Ships and aircraft belonging to HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Carrier Strike Group have opened fire at an island but don’t worry, the island is a firing range and we’ve got a video.

HMS Kent, HMS Defender and HNLMS Evertsen joined F-35 fighters from HMS Queen Elizabeth and U.S. Marines ashore for a coordinated Naval Gunfire Support exercise aimed at delivering shore bombardment from the sea.

Don’t worry, the island is uninhabited.

Earlier in the month, HMS Queen Elizabeth and her Carrier Strike have arrived in Guam. You can read more about that here.

British Carrier Strike Group arrives in Guam

What is the UK Carrier Strike Group doing?

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the deployed flag ship for Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21), a deployment that will see the ship and her escorts sail to the Asia-Pacific and back.

The Carrier Strike Group includes ships from the United States Navy, the Dutch Navy, and Marines from the US Marine Corps as well as air assets from 617 Sqn, 820 NAS, 815 NAS and 845 NAS.

Not shown is an Astute class submarine.

The Royal Navy say that the UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit more than one fifth of the world’s nations. Led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the task group will visit 40 nations including India, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore in a deployment covering 26,000 nautical miles.

“While in the Pacific, ships from the Carrier Strike Group will mark the 50th anniversary of the Five Powers Defence Agreement between Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the UK by taking part in Exercise Bersama Lima. Joining HMS Queen Elizabeth on her maiden deployment are destroyers HMS Diamond and Defender; frigates HMS Richmond and Kent; an Astute-class submarine in support below the waves; and Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring.

More than 30 aircraft will also embark across the task group including F-35 jets from 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, and the US Marine Corps’ VMFA-211; Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin helicopters from 820 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons. Royal Marines from 42 Commando will also deploy with the carrier. Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen and American Arleigh Burke destroyer USS The Sullivans are also part of the strike group.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea with a mix of British and American jets.

Currently however, HMS Diamond isn’t with the group after suffering a defect. You can read more about that here. HMS Queen Elizabeth and her Carrier Strike Group will also undertake anti-submarine exercises whilst in the Pacific region.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Donaldson
Donaldson
2 years ago

What did that poor island do to the Royal Navy??

Christopher Allen
Christopher Allen
2 years ago
Reply to  Donaldson

It probably had WMDs hidden somewhere.

David A
David A
2 years ago
Reply to  Donaldson

Waiting for an enviro nut to complain about a rare worm injured by a 30mm shell! I must confess to being bored now the Putin bots have retreated!

Jack
Jack
2 years ago
Reply to  David A

All wildlife was successfully relocated to the ocean by the blast.

Steve
Steve
2 years ago

Give it 90 days and the Taliban will have occupied that island.
Hang on, wait. What?!
Make that 4 days.

Rob Collinson
Rob Collinson
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve

LOL

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago

Britain and France have been venturing into Kabul to rescue people while the US forces have been ordered not to leave the airport since the city fell. Germany too has helicopters en-route to be used for rescue missions into the city.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42083/germany-sending-special-ops-helicopters-to-kabul-to-rescue-evacuees-outside-the-airport

Donaldson
Donaldson
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

If they are sending helicopter now they must be planning on spending some time there, Today I’ve seen imagery showing 160th SOAR helicopters so you would expect the US is already doing helo operations.

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
2 years ago
Reply to  Donaldson

SOAR as well as air refuellable chinook have been deployed by the US to cover their final retreat, the picket line will be gradually reduced to the area immediately around the runway as most of the soldiers are flown out and the choppers will pick up the final picket soldiers and fly out alongside the last plane.

geoff
geoff
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

The resistance against the Taliban in the Panjshir Valley must be encouraged and supported. It is clear that the Taliban only enjoy very limited if in fact any genuine support in a large segment of the country and that fear after the strange failure of the ANA was responsible for their lightning success. The opposition should be helped to regroup and the West needs to assist those who do not want to regress to a Dark age dictatorship

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  geoff

Disagree on that. I think the fighting needs to stop now and the focus should be on humanitarian aid and creating a constructive relationship with the Taliban government. The extraction process will take weeks. We need Taliban’s cooperation.

The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

I don’t think you can have a constructive relationship with a 7th century inspired murderous death cult . The Taliban are already going door to door people are being executed , tortured and beaten. Multiple reports of all this now coming out. Evil is evil and shouldn’t be supported in any way shape or form.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago

What are your sources for the door to door torture etc. How extensive are these incidents ? Are they mainstream or outliers?
Evil is evil we can agree on. But patience and foregiveness are virtues worth cultivating.
Islam is not a death cult. I used to think that. But it is a step forward from permanent tribal warfare.

