wonder if you could land a Swordfish on there ? When I was a boy we had a vicar who lived down the road who had been in the FAA during the War. He told me that when landing a Stringbag on a carrier in a strong headwind you could literally step off it on to the deck before the aircraft had actually caught a wire and landed, it was moving so slow in relation to the deck! It must be true as he was a man of the cloth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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