HMS Queen Elizabeth is on ‘the cusp on operations’ after the aircraft carrier has arrived back in Portsmouth after undergoing further Carrier Strike Group training.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest and most advanced warship ever constructed in the United Kingdom, costing £3 billion the enormous carrier has been in British waters undergoing sea and flight trials for 70 days ahead of her maiden deployment in 2021.
The Royal Navy has stated after their vigorous training it marks the first time the “fully-trained aircraft carrier” has returned to Portsmouth.
Families of the crew were unable to give the aircraft carrier the traditional quayside welcome at Portsmouth Naval Base because of COVID-19 restrictions, but some waved home their loved ones from the harbour walls.
The squadron, known as ‘The Dambusters’ after the famous raids on German Dams in the Ruhr Valley in 1943, practised landing and taking off from the ship’s 4.5-acre flight deck.
Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, Commodore Steve Moorhouse, said HMS Queen Elizabeth’s return marks a pause in the training.
Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey called HMS Queen Elizabeth’s crew “extraordinary” for the mid-pandemic trials, he said: “They deployed at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak and have remained at sea for over 10 weeks so that they could complete their operational training with the minimal risk of infection,
“They’ve put their duty to our country ahead of spending time with their families during the pandemic and in the process, they’ve taken us a step closer to, once again, having a carrier strike capability with the capacity to project British influence across the globe.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth set sail from Portsmouth in April for sea trials, then returned briefly to base before setting off again for flight trials in the North Sea.
Captain Angus Essenhigh, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Commanding Officer said: “The ship’s company have worked incredibly hard over the past 70 days, making every effort to surpass the high standards set by our assessors,
“They have come through with flying colours which means Her Majesty’s Ship Queen Elizabeth has taken a huge step towards sailing on her maiden deployment, flying the flag for the United Kingdom and demonstrating that we are a global naval power with global ambitions.”
Since leaving Portsmouth at the end of April, the carrier has clocked up 11,500 miles.
Once fully operational, HMS Queen Elizabeth will become the flagship of a Carrier Strike Group, travelling with aircraft and vessels.
The strike group will be able to take on any tasks needed from anything to peacekeeping and humanitarian aid to high-intensity warfighting.
HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales cost around £3 billion each, the two ships will call on other vessels to support them as part of a strike group, including Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, Astute Class nuclear submarines and, in the longer term, Type 26 frigates.
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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