2 UK new CV approved
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£2bn Navy ships get the OK --http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007180541,00.html
By JOHN KAY
Chief Reporter
and TOM NEWTON-DUNN
Defence Editor
April 21, 2007
COMMENT ON THIS STORY
ROYAL Navy top brass were cock-a-hoop last night after the go-ahead was given to build two new super aircraft carriers each worth £2BILLION.
Senior Service chiefs feared plans for the “floating battlefields” may be axed because of budget cuts.
But defence chiefs and Government officials decided they were crucial if Britain is to keep its place as a world military power.
The move will create jobs in Portsmouth, Hants, and the Clyde shipyards in Scotland where the 60,000-tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth II and sister ship HMS Prince of Wales will be built.
The vessels — which can carry 50 aircraft including fighters and bombers and serve all three forces at once — will come into service between 2012 and 2015.
They will replace our three existing aircraft carriers — Illustrious, Ark Royal and Invincible — and are TWICE the size of the dated vessels which can launch only Harrier Jump Jets.
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They will give Britain massive extra military muscle and mean the RAF will no longer need to seek permission to overfly other nations.
A military source said: “They can just park up six miles offshore from an enemy country and deliver devastating firepower.
“They’ll give a vastly increased range to anything the RAF could offer. Just the threat of deploying them may make hostile nations see sense.”
A top Naval source said: “This means Britain will remain a significant military power.”
It is thought the decision was made after criticism of the Government over its plans to mothball Navy frigates and destroyers.
The ships will be built by a consortium of BAe Systems and VT Group which have yards on the Clyde and at Portsmouth.
They will have a “ski-jump” and a “catapult” for launching planes. Aircraft will be able to land vertically after missions.
Former Navy officer Mike Critchley, of Warship World magazine, said of the vessels: “They put the Navy back in the First Division.”
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2.more images here
3.CVF - Royal Navy Future Aircraft Carrier, United Kingdom -
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Will Estonian navy get CV too?
Command and Support Ship Admiral Pitka (A230)
Ex-Beskytteren
Modified Hvidbjørnen-class
Type Command and Support Ship
Built 1975, Aalborg Værft, Limjord, Denmark
Displacement ~ 1900 t
Dimensions 74,7 x 12,2 x 5,3 m
Main machinery 3 diesels B&W Alpha 7201 hp
Speed 18 knots
Complement 43 (8 officers)
Guns 1 USN 3 in (76 mm)
Radars 2 Litton Decca E, I-band
Structure strengthened for ice operations, helicopter deck
Responsibilities
The Command and Support Ship Admiral Pitka was delivered to Estonia by Denmark on November 21st 2000, a day that Estonian Navy celebrated its 82nd anniversary. Estonia's president Lennart Meri was one of the honorary guests of the official ceremony. Since then ENS Admiral Pitka has been the flagship of Estonian Navy.
The ship is a platform for the staff that conducts mine countermeasure (MCM) operations and exercises. ENS Admiral Pitka responsibilities also include supporting other participating units with fuel, water, food etc. Onboard of the ship are office and living rooms for the staff members and special facilities to provide medical support.
The ship was built in Denmark for North Atlantic and Greenland waters; therefore she has strengthened structure for ice operations.
ENS Admiral Pitka has been assigned to the Baltic Mine Countermeasures Squadron (BALTRON) as a staff and support ship for several times which has helped to gather valuable experience in co-operating with NATO forces.
From May 2005 to March 2006 ENS Admiral Pitka was assigned as the Command and Support Ship of Standing NATO Response Force Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) which is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF) maritime capability. ENS Admiral Pitka was the first vessel from the Baltic navies to be part of the force.
Traditions
ENS Admiral Pitka's epigraph is Pro Patria . Colours on the coat of arms symbolize the knight's honour and make a reference to historical ties and today's co-operation between Estonia and Denmark. The Cross refers to Estonian Cross of Liberty and marks Admiral Johan Pitka's important role in Estonia's fight for gaining independence.
In February 2004 Estonian city of Rakvere and ENS Admiral Pitka signed the friendship agreement. This agreement allows for ENS Admiral Pitka to carry the coat of arms of Rakvere and to promote the city in foreign harbours. The crew also participates in Rakvere city days and has organized fundraisings for the local disabled children's home.
Once a year the crew takes a short sea trip with their family members onboard to show them what a life at sea is about.
Rear Admiral Johan Pitka
Rear Admiral Johan Pitka was born on 19.02.1872. He became a merchant fleet captain on 1895 and was active in shipping business from 1907 - 1917 in UK and Estonia.
In 1917, after revolution in Russia, when the idea of independent Estonia turned to be realistic, he became one of the key figures in the fight for independence.
Since 1918 he was active in establishing National Guard, sea forces, border control and this time's “secret weapons – armoured trains”. He took part from the War of Independence as a Chief of Estonian Sea Forces. On 22.04.1919 he was given Captain's (Navy) rank and on 21.09.1919 was promoted to Rear Admiral. In January 1920 to give recognition to his activities during the War The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George Knight Commander (KCMG) ordain was donated to him by HM King George V. The Estonian government valued his contribution by the Cross of Liberty I/1.
After the War of Independence RADM Pitka retired from the Navy and became active in other fields of social life. He was also active in business and agriculture.
After Soviet occupation in June 1940 he escaped to Finland and returned to Estonia in 1944 to organize resistance against the Soviet troops and to restore Estonian independence. Since September 1944 there is no information about him.
Rear Admiral Johan Pitka is considered to be one of the most fundamental fighters for Estonian independence and legendary person of Estonian history. -
About time they approved those carriers, the existing 3 are very old. Any chance these 3 carriers will be sold to some other countries like in the past?
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have they decided which variant of F-35 they using for the carrier? F-35B or F-35C?
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Is it necessary to have aircraft carrier to show that you are world great power?
4 of the 'Perm 5' - US, Russia, France, UK, have aircraft carriers. I am sure China will follow suit..
Maintenance of carriers is expensive.. (1 GBP= S$2.6)
BTW, UK is already cash-strapped.
To protect a carrier, you need groups of warships, like destroyers and cruisers submarines hunters, and submarines.. Furthermore, destroyers and cruisers should have at least 100 long ranged SAMs (SM-1 in Aegis ships) to defend carriers from array of aircrafts , and long ranged anti-ship missile, anti - ship cruise missiles.. -
Delayed.