Shaun
Shaun
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

The attitude of seeking to impose what we see as “right” for them is what has so comprehensively failed.
Supporting those who wish to oppose the Taliban is our only effective course. Would love to see the equivalent of the Kurdish female fighters emerge!

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Shaun

Agree on cause of our failure. But not on next steps. Your proposal sounds like a continuation of cold war CIA thinking. Are you thinking that the opposition if it succeeds will result in a regime less favourable to China and Russia and more disposed to the West?

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

Certainly agree Islam is not a death cult in the slightest, however the Talibans interpretation of it is far from the usual day to day practiced religion.

The western religions moved on in time, the Taliban want to go back in time and everything that it brings which does not fit into the modern world. Unless of course ethnic cleansing, forced marriages of children, subsequent rape of children and general day to day murder are classed as o.k in the eyes of the world today.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  James

Agree re the inability of Islam to change itself. This is indeed the pivotal issue. This is not a forum for discussing theology, except I guess as it informs any decision to deploy force. Islam is a basic rules based system which enables a society to function; business can trade, people can raise a family etc. But unlike Christianity it does acknowledge that the process of coming to terms with your mistakes is the engine of personal development.

The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

Saw numerous reports on the news one in particular from an Irish Dr who was out there and stated what her former patients and contacts were telling her. There have been numerous others saying same on the news including the door to door so I doubt very much it’s isolated incidents. I agree with your sentiments on patience and forgiveness but the Taliban have a proven track record that isn’t up for any kind of debate. I don’t think they have changed they are still following their interpretation of sharia law and its brutal, they have no respect for human… Read more »

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago

Yeh, these incidents are happening. The Taliban leadership say this is not policy but rather undisciplined units and that offenders are ‘abusers’ who will be chased down. We’ll have to see if they can police their people. The Taliban is not a homogeneous whole. Disagree on giving aid. Rather I agree with one of the Aid organisations on the ground that aid needs to be ramped up. Read an interview but can’t find the link, with one of their leaders who acknowledged that more mature interpretations of Islam are possible. No detail but a sign the could be open to… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Paul.P
Ulya
Ulya
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

I have enjoyed reading your comments Paul, thank you

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Ulya

You are welcome. Time for a cuppa …😉

Patrick Murtagh
Patrick Murtagh
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

The reports are from the Norwegian UN Human Rights Monitoring Group, which is a credible source. The Taliban are indeed a tribally based Islamic group, most of whose support comes from the Pashtun tribes of southern Afghanistan and they were set up and are the proxies of Pakistan. They are very hostile to the Shia Hazaras of central Afghanistan and they have always been opposed by the Tajiks of northern Afghanistan, whose leader Achmed Massoud has already declared war on the Taliban. His fighters have already been joined by remnants of the Afghan Army. The Tajiks have a close relationship… Read more »

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago

Thanks, this is interesting info; especially the note that the French have sent troops to Takjikistan. It’s a mess. What constitutes a community seems to depend on several parameters; ethnicity/ tribe,Islamic type ( Shia or Sunni), clan and family. I think the reason why the Taliban is widely accepted is that since most of the population of Afghanistan is Shia with its evangelical Islam it is a pragmatic lowest common denominator which is able to unite the tribes into a nation. The press today is reporting that the UK is working with France on a UN resolution; a long term… Read more »

David
David
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

The tali are out in the open? Their leadership have returned from Pak etc?

Slot the lot of them, now.

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  David

Oh for a Reaper and a load of Hellfires.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  David

Your solution has the great merit of being easy to understand.

DaveyB
DaveyB
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

Guess you never met any of them? A leopard cannot change its spots, no matter what the say to the media.

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  DaveyB

Well, no I haven’t. But people can change. I’m a different person at 10 am to the one that got of bed. 🙂

john melling
john melling
2 years ago
Reply to  geoff

Well said, Geoff  👍 

Paul.P
Paul.P
2 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Interesting. Is there I wonder the possibility if it can be negotiated with the Taliban of the Europeans staying on after the US leaves? The DT is reporting Wallace is communicating with the Taliban through our Qatar links.

Last edited 2 years ago by Paul.P
Bob
Bob
2 years ago

If we ever find ourselves needing a T45 for NGS we truly are up the proverbial creek.

