As with almost any global combat power, the largest and most capable assets of the Royal Navy in the UK are the two aircraft carriers in the organization. While the US Navy stands alone with more than ten huge and very capable aircraft carriers, the vast majority of the leading global fighting forces in the Navy have only two aircraft carriers. As a result, these ships are often the naval spine and their most important weapons in the event of any conflict. The French navy, for example, runs just a single plane carrier, Charles de GaulleWho has long been the global pioneer of the fleet.
The Royal Navy invested in developing two specialties Aircraft
Each of which serves its own purpose within the organization. Both members in Queen Elizabeth These aircraft offer dynamic potential and the royal navy can immediately bring air energy to almost any region of conflict on this planet. These two ships are mostly similar in design, but some major differences should be analyzed. In this article, we will try to compare and contradict the two aircraft companies in the Royal Navy.
A deeper look at HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth It is the main ship of this unique category of aircraft carriers. The aircraft company provides some impressive operating capabilities as it can support more than 60 aircraft, including a group of fixed wing, vertigo and independent aircraft. The plane was named in honor of the first HMS Queen ElizabethIt is a super warship of the era of World War I, which was called the name of Queen Elizabeth I. Contrary to the common belief, the ship is not called the name of Queen Elizabeth II, because it carries the first Queen Elizabeth Tudor, specified by Tudor.
HMS Queen Elizabeth She moved to the highest seas for the first time in June 2017, and was later assigned on December 7, 2017, before entering the service properly a few years later in 2020. The ship’s service was carried out under the leadership of the commander commander, Commodore Jerry Kyd, who was originally appointed to this position in 2014, but he did not take officially until May 2016, after he had previously led several British flights.
The plane is designed without the support supported by the catobar, and the plane can only support it capable of vertical or short takeoff (V/Sol). As a result, the carrier’s atmosphere It consists primarily from Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Fighter Fighter AircraftWhich can land and take off vertically. The aerial wing will also include Merlin helicopters, which have an effective role in air -mobile early warning tasks and anti -submarine. Aircraft carrier can also support royal maritime operations, with space for large forces transport planes such as Chinooks. The ship is based on Portsmouth HMNB.
A deeper look at HMS Prince of Wales
Photo: US Navy
While the second Queen Elizabeth-Aircraft movements that will be built and enter the service, HMS Prince of Wales He currently works as a pioneer of the Royal Navy. The aircraft carrier, although it is still not equipped with a catapult or wire, can absorb some large S/VTOL aircraft. Current operational plans invite the ship to accommodate more than 45 F-35B Lightning II a surreptitious multi-tool fighter along with a variety of helicopters and other specialized equipment to support royal maritime operations, According to the Royal Navy.
the Prince of Wales Sea experiences began in September 2019 and reached its base in Portsmouth after only two months, in November 2019, According to the BBC. The ship was officially assigned on December 10, 2019, which was the seventy -seventh anniversary of the dumping of a warship during the First World War, which of the same name, a ship lost at work alongside HMS bodice In 1941. The ship is the eighth ship in the Royal Navy for the name HMS Prince of Wales. Here are some specifications for this impressive and dynamic ship:
category: |
HMS Prince of Wales specification: |
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length: |
932 feet |
Number of floors: |
9 |
It ranges: |
10,000 nautical miles |
The ship was built in 2011 in Rosyth Dockyard and was eventually completed on December 21, 2017, before it was delivered to the Royal Navy in 2019. When active publication, Prince of Wales It is a major part of any group of the Carrier Street in the UK, a group of ships and submarines that will work together to help display power on behalf of the United Kingdom worldwide.
So, what are the biggest similarities between these two ships?
Photo: Ministry of Defense
No hms Queen Elizabeth And hms Prince of Wales Participate in a somewhat common design, which confirms flexibility, integrating advanced technologies, and wide operational capabilities. These ships are similar in several ways, as one will expect from the fact that both are members of the same chapter. For beginners, ships are built on the same dimensions. The length of both ships is about 280 meters, and with a full load of aircraft and goods, they grow about 80,600 tons.
Both ships feature a ski jump slope, which is primarily designed to support the operation of the short craft to take off and vertical landing (Stovl). Moreover, both aircraft aircraft focuses its operations on the use of F-35B, with these swarms that the wing rotry plane such as Merlin’s helicopter with multi-fee capabilities. Both ships also serve the same general operational purpose, providing strong support for energy drop initiatives, the main elements of any group of Carrier group.
These ships include modern sensor wings and long -term advanced radars, which allow them to work effectively as driving ship for the entire carrier group. These ships are also equipped with advanced defensive weapons, including valenx missile systems, which can defend air and sea threats. These aircraft carriers are designed to accommodate many Royal Marines, a step that would support both traditional air warfare operations and amphibious missions. These ships were also built within the framework of a multi -ships engineering program, and they shared similar building operations, as ships ultimately enter the service of members in the same chapter with the same purpose of the general task.
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What are the biggest differences between these two ships?
Photo: US Navy
While the two ships are undoubtedly involved in endless similarities, there are some noticeable differences between the two ships. It was also discussed previously, HMS Queen Elizabeth The leading ship was in the category of this aircraft carrier, and it was assigned earlier, and eventually entered the service earlier. HMS Prince of WalesHowever, he did not follow everything after.
Each ship had its own agenda and marine experimental challenges, which means that Prince of Wales Did you enter the service in the end after construction? HMS Prince of Wales She faced many floods and mechanical issues during their marine experiments, which require large -scale repairs and postpone the entry of the aircraft carrier into the service.
Because of entering the service first, HMS Queen Elizabeth He participated in many previous experiences and experimental programs, and has helped create a royal sea play book on how to use these new aircraft companies. However, hms Prince of WalesAlthough the service enters later, ‘. In addition, the model will be named in honor Prince of Wales And the predecessor of the ship.

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The biggest difference between the two ships is their payment systems
HMS Queen Elizabeth It is primarily dependent on the integrated electrical payment system, which is operated by a pair of Mand 36 -megawatts MT30 and four diesel engines 10 megawatts. In this system, gas turbines and diesel engines work together to produce energy, which are fed to the electric motors that connect to the fan of the ship.
This system provides an exceptional fuel efficiency, and allows the ship to reduce noise, which makes it difficult to track enemy submarines or radar systems. Moreover, it allows the ship to travel beyond most of the vessels that work traditionally (it is clear that nuclear -powered aircraft carriers have almost an unlimited range).
In contrast, HMS Prince of Wales A more traditional mechanical engine system uses a more traditional mechanical system, somewhat different from the IEP system. The mechanical arrangement of the direct engine is much easier to maintain it. By providing both systems on its aircraft companies, the Royal Navy can benefit from this operational flexibility.