Posted on 02/04/2024 7:17:05 AM PST by leopud
From: Navy Lookout - Independent Royal Navy news and analysis 2/3/2024 During last-minute checks ahead of sailing for NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, it has been discovered that HMS Queen Elizabeth has a significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft. The ship will not sail on 4th February as planned and instead, HMS Prince of Wales will be readied to replace her.
The RN has instituted additional checks on the aircraft carrier’s shaft lines as a result of the painful lessons learned from past experience with HMS Prince of Wales. In the course of an inspection, concerns have arisen around one of the couplings on the starboard shaft. It should be noted that this is not the same problem that afflicted HMS Prince of Wales. Although the ship remains in class (ie. technically seaworthy), it has been decided as a sensible precaution, to withdraw her from the exercise until the issue can be thoroughly investigated and remedied. The Fleet Commander said: “Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday. HMS Prince of Wales will take the place of HMS Queen Elizabeth on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.“ Demonstrating the value of having two aircraft carriers, at very short notice the ship’s company of HMS Prince of Wales have been told to prepare to sail. This process will probably take a week or so and will involve rapidly accelerating existing maintenance tasks, the transfer of equipment from her sister as well as storing and fuelling ship. HMS Prince of Wales was due to take over as flagship from her sister later this year but will now have to work up much more rapidly than planned as she has yet to embark more than a couple of jets or a full air group. 2024 continues to be difficult for the RN but being able to adapt and overcome is a core value of the service.
They've got us in a pickle as well. Cheap drones are changing the game of warfare faster than we can counteract. We'd better figure out something fast.
probably, have to change the oil in the bearing sumps, clean the coffee grounds away from the screws. Warm up the Main Engine lube oil, engage the jacking gear, should be able to rotate the shaft over once every 5 minutes. JMO
yea, as a former MM3 aboard the USS Guam LPH-9, I would think one of the shaft bearings is wiped, or misaligned. the shaft coupling would have never left production if it had issues.
The unwillingness of NATO members to arm themselves indicate that they are unwilling participants in the American Empire. I don't blame them a bit.
You mean they have 3 dinghies, not two like us.
Any Brit sailor will tell you that you have to work the shaft. Run helps.
The Sun never sets on…
Well stated!
Totally agree!
The U.K. meets the NATO goal.
United Kingdom 2.07%
Latvia 2.27%
Hungary 2.43%
Romania 2.44%
Finland 2.45%
Lithuania 2.54%
Estonia 2.73%
Greece 3.01%
United States 3.49%
Poland 3.9%
You know we won’t though.
Pain is necessary for change.
Large entities are reactive, not proactive.
Complex systems breakdown. Welcome to the third world. Gradually, then suddenly.
...Londonistan Emirate.
“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face— forever.”
Bent shaft doesn’t bode well.
Agreed, and thanks for the clear-headed summary.
My wife and I lived had legal residency in Germany before her retirement and our return to the states. I have worked in many nations in Europe, and attest that your view is correct. The aim of the European socialists in all their seeming flavors is one thing: provide welfare to an many as possible to assure votes for themselves, and rely therefore on the US as the "world policeman."
This is why so many of the European "forces" are withered, and many face the same recruitment problems now which afflict the American Leftists' dream of a "tranny, woke and perverse, effeminate" military. In which so many no longer wish to serve voluntarily.
One minor correction: we aren't affording it either, as the rapidly growing national debt testifies. "Liberalism" has run its course, and spent itself -- in the US as in Europe -- in indebted servitude.
Something's going to stop, because it can't go on. Period.
Best wishes.
“The U.K. meets the NATO goal.”
That’s the point !
The UK actually meets the supposed goal, and it is still a shambles.
It wasn’t the point, it was a fact correction, settle down.
Some artificial spending number <> actual military capability.
It may be necessary, but not sufficient.
Look at Poland.
They are spending big, but on high tech gold plated toys like F35 and Abrams.
The lesson form the Counteroffensive is they should be buying artillery guns, artillery shells, landmines, entrenching equipment and drones.
But the MIC isn’t interested in high volume, low margin weapons, those get made in gov’t owned factories.
The MIC wants complex high cost low volume gold plated weapon, which have much more scope for bribes, payoffs and ripoffs for the elite.
See post 38, “it was a fact correction, settle down.”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.