Category: Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft Carriers, Naval History, Naval News, Naval Technology

Naval News – China’s second Aircraft Carrier Shandong (CV-17) begins Sea Trials

Shandong 4

China’s new aircraft carrier for the People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N), the Type 001A Shandong (CV-17) officially began sea trials on Sunday 13 April 2018.

The 65,ooo-ton carrier, launched in April 2017 left the Dalian shipyard in Liaoning Province earlier today, where she was built by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).

Like her predecessor the Liaoning, Shandong will operate a ski-jump assisted Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) launch system. The new carrier will be able to embark up to 24 Shenyang J-15 multirole fighters (a variant of the Sukhoi Su-33 shown below) and to up to ten helicopters (Changshe Z-18, Ka-31, or Harbin Z-9).

J-15

Once commissioned, the Shandong is expected to serve in either the North Sea Fleet or East Sea Fleet.

You can find out more about the ship here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_001A_aircraft_carrier

 

Aircraft Carriers, Carrier Strike Capability, Commissioning Ceremony, Military History, Naval History, Naval News, Naval Technology, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Navy News, Royal Navy, Royal Navy News

Naval News – New additions to the RN and RAN Surface Fleets

HMS Queen Elizabeth conducts vital system tests off the coast of Scotland

There have been two recent significant additions to the Surface Fleets of both the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

On Thursday 7 December 2017 HMS Queen Elizabeth (R09), the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers, was commissioned in front of Her Majesty The Queen.

At almost 70,000 tons, HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy as is based in Portsmouth. She begins Operational Sea Trials (OST) in January 2018 before conducting integrated flight trials with F-35Bs from 617 Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF) later in the year in the US.

HMS Queen Elizabeth Ships Crest

The ship’s motto is ‘Semper eadem‘ which means ‘Always the same‘ and she inherits five (5) battle honours from the two previous RN ships of the same name:

DARDANELLES 1915

CRETE 1941

SABANG 1944

BURMA 1944-45

EAST INDIES 1945

You can find out more about her here: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/queenelizabeth

On Saturday 23 September 2017, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) welcomed HMAS Hobart (DDG 39) to the fleet.

HMAS Hobart Commissioning

HMAS Hobart is the first of three Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyers (DDGs) based on the Spanish F100 class Frigate, and equipped with the Aegis Baseline 7.1 Combat System from the United States.

HMAS Hobart III Crest

The ship’s motto is ‘Grow with Strength’ which is taken from the coat of arms of the City of Hobart. She inherits nine (9) battle honours from the two previous RAN ships of the same name:

MEDITERRANEAN 1941

INDIAN OCEAN 1941

CORAL SEA 1942

SAVO ISLAND 1942

GUADALCANAL 1942

PACIFIC 1942–45

EAST INDIES 1940

BORNEO 1945

VIETNAM 1967-70

HMAS Hobart Battle Honours Board

You can find out more about her here:  http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-hobart-iii