The Ocean Type LHD appeared when they started talking to Brazil about joint Naval Projects. They are really pushing the Type 26, have the CVF to show Carrier credentials and that Ocean revision suddenly popped up to show LHD.

Regarding the RN and the Ocean replacement, i think we might have to wait and see on that, if they can get both cleared for full conversion then its possible the Strike Carrier role will be of more importance than LPH so the CVF can’t replace Ocean as such.
The other aspect is i can see their being a shortfall in ship building between the CVF and the start of the Type 26, as the govenment has to fund that down time as part of the 15yr deal that created the warship building merger, you can see them looking to fill that gap with something as they have to spend the money anyway. As you say the SDSR makes no allowance for it so i wouldn’t put it past them selling off an Albion to replace with an LHD to make the best of it !!!. Not an ideal solution being industry & politically driven using a lash up design but it is just the sort of solution you can see them coming up with.:eek:
Thats why they are desperate for GCS orders to kick off the Type 26 early as they are not scheduled for RN service till 2021.

when they convert both cvf to catobar i would love it if they did build one of these LHD,even if they sold both albion & bulwark,maybe in the 2015 sdsr we might find out.hope everybodys haveing a good crimbo.

Oh god this has been done to death!

Three smaller CATOBAR carriers (say 40 thousand tons-ish) would cost the same as three of the current 65 thousand ton design! The cost is not in the steel but rather the systems. A two cat smaller design would of been less capable yet cost similar money!

Three smaller carriers would of cost more then the two the UK is getting!

Exactly the same conclusion was made when the CVA design was put together and it is the same today!

would three stovl cavours be that much more on initial build costs than two catobar cvf ? £2bn each? = £6bn, 2 x cvf including conversion to catobar £6bn+? admittedly 3x cavours would cost more to run but maybe they would be more intune with current needs in flexibilty? be avaliable in more places when needed,hypertheticly 1cvf in maintanance,1 needed but brakes down on route? no capability.

i know it isnt going to happen but i would like a split buy of F35, 90c/10b% a small squad say just 12 F35b for queenie just in case we needed the stovl ability,ok its shorter range & smaller internal bays but its still a good aircraft.:)

cockneyjock 1974 hope you enjoyed the sun? thanks for the 1st hand update on the construction progress,good to hear from you,i assume craneing the cental blocks into place is only half the story,proberbly plumming/electics is where the works at,still looking forward to the sponsons being added,hope you pop back to the forum from time to time if only for a snigger!:D

http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.uk/media/image-library/library-main.aspx

thats good, the ACA website have a few new interesting pictures of the pieceing together of blocks,interesting of the catobar picture update in portsmouth,thanks ACA.:)

yeh cockneyjock1974 provided some good upto date pictures for sure,hope he does post some more,he is a gent.

blimey that seems a we bit quick work cockneyjock1974,the cb03b going on already,thats cool,if i recall in the constrction video,soon the sponsons would go on,then we will really get a good idea of the width of the girl!