For a change, a boat in the Solent…

…the Big E is in next week (from 2nd July)…

Saw the USS Enterprise (the sea-bound one) in the Solent this afternoon.

Flood.™

Oh?
Thanks for the heads-up – I might pop my head in down there sometime, then…;)
(USS Harry S Truman in May last year)

Flood.™

Flood,

the Big E is in next week (from 2nd July)

and I’m not talking class A imports from Holland 😀

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Touchdown-News/message/25305

The French can keep Hoon, and we’ll throw in Blair and Prescott free.

Ministry of Defence – Defence Information and COmmunication Delegation
Paris, June 8th, 2004

ENTENTE CORDIALE : Mrs. Alliot-Marie and Mr. Hoon on board Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, on June 9th

Michèle Alliot-Marie will meet her British counterpart, Mr. Geoff Hoon aboard Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier off Portsmouth, on June 9th, as part of the Entente cordiale. Both ministers will notably discuss bilateral co-operation and European defence with the development of the Procurement agency and the joint tactical Groups.
The lessons drawn from common operations against terrorism will also be debated.

Presumably why the Patrouille de France are performing a display this evening…..

Might be something on modern military if you fancy chancing your arm with the search facility…;)

Flood.™

Nice to see a proper Carrier in British waters.
Bloody shame its not one of ours.
Werent our current efforts originally designed as helicopter carriers before the SHAR came on the scene?
I’ve seen mixed reports in the press about our proposed new carriers, but as usual there’s all the stuff about having to make cuts to the programme. No surprises there then!
Is anyone up to date with whats happening?

A godwill visit o mark the centenary of the “Entente Cordiale”, Ren Frew:

“Over 1,600 French sailors will hit the streets of Portsmouth during June 7-10 when the 40,000-ton aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle anchors in the Solent on a visit to mark the centenary of the special Anglo-French alliance and friendship known as the Entente Cordiale.

The Charles de Gaulle is France’s premier warship and her visit emphasises the importance with which the 100-year friendship between the two nations and the two navies is viewed by both countries.

Before the carrier anchors off Stokes Bay, Gosport, at 8.30 am on June 7, she will fire a 21-gun salute, which will be returned from shore at Fort Blockhouse. Among the highlights of the visit will be a fly-past by the Patrouille de France – the French equivalent of the Red Arrows – over the Solent at about 6.30 pm on June 9. That evening there will be a cocktail party on board for 600 invited guests who will be ferried to the carrier by boats from Portsmouth Naval Base.

A 65-strong French Army band is being flown in specially to play for the guests at the cocktail party and as they wait to be embarked in the boats. It will also play at a public place in Portsmouth yet to be decided.

The Charles de Gaulle, under the command of Captain Xavier Magne, was commissioned in May, 2001. Like US aircraft carriers she is nuclear powered. She has the capacity to carry a mixed air group of up to 40 aircraft including Super Etendard strike fighters, E2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, Rafale F1 fighters, and a mixture of AS 565 Panther, AS 322 Cougar and Super Frelon helicopters, plus Dauphin search and rescue helicopters”.

(Credit: posting by Dave S. on Touchdown-News, June 3rd)

Sadly true, EN: the tragic result of a nation run by bean-counters and a long succession of tax-cutting Tory budgets. 😀

The first report I saw mentioned 11 Super Etendards plus two AS.565MA Panther choppers aboard, Flood. No real news since then although 10 Super Etendard serials were reported last night.

Best regards

Steve

p.s. rumours of a visit to Stokes Bay (same location as the CdG in Flood’s great pics) of the USS Enterprise from June 18th have been strongly denied today.

Jee , thanks for the lesson Steve. You know way more than I do 🙂

You can’t mean President Blair of Europe

Sadly true, EN: the tragic result of a nation run by bean-counters and a long succession of tax-cutting Tory budgets. 😀

Typical they always blame the Bean Counters when something goes wrong.

However the present occupier of No.10 is doing his level best to reduce the strength of the armed forces even though he’s got them at full stretch as it is.

Why was it there Flood ? On it’s way to the joint forces excercises off the Scottish coast perchance ?

A godwill visit o mark the centenary of the “Entente Cordiale”, Ren Frew:

“Over 1,600 French sailors will hit the streets of Portsmouth during June 7-10 when the 40,000-ton aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle anchors in the Solent on a visit to mark the centenary of the special Anglo-French alliance and friendship known as the Entente Cordiale.

The Charles de Gaulle is France’s premier warship and her visit emphasises the importance with which the 100-year friendship between the two nations and the two navies is viewed by both countries.

Before the carrier anchors off Stokes Bay, Gosport, at 8.30 am on June 7, she will fire a 21-gun salute, which will be returned from shore at Fort Blockhouse. Among the highlights of the visit will be a fly-past by the Patrouille de France – the French equivalent of the Red Arrows – over the Solent at about 6.30 pm on June 9. That evening there will be a cocktail party on board for 600 invited guests who will be ferried to the carrier by boats from Portsmouth Naval Base.

A 65-strong French Army band is being flown in specially to play for the guests at the cocktail party and as they wait to be embarked in the boats. It will also play at a public place in Portsmouth yet to be decided.

The Charles de Gaulle, under the command of Captain Xavier Magne, was commissioned in May, 2001. Like US aircraft carriers she is nuclear powered. She has the capacity to carry a mixed air group of up to 40 aircraft including Super Etendard strike fighters, E2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, Rafale F1 fighters, and a mixture of AS 565 Panther, AS 322 Cougar and Super Frelon helicopters, plus Dauphin search and rescue helicopters”.

(Credit: posting by Dave S. on Touchdown-News, June 3rd)

And to think the Royal Navy used to have ships like that. Today we’re lucky if they can muster up a flotilla of rowing boats.

Sadly true, EN: the tragic result of a nation run by bean-counters and a long succession of tax-cutting Tory budgets. 😀

I counted at least ten Super Etendards on deck – anyone see anything else around?

The first report I saw mentioned 11 Super Etendards plus two AS.565MA Panther choppers aboard, Flood. No real news since then although 10 Super Etendard serials were reported last night.

Best regards

Steve

p.s. rumours of a visit to Stokes Bay (same location as the CdG in Flood’s great pics) of the USS Enterprise from June 18th have been strongly denied today.

I like the flag

Why was it there Flood ? On it’s way to the joint forces excercises off the Scottish coast perchance ?

Certainly for safety issues during the D_day celebration

Why was it there Flood ? On it’s way to the joint forces excercises off the Scottish coast perchance ?

Amazingly , it’s the first time I see it 🙂

And to think the Royal Navy used to have ships like that. Today we’re lucky if they can muster up a flotilla of rowing boats.