HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will have flight-decks the equivalent of 49 tennis courts, and will be home to a crew of 1,450 Royal Navy and RAF personnel.

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, spoke of a proud day for the navy and for Britain, despite the years of debate, discussion and controversy over whether Britain can afford the two biggest warships ever to be built here.

"It has been a much talked about programme. It has emotion about it... big ships always do," he told the BBC after the signing ceremony.

"We are a maritime nation. This is a very exciting day for the navy - and this is a major contribution to Great Britain.

"It is exactly the sort of capability we should be investing in - and the navy is very proud to be its guardian."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7488776.stm

Its an interesting development for the Royal Navy but I really have to wonder when they start talking about force projection and building larger carriers does the RN have the capacity to support such ships in a force projection role anymore?

My impression is that the UK doesn't really have the capacity to build a carrier task force these days as even the Falklands were a stretch.

now i'm jealous... i'd like a german Carrier called Bismarck

You had one called the Graf Zeppelin and decided to sink it in the Baltic.

My impression is that the UK doesn't really have the capacity to build a carrier task force these days as even the Falklands were a stretch.

I am under the impression that almost surely they still have the capability to build the ships, they just build the very large queen Elizabeth 2 not too long ago didn't they? just not the will power. Without more Type 45s in action, their shiny new carriers will be shiny new targets in contested waters.

Originally Posted by Rabs

I am under the impression that almost surely they still have the capability to build the ships, they just build the very large queen Elizabeth 2 not too long ago didn't they? just not the will power. Without more Type 45s in action, their shiny new carriers will be shiny new targets in contested waters.

I have no doubt they can build the ships and I have no doubt that they will be excellent ships at that but what I am getting at is that there is more to force projection than 2 carriers, you need a fleet capable of supporting those two carriers and you need the ground and air forces to back them up and I am not certain the British Armed Forces really have that capacity anymore.

Originally Posted by Rabs

.......... queen Elizabeth 2 not too long ago didn't they? just not the will power...........

QE 2 Keel laid in 1967, completed 1969., ....not too long ago

Originally Posted by MontyB

You had one called the Graf Zeppelin and decided to sink it in the Baltic.

Nah, that one doesn't count, it was never finished and the sinking part was official policy as far as I remember...

Hey, a buddy of mine was actually commanding one of the twin 15 cm's originally intended for the Graf Zeppelin when he served up north.

Originally Posted by MontyB

Its an interesting development for the Royal Navy but I really have to wonder when they start talking about force projection and building larger carriers does the RN have the capacity to support such ships in a force projection role anymore?

My impression is that the UK doesn't really have the capacity to build a carrier task force these days as even the Falklands were a stretch.

My thought is that supporting the carriers has to be a concern, especially given the cutbacks in the Type 45 destroyer programme, (originally 12 were going to be built, they were cut back from 12 to 8). While these cuts don't mean carriers being deployed unescorted, I do worry about delays to deployments caused by the need to beg/borrow resources from other missions.

As frustrating to me is the cut back of the Astute attack submarine programme (from seven to a possible four). I think we are seeing the increasing importance of the attack sub as a flexible platform, capable of command, control, missile and torpedo attack and special forces insertion.
One that can be put into an area rapidly and discreetly to put pressure on unpleasant regimes to behave themselves. But to do that you need enough boats.

My worry is that by going for the big glamorous wave-the-flag investment, the capability to do serious work is being undermined.