[headdie]

For those interested the Royal Navy have released aerial photos of the nearly finished hull for the under construction HMS Queen Elizabeth.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151584776763205.1073742049.188183478204&type=1

[Aardwolf]

Does it go fasta'?

[SpardaSon21]

No, since that would spill everyone's tea and be most undignified.

[BritishShivans]

Why is there a lot of rust on the deck? I don't know much about ship construction, but wouldn't you want to avoid having the hull/other bits and pieces rust, at least before the ship is complete? Seems rather strange to me.

[Mongoose]

I doubt it really matters, since it'd just be surface rust, and they'd presumably sand it down and then paint/seal it afterwards.

[Phantom Hoover]

are these the ones that won't have any aircraft to carry

[headdie]

are these the ones that won't have any aircraft to carry

[redsniper]

It's cute!

[Dragon]

I doubt it really matters, since it'd just be surface rust, and they'd presumably sand it down and then paint/seal it afterwards.

Yeah. When working near the sea, you must live with things sometimes literally rusting overnight, or blow a fortune on protective paint. It's better to leave metal that way until you're done with it, then paint it over once you're sure it's not going to be messed with anymore.

[Mars]

. . . apparently it carries point defenses that are actually designed to shoot down RPGs? (as opposed to CWIS, which apparently does an alright job at that task, given the pirate attack on an Arleigh Burke a few years back.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30mm_DS30M_Mark_2_Automated_Small_Calibre_Gun

[Suongadon]

Shoot down what now? Pretty sure its just meant to shoot up boats that some jackass armed with an RPG could be in. Unless it can also intercept bullets. 

[NGTM-1R]

Shoot down what now? Pretty sure its just meant to shoot up boats that some jackass armed with an RPG could be in. Unless it can also intercept bullets. 

Intercepting 3" and up gunfire is, in fact, totally reasonable with modern CIWS systems.

[The E]

Shoot down what now? Pretty sure its just meant to shoot up boats that some jackass armed with an RPG could be in. Unless it can also intercept bullets. 

The system described in the wiki article certainly sounds more like a system to intercept small boats, not projectiles.

Also, I am reasonably certain that an RPG can not inflict more than superficial damage on a supercarrier.

[headdie]

yer it looks to be an anti small craft system, but then we have Sea Dart missiles which has a confirmed anti-missile strike which is being phased out with the new generation of escort warships which mount PAAMS "Sea Viper" in the same role, though I believe it has had testing issues if we get it sorted it will be a much more capable system

[Dragon]

Also, I am reasonably certain that an RPG can not inflict more than superficial damage on a supercarrier.

Yeah, I wonder what would actually cost more. Fixing a dinky little hole from an RPG impact (not even that if we're talking a HE round), or firing the Phalanx for half a second it takes to shot down a round?

[The E]

Also, I am reasonably certain that an RPG can not inflict more than superficial damage on a supercarrier.

Yeah, I wonder what would actually cost more. Fixing a dinky little hole from an RPG impact (not even that if we're talking a HE round), or firing the Phalanx for half a second it takes to shot down a round?

Problem there is that you need a CIWS mount that can depress low enough to engage the RPG, a radar and mount system that can turn fast enough to pick up the missile and engage it.....
The thing is that RPGs will be fired at such low ranges that I am reasonably sure it's more cost-effective to repair afterwards instead of trying to build an interception system.

[StarSlayer]

Granted the mounting on a carrier is probably to high for it to depress and engage but Sea Whiz has intercepted RPGs at close range and with little warning.

[Dragon]

Problem there is that you need a CIWS mount that can depress low enough to engage the RPG, a radar and mount system that can turn fast enough to pick up the missile and engage it.....
The thing is that RPGs will be fired at such low ranges that I am reasonably sure it's more cost-effective to repair afterwards instead of trying to build an interception system.

You don't need to invent a new CIWS system, some time ago there was a case of an USN ship (I don't remember then name) which was attacked by pirates, pretty much by mistake. It took out 3 out of 4 RPG rounds with a Phalanx system. It was a surprise, because nobody expected it to do that, but it preformed admirably. On the other hand, one round that did hit left a small dent that was quickly patched up, so I wonder if the burst didn't actually cost more than the patch for the hull. 20mm shells don't exactly come cheap, and Phalanx fires 75 of them per second.

[The E]

Right, so the technical requirements are already covered, that's cool.

But, the point is, a CIWS mount on a Destroyer or Frigate has a good chance of being able to engage a shoulder-fired RPG since it is not that high above the waterline. On a Carrier, the PD mounts are situated much higher, and so it is entirely possible for an attacker to get inside the minimum range for those systems and fire his weapons (Thereby causing work for the Carrier's maintenance crew). Adding mounts able to protect the carrier at those close ranges strikes me as being not cost-effective (As well as your point regarding the ammunition expenditure).

[StarSlayer]

Of course if somebody is able to plink a carrier with an RPG then somebody has failed horribly at their jobs.