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Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters

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Purple Dave
12/29/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
Heh. This reminds me of when the French built a naval craft about a decade ago, and it was the shining gem of the European NATO-affiliated navies because it was so much bigger than all the rest. Or at least it seemed that way until we'd run half a dozen run-of-the-mill naval vessels past it and they'd all dwarf it. It's like being proud that you're the one guy in town who could afford to buy a Hummer H1, and then someone sends a convoy of Canyoneros parading past your house.
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swartz
12/29/08

@Purple Dave:

because bigger is always better? bigger is harder to hit, cheaper to operate and cheaper to build, so you can have more bigger ones for the same price. oh wait i mixed it up.

maybe 2 smaller ones is better than one big one? (if you have limted funds)
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Purple Dave
12/29/08

@swartz:
Military vessels are not about efficiency of operation. They are about efficiency of results. If you're the only one standing when the dust settles, then clearly you're the only one who didn't underspend on your equipment. Unfortunately, by the time that question can be answered, it's a little too late to change your mind about letting the budget run the military.
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Inshard Naizer
12/28/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
What about its onboard defense systems???? A new carrier would at least have something new to prevent hostile attacks, right?
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Dizznizzle
12/29/08

@Inshard Naizer: Defensive systems? How about a dozen or so unrivaled fighter jets that could take down anything near it? And yes, the battalion of destroyers, battleships, and such nearby won't hurt.
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Purple Dave
12/29/08

@Dizznizzle:
All the US battleships have been retired, from what I recall. Part of this was due to the oddity of the ammunition used in the main guns, where each round fired changes the size of the gun barrel enough that they need to be fired in sequence. Much simpler to just launch a few fighters and drop some ordnance on them. Also a lot more precise.
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Noobs-R-Us
12/28/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
Great! Considering that Britain is among the only few counties that have actually used their naval power for offensive purposes in history. Those countries would be Great Britain, Germany and Japan.
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aZn sensaZn
12/28/08

@Noobs-R-Us:
You must be joking (I hope). The US Navy did quite a bit during WW2...
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snideguy
12/28/08

@lincch01: And there was a fellow called Matthew Calbraith Perry. And John Stevens. And, for that matter, plenty of Romans and Greeks.
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Purple Dave
12/29/08

@snideguy:
Perry just initiated a Gaijin Smash, not the start of a real war. Not that I'm saying the OP was correct, mind you, just that a show of force isn't quite the same thing as actually attacking someone.
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Andham
12/28/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
Perhaps the European appears to cost less than the American once because European moneys are worth a lot more than American moneys?
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Purple Dave
12/29/08

@Andham:
Perhaps the European model appears to cost less because it's what we'd use as a lifeboat for our aircraft in the event that one of our normal aircraft carriers sank. Seriously. They'd have like half a dozen of these tethered off the stern and just tow them around until they actually needed them for something.
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Andune
12/28/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
"Two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines"

Now what is wrong with nuclear propulsion?
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First
12/28/08

@Andune: Yeah, I agree...

Why didn't they use a pair of Incom 4L4 fusial thrust engines?

If they are good enough for Luke Skywalker & the Entire Rebel Army You'd think they would be good enough for the Brits!
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Purple Dave
12/29/08

@winmac:
Dude...don't be ridiculous. It takes four of those things to move a little tiny single-passenger craft through vacuum, with constant thrust. There's no way they'd be able to push an aircraft carrier, even if it is one of those pocket-sized models.
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KhaiJB
12/28/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
erm...this is news? the project started in 2002 and the design was finalised in 2003 with the MOD announcing the contract in 2007.
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Makkuro
12/28/08

In reply to Britain Building Next-Generation Aircraft Carriers for F-35 Fighters
How did 16,000 Sq. Meter come to 370 acres? Did I really fail my math class that bad?
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KhaiJB
12/28/08

@Makkuro:" 1.5 million m2 of paintwork, which is 370 acres or slightly more than acreage of Hyde park. "

[www.mod.uk]
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Purple Dave
12/29/08

@Makkuro:
Ah, see, you move the decimal over a few places, and then...well, you convert the rest to a more practical unit of measure.
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