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upgraded HMS Illustrious begins sea trials

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  • upgraded HMS Illustrious begins sea trials

    HMS Illustrious has begun sea trials following the completion of a £40m maintenance and upgrade programme.


    HMS Illustrious leaves Rosyth to commence preliminary sea trials after her 16-month refit

    The 22,000-tonne ship, affectionately known as 'Lusty', left Rosyth in Fife over the weekend after 16 months in the dockyard where she underwent modifications to turn her into a helicopter and commando carrier, capable of carrying a force of up to 20 helicopters and 600 fully kitted-out personnel.

    The work was carried out by a partnership of Babcock Marine, the ship's company, MOD and BAE Systems. Other work on HMS Illustrious included:

    applying 540,000 litres of paint to the ship, including a fuel-efficient outer hull coating that will save tonnes of fuel and CO2 emissions over her remaining life;
    other improvements that lower the ship's environmental impact, including reverse osmosis fresh water-making systems;
    installation of a new computer and communications system and a defensive anti-torpedo system;
    improvements to the living conditions for the crew and any embarked troops.



    Read more here: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/AnUpgradedHmsIllustriousBeginsSeaTrials.htm

    not the carrier we need, but a welcome addition to the fleet, especially in this current climate.
    Last edited by RoyalGreenJacket; 21 June 2011, 14:21.
    RGJ

    ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

    The Rifles

  • #2
    not the carrier we need

    Carrier is not the problem...just have nothing to fly off it!
    Covid 19 is not over ....it's still very real..Hand Hygiene, Social Distancing and Masks.. keep safe

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    • #3
      How long before the mothballed Harriers are dusted down?

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Jetjock View Post
        How long before the mothballed Harriers are dusted down?
        Well they kept the Ski Jump for some reason ?.
        Don't spit in my Bouillabaisse .

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Laners View Post
          Well they kept the Ski Jump for some reason ?.
          Spotted that. Never say never.

          Comment


          • #6
            Not long is my guess. Cameron will do a 'we listened and responded' number on it.

            Pics of them here. (I know its the SUN just look at the pictures).

            Last edited by Orion; 21 June 2011, 18:05.

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            • #7
              Indoors, sealed and with ground power attached to systems. That's short term readiness in any book. A work up to operational readiness from a crew point of view would take many months.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Jetjock View Post
                Spotted that. Never say never.
                I'm sure the USMC would be happy to lend a few AV8Bs if necessary.


                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                • #9
                  What's striking though is that although the Nimrods were broken up post haste, the Harriers are being kept in dehumidified hangars and look to require minimal reactivation work. The UK MOD don't have a recent history of offering retired front line jets for sale, so it begs the question why?

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Jetjock View Post
                    What's striking though is that although the Nimrods were broken up post haste, the Harriers are being kept in dehumidified hangars and look to require minimal reactivation work. The UK MOD don't have a recent history of offering retired front line jets for sale, so it begs the question why?
                    A little bit of bets being hedged maybe??

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Orion View Post
                      A little bit of bets being hedged maybe??
                      Quite possibly. Falklands maybe?

                      You don't have to look too far into the past for other comparable withdrawals to see the difference.

                      When the Sea Harriers and the Jaguars went, they were almost immediately brought into contact with an oxy-acetylene torch or shipped out to museums. One Sea Harrier actually found it's way into private hands and is still flying.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Jetjock View Post
                        Falklands maybe?
                        :-) Cameron would love one of those, cement his place in history, right behind Thatcher. Yuck what a thought.

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                        • #13
                          http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-in-Libya.html
                          But Harriers could do the job from an aircraft carrier for £40million a YEAR.
                          I think they need to add the cost of about 1,000 crew, fuel and bombs.

                          While a dumb bomb will set you back a few hundred pounds, a Paveway IV is about £30,000.

                          Add 3,500-7,000 litres of fuel each trip and it all adds up.
                          Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Victor View Post
                            http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-in-Libya.html

                            I think they need to add the cost of about 1,000 crew, fuel and bombs.

                            While a dumb bomb will set you back a few hundred pounds, a Paveway IV is about £30,000.

                            Add 3,500-7,000 litres of fuel each trip and it all adds up.
                            but we would save about £40K on hotel bills for the RAF every night

                            the British Army dig-in, the RAF check-in.
                            RGJ

                            ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

                            The Rifles

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by RoyalGreenJacket View Post
                              HMS Illustrious has begun sea trials following the completion of a £40m maintenance and upgrade programme.


                              HMS Illustrious leaves Rosyth to commence preliminary sea trials after her 16-month refit .
                              Note the big blue goliath in the background, bought specially to build the New Carriers in scotland(even though 2 larger cranes already exist in Belfast.)


                              Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                              Comment

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