Article Summary: The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers were designed to restore Britain’s naval power, but constant mechanical issues, aircraft shortages, and weak air defenses have cast doubt on their effectiveness. The HMS Prince of Wales has spent only 21.3% of its time at sea, while the HMS Queen Elizabeth has struggled with breakdowns.
Key Point #1 – Experts warn that without significant upgrades, these carriers won’t survive a modern conflict.
Key Point #2 – With limited F-35B availability and insufficient escort ships, the UK is considering mothballing one carrier at a time. Could it be time to rethink the Royal Navy’s carrier program altogether?
UK’s Queen Elizabeth-Class Aircraft Carriers: A $6 Billion Mistake?
The British Royal Navy operates two aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth-class, and both have been disappointing, suffering from many difficulties. The big ships (Britain’s largest ever built) are rarely at sea.
Both were forced to withdraw from exercises due to breakdowns.
The Royal Navy wanted a pair of carriers for power projection.
Still, constant mechanical failures, deployment delays, and a shortage of F-35 aircraft have left the carriers a shell of their designed intent.
The Queen Elizabeth-Class: A History of Problems
Issues have beset the Queen Elizabeth-class since her commissioning. The Prince of Wales has only spent 21.3 percent of her time at sea, a report by the UK Parliament in May 2023 stated. The carrier had spent 33 percent of its time undergoing repairs.
In 2020, a burst water main in the engine room caused major flooding, significantly damaging the electrical switchboards.
The HMS Queen Elizabeth was supposed to take part in Exercise Steadfast Defender last year, but a pre-sailing inspection had identified “an issue with a coupling on [HMS Queen Elizabeth] starboard propellor shaft.” At the time, the Prince of Wales had just returned to sea after its own propeller shaft issues.
The Queen Elizabeth lost a UK-operated F-35B fighter in the Mediterranean in November 2021, thus sparking a recovery effort to ensure that technology did not fall into Russian hands, which operates several vessels in the region.
After an investigation, it was discovered that the UK F-35B had sucked in a cover that protects the engine air intake when the aircraft is inactive, which had not been removed before take-off.
Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups?
There remain serious questions as to whether carrier strike groups present proper power projection. Several factors influence this.
Aircraft availability is a persistent issue. The UK has built its carrier designs around the F-35B and its air superiority and strike capability. However, procurement delays, maintenance issues, and rising costs have impacted the numbers present. Only a handful of the 138 F-35Bs ordered for purchase are fully operationally available.
Another big issue for the Royal Navy is the supply of support ships required to defend the carrier in the event of an enemy attack. Destroyers and frigates are needed but in short supply, which could impact the carrier’s survivability against a determined near-peer enemy.
Anti-Air Defenses Inadequate
The carriers do not have any medium-to-long-range air defense systems. The F-35B aircraft complement can be scrambled in an attack. However, the carriers only carry three Phalanx CIWS (Close-in Weapons System) systems for aircraft or missile defense.
It is hailed as “the last line of defense” by the manufacturer. In other words, this system will take over once missiles, drones, or aircraft pierce the outer security. The CIWS is extremely effective. The United States Army has used it to take down artillery, mortars, and drones in combat.
However, the maximum effective range is only about 1,500 meters. That is far too close. And with only three Phalanx weapons, a swarm of drones or missiles could be disastrous.
A recent report in November revealed to the London Times that in several exercises and multiple scenarios, the two Queen Elizabeth class carriers were sunk due to enemy missiles, which doesn’t bode well for their survival in combat.
Other UK ships fire the excellent Sea-Viper anti-aircraft missile. They have successfully used it against Houthi drones and missiles during commercial shipping protection operations, and it needs to be added to the carriers as well.
In contrast, American aircraft carrier strike groups constantly upgrade air defenses to counter Chinese anti-ship missiles. The layered defenses are much thicker than those of our British cousins, yet there are still questions about the survivability of the Ford class.
Queen Elizabeth-Class: Mothball One Carrier at a Time?
These developments have prompted talk of limiting the Royal Navy to deploy only one carrier strike group, transferring all air assets to one carrier, bringing it up to a full complement.
This practice is expected to happen when the Prince of Wales carrier strike group (CSG) sails to the Indo-Pacific with the bulk of the available F-35Bs, leaving the HMS Queen Elizabeth vulnerable.
The concept of a significant two-ship class of Royal Navy warship taking turns in mothballs is not without precedent. In the RN, the Albion-class amphibious assault ships (comprised of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark) have been subject to this process since 2010.
This move would reduce operating costs for the Royal Navy and free up the bulk of the crew for other naval assignments.
Last year, many experts were sounding the alarm about the UK carriers surviving a shooting war with a modern enemy. “There is a dissonance between the UK’s military ambitions and its capabilities,” Richard Barrons, a former head of the UK’s armed forces, told the Financial Times. “The risk is that we get drawn into a conflict and can’t sustain our presence, and this exposes a strategic weakness.”
The Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers have had a poor availability record and the Royal Navy doesn’t possess the assets around them to protect all of the F-35B aircraft and the carrier itself. Perhaps it is time to revisit the idea of having carriers at all.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
