HMS Queen Elizabeth 'One Step Closer' To First Operational Deployment

The carrier has been at sea since late April to prove her readiness for her first operational deployment next year.

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HMS Queen Elizabeth is “one step closer” to being ready for deployment on global operations, the Royal Navy has said.

Fit For A Queen: Royal Navy Trials New Missile To Protect HMS Queen ElizabethWildcat helicopter crews tested the latest weapons system before joining the aircraft carrier on deployment in 2021.Tom Sables, 24 May 2020

The aircraft carrier has completed the initial stages of Operational Sea Training, which was monitored by Royal Navy Sea Training experts.

Her company have been tested to see how they work together in critical situations including simulated fires, floods and battle damage, and warfare training and mission rehearsals over the past few weeks.

The carrier has been at sea since late April to prove her readiness for her first operational deployment next year, and to show the UK can deliver on its commitment to having a Carrier Strike Group ready to deploy from the end of this year.

Second in Command of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Commander Charlie Guy, said: “This is the first Basic Sea Training period for a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier.

“It is a chance for us to put to the test everything we have learnt over the last two years and show our FOST assessors we are ready for anything.”

Preparations for the sea training saw the carrier cleaned, painted and scrubbed, whilst equipment such as breathing masks was checked.

Chinook, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters also landed and took off from her four-and-a-half-acre flight deck.

Having completed the first phase, the next part of the programme will be to get ready for the embarkation of UK F-35B Lightning fighter jets.

Royal Marines Wildcats Cleared To Join HMS Queen Elizabeth On Frontline OperationsA Commando Wildcat, from 847 Naval Air Squadron, carried out 24 landings on the Queen Elizabeth-class warship in the Channel.15 May 2020
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The £3 billion warship is due to deploy on her first operational mission in 2021 (Picture: MOD).

This includes more qualifying training for F-35B crews who will carry out practice Combat Air Patrols from her decks.

Ahead of linking up with the aircraft, HMS Queen Elizabeth will make a planned return at Portsmouth for the packing of essential equipment.

The brief stop will see engineers and equipment from 617 Squadron also join the carrier.

The Royal Navy has said appropriate measures have been taken to ensure the health and safety of the crew.

It added all additional personnel will undergo a 14-day period of isolation before boarding and will be tested for COVID-19.

Cover image: Library picture of HMS Queen Elizabeth (Picture: MOD).