Queen Elizabeth's Air Wing and first deployment

[Uncle Fester]

UK Defence Journal:
British supercarrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to deploy to the Pacific

Some interesting bits in here about Big Liz's maiden deployment plans and Air Wing composition. Not least of which, this:

"Recently, the Ministry of Defence confirmed plans for the deployment of American F-35 aircraft alongside British jets aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth...The addition of US Marine Corps aircraft will see HMS Queen Elizabeth sail with 24 or so F-35Bs in addition to around 14 or so helicopters for her maiden deployment. It is understood that the US aircraft will augment British jets on coalition operations.

I heard about a VMA deploying aboard Illustrious a few years back for summer surge, but I understood that to be a one-off. Wonder if international cross-decking will become a more regular thing.

 

[robav8r]

Stupid question: are F-35B's ready for combat operations ???

 

[Pags]

Probably depends on who you ask and how you define "ready".

 

[Flash]

...I heard about a VMA deploying aboard Illustrious a few years back for summer surge, but I understood that to be a one-off. Wonder if international cross-decking will become a more regular thing.

Maybe 'semi-regular', it'll take the Brits a few years to get their F-35B fleet FOC and until then I think the Marines will fill at least some of the gaps.

 

[Malo83]

When do they break out the Rum!

 

[Uncle Fester]

Maybe 'semi-regular', it'll take the Brits a few years to get their F-35B fleet FOC and until then I think the Marines will fill at least some of the gaps.

No, I get what the Brits are getting out of the deal. I was more surprised that we're going to have enough operational Marine F-35s by 2021 to spare some for our cousins across the pond.

 

[SynixMan]

Good deal for the Marines who get to hit the ship's bar every night.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

A deployment on a British carrier sounds about a thousand times more appealing than a typical MEU float, and a squadron bar is pretty low on a list of reasons why.

 

[Flash]

No, I get what the Brits are getting out of the deal. I was more surprised that we're going to have enough operational Marine F-35s by 2021 to spare some for our cousins across the pond.

They'll find enough, it is a big enough showpiece for both services and countries.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Found an old local news blurb about the float:

 

[Pags]

When I was at 26 we sent a SARDET out to one of the Brit carriers off the coast of NC for a few weeks to support VMA ops off the Brit boat. I can't remember which boat it was but they had a blast.

 

[jtmedli]

When I was at 26 we sent a SARDET out to one of the Brit carriers off the coast of NC for a few weeks to support VMA ops off the Brit boat. I can't remember which boat it was but they had a blast.

The British destroyer that was on deployment with us pretty much showed us how it ought to be done. Those guys looked like they were having a blast.

 

[Jim123]

When do they break out the Rum!

 

[Uncle Fester]

Alas, the rum ration ended on July 31, 1970 (Black Tot Day) though the RNZN apparently kept it going until 1990.

"Chips and beer" before dinner is still very much a thing on H.M.'s ships, though.

 

[LFCFan]

If I recall there were plans/discussions about doing this with USN F-35Cs back when Lizzie was supposed to be a CATOBAR boat.