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Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier (CVA-01)

First proposed in the early 1960s, the CVA-01 program was devised as a replacement for all existing fleet carriers in the Royal Navy fleet, all of which of WW2 vintage in design and in some cases construction as well. Initially conceived as a 58,000 ton ship with an air wing of just 48 to 50 aircraft, growing threats from the Soviet Union and upgrades to maritime infrastructure in Britain would see the design balloon to 70,000 tons at full load, with an air wing of 70 aircraft. Despite a tumultuous start to development and nearly being canceled in the 1966 Defence White Paper, the first keel would be laid in 1968, to be named Queen Elizabeth. Although originally planned as a class of four ships, only three would be laid down, with Duke of Edinburgh laid down in 1970 and Prince of Wales in 1972. The three carriers would enter service in 1976, 1978, and 1980 respectively, being the largest warships ever built in Britain and to ever serve the British Royal Navy. These ships, complemented by the Type 43 destroyers and Crown Colony-class cruisers, would make up the backbone of the Royal Navy's strike force throughout the Cold War, serving into the early 21st century.

Right, with the in-universe lore out of the way, some backstory on the real CVA-01 program, the ship was intended to be the first of a class that would replace all of the Royal Navy's carriers, most of which had been designed before or during the Second World War. CVA-01 and CVA-02 were intended to replace HMS Victorious and HMS Ark Royal, while CVA-03 and CVA-04 would have replaced HMS Hermes and HMS Eagle respectively. Following a government review, in the form of the 1966 Defence White Paper, the project was cancelled, along with the proposed Type 82 destroyer class meant to serve as escorts for the CVA-01s, with only HMS Bristol completed to a modified design. This has been something I have been wanting to do since the game released, and with the addition of custom textures, it's finally here, for all you to enjoy. Rather than the standard Phantom fit, I decided to go a bit more obscure route, opting for the Anglo-French Variable Geometry Fighter of the early 1960s, what would eventually become the Tornado, using reskinned MiG-23As to represent what I have dubbed the Tempest FG.1. Overall, a bit painful, but overall pretty fun to make, enjoy!

Update Note: I have removed the AFVGs from the carriers, as well as all of the Soviet based aircraft and replaced them with American counterparts. Same change on the Formidable. All of the removed aircraft are still usable via the custom air wing in the mission editor, however, they are no longer on the carriers by default.