HMS Queen Elizabeth has been marking her fifth anniversary of arriving in Portsmouth.
The flagship, often seen sailing past the Isle of Wight, is the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy.
She made her debut in the city five years ago and was formally commissioned in December 2017.
As well as state-of-the-art weaponry and communications systems, HMS Queen Elizabeth boasts five gyms, a chapel, and a medical centre on board. She weighs a total of 65,000 tonnes and can travel at an impressive 25+ knots.
Since her arrival, she has travelled the globe on many operations and exercises, showing the UK’s commitment to global leadership and cooperation. In 2019, she supported the NATO task group in Westlant19, a significant milestone for the ship which had Royal Navy and RAF jets embarked for the first time. The five-week exercise took place on the east coast of North America and was designed to put the F-35 jets and the carrier’s capabilities through their paces through a series of mission briefs, weapon drops, and much more.
In 2021, the flagship was at the heart of the Carrier Strike Group, a British led, self-contained force providing cutting-edge air, surface, and underwater defence. The seven-month deployment saw HMS Queen Elizabeth working alongside global allies and partners across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian oceans.
In between operations, HMS Queen Elizabeth is still as busy as ever. She has received over one million hours of contractor support at her home in Portsmouth Naval Base from the likes of BAE Systems, Babcock and Thales who have been instrumental in supporting maintenance and upgrading capabilities of the ship.
She has hosted major international events such as Atlantic Future Forum, a two-day summit where Royal Navy personnel were joined by political and industry leaders to discuss new ways of combatting global instability. The flagship was also the host of the official 40th anniversary commemorations of the Falklands conflict. The reception welcomed 200 veterans from across the Armed Forces, members of the South Atlantic Medal Association and Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
His Royal Highness was not the only Prince of Wales in Portsmouth Naval Base for this event, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is also currently alongside in Portsmouth. The sister ships first sailed together in May 2021 to conclude the Carrier Strike Group exercise, a historical moment for the Royal Navy.
Over the last five years, HMS Queen Elizabeth has brought a huge sense of pride to not only the city of Portsmouth, but across the UK and overseas. Her global efforts over the last five years have demonstrated the UK’s commitment to a modern and ready Royal Navy.
HMS Kent has returned to Portsmouth after escorting HMS Queen Elizabeth during fast jet operations in the North Sea.
The Type 23 frigate is well-accustomed to protecting the aircraft carrier after accompanying her during the far-reaching Carrier Strike Group deployment in 2021 to the Indo-Pacific and back.
HMS Kent was back at the flagship’s side over the last month, providing protection from threats beneath the waves as F-35B Lightning jets and helicopters carried out flying operations from the 65,000-tonne carrier’s flight deck.
The frigate joined HMS Queen Elizabeth in Oslo for a high profile visit which underlined the UK and Norway’s enduring friendship.
Away from duties with the carrier, Kent has steamed more than 10,000 nautical miles on various tasking and on large-scale exercises alongside NATO allies off the western and southern coasts of the UK.
Commander Jez Brettell, Commanding Officer of Kent, said:
“This varied and busy deployment has demonstrated the characteristic ‘can do’ attitude of Kent’s ship’s company and I am very pleased with the ship’s positive impact to all tasking.
“This period of leave is well-earned before another busy year in 2023.”
Kent’s sailors were kept fuelled with 6,000 eggs, 8,000 rashers of bacon and 470 loaves of bread consumed during their hectic schedule.
It all started at the end of September with the biggest military exercise in the UK, with 11,000 sailors, soldiers and aircrew waging a 12-day ‘war’ around the British Isles.
Kent operated across a large section of the western and southern coasts of the UK, working closely with several NATO ships including US Navy warships USS Roosevelt and Italian destroyer ITS Andrea Doria.
The ship’s next task was to conduct Operational Capability Confidence Checks (OCCC), essentially an ‘MOT’ to optimise Kent’s weapons and sensors, at the NATO Forces Sensors and Weapon Accuracy Check Site (FORACS) facility in Stavanger, Norway.
A thorough week of dynamic tests and trials ensued, with particularly long days for the Warfare and Weapons Engineering teams, between the picturesque fjords which tested the range and accuracy of all of the ship’s communications fit, navigation aids, radars, sonars, detection equipment and weapons.
Upon completion of the long week of trials, the ship’s company made best use of the weekend alongside in Stavanger after a busy first stage to the deployment including the energetic four-hour hike to the top of Pulpit Rock.
Following a period of submarine hunting, and a period alongside in HMNB Clyde which enabled the ship to take on essential stores, Kent visited Amsterdam.
Meeting up with HMS Queen Elizabeth thereafter, an intense period of exercises ensued, including fast jet operations, and integration with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
The weather in the North Sea in autumn was not always kind, and the ship’s company did well to fight through while not always feeling their best.
HMS Kent will begin to work back up to full operations in January.
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