HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed this weekend for three months of training and operations around the United Kingdom and northern Europe, in her new role as NATO’s command ship for the Allied Response Force, the Royal Navy stated.
The 65,000-tonne carrier and her crew of more than 800 will work through an intensive programme alongside allies, having assumed the NATO role in July, which is the first time either Queen Elizabeth-class ship has performed it.
Captain Claire Thompson, the commanding officer, said: “We’ve returned from summer leave rested and ready for the next phase of our training. Sailing this autumn is a key milestone for both our NATO commitment, as the Afloat Command Platform, and also on our journey back to the Royal Navy’s very high readiness aircraft carrier, a duty we will resume from our sister ship HMS Prince of Wales in 2027.”
She said: “Sailing with an embarked battle staff, integration and training is essential whilst relearning the skills required to conduct safe and effective aviation as we ensure that we are prepared to deliver operational activity at the heart of NATO should it be required.”
The ship will undertake advanced training under Flag Officer Sea Training, exercising across the full spectrum of modern naval warfare, and will rehearse how an allied naval force would operate together in a crisis. The programme continues into next year with participation in major NATO exercises, preparing her to take over from HMS Prince of Wales as the flagship and high readiness strike carrier in late 2027.
Queen Elizabeth completed her second planned docking period at Rosyth and returned to Portsmouth in May, and the Royal Navy took charge of the Allied Reaction Force maritime component in July for a twelve-month period.
I saw it pull into Plymouth Sound earlier today. I have to say, it’s seriously impressive just the size of it! T45 inside the breakwater looked big until it arrived..