The space would make a great gym (I jest) and we could finally fit the extra VLS cells.

Graham
Graham
2 years ago
Reply to  Bob

Is your point that one of the T45s is sidelined with a fault?

Goldilocks
Goldilocks
2 years ago
Reply to  Bob

We are – an extra 24 cell Sea Ceptor Silo

Max Jones
Max Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Bob

Extra VLS space is going to be used.

In modern warfare any kind of main gun isn’t much good against a highly capable enemy except perhaps extended range 127mm shells like VULCANO, however that doesn’t mean they are useless.

It’s still a cheaper option for fire support that beats using precision weapons from expensive aircraft when you are engaging a less capable threat near the coast.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
2 years ago
Reply to  Max Jones

It depends on wether you are trying to take something out or just get the opposition to keeps their heads down. A rain of 4.5″ shells is quite an effective deterrent to getting out of a fox hole. It is also relatively cheap to keep popping shells. Sure any modern NGS is very accurate anyway. Even a 24 shot VLS is going to run out of shots after 24 shots….. It will be interesting to see what shells are purchased for the T26 main gun. I am still highly puzzled why an AWS ship have an NGS gun unless there… Read more »

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago

A T23 is an “ASW ship” and has a gun.
A T45 is an “AAW Ship” and has a gun

MR guns primary role on a warship is NGS. Any one can do NGS irrespective of Tasking as long as they have the Gun.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Max Jones

4.5 is an extended range shell…It has base bleed to increase the range by reducing parasitic drag on the shell.

Why is a gun of no use against a capable enemy?
With the use of VLS cells there is a limited magazine depth and once the cells are empty thats it. the same can be said for shore based battery’s

A MR gun has lots and lots of shells onboard (200 at least) that can be used in a variety of tasks be it NGS or Surface Action.
VT(H) VT(L) DA or Starshell

Max Jones
Max Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

My reference for extended range was Vulcano, which reaches ranges of 120km compared to the 4.5’s 25-30. I also forgot to mention it is guided – for precise targets there’s not much of a comparison. A gun isn’t much use against a capable enemy (which I was using to refer to a modern technologically advanced opponent with anti-ship abilities, among others) because if you are within 20km of the shore, possibly closer, you are extremely vulnerable to anti-ship weapons. The Type 45 is designed to detect missile threats from hundreds of kilometres and engage up to 120km. When it’s so… Read more »

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago

I did love doing a bit of NGS gunnery. Working in the Gunbay loading or in the OPS room WORM’ing. A day without Gunnery is a day wasted. Gunnery is Funnery! The video was probably from the PID on a Wildcat doing Fall of Shot calls. Shells where fuzed DA(Direct Action) as there was no air-bursting. Look on the PID thermal video …you can see the shrapnel (White lumpy bits) flying outward. On Air burst its even more impressive which is why a 4.5 Gun is so good for Swarm boat attacks…everybody in swarm will catch something from say a… Read more »

Dave Wolfy
Dave Wolfy
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

I found range days some of the most miserable, except in Cyprus of course.
Had grim weather booked especially for range days, long days.

Springer
Springer
2 years ago
Reply to  Gunbuster

Excellent explanation there! I loved NGS as well (I was an NGS RO but secretly wanted to be in the gun bay!) Wonder what they will say on a T26, can’t use four five engage with a five inch? Five engage doesn’t sound so good!

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Springer

FIVE-OH… SHOOT!

Marked
Marked
2 years ago

Considering HMS Diamond is still tied up it’s not an encouraging advertisement for our ability to sustain operations.

This should have been a perfect opportunity to practice keeping a deployed group operational, the turbines are designed to be replaced over a couple of weeks. But no, that would be asking too much.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Marked

The rest of the group is operational and still deployed, its hardly stopped it happening.

Wilson
Wilson
2 years ago
Reply to  James

They knew the engines would break down before they built the first destroyer. Rest of engine room gear ok. Even the carbon fiber prop. They would be better off with diesels. They could be located anywhere.

James
James
2 years ago
Reply to  Wilson

The engines have been fine, the intercoolers caused the issues in hot water not the turbines themselves. The aircraft carrier uses turbines and that hasnt broke down.

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
2 years ago
Reply to  Marked

Operational ?
That is not a measured metric in the RN.
HMS DIAMOND can sail if needed with one GT Alternator running instead of the fitted two. It would be a risk and would reduce the ships Operational Capability by having no redundancy available except for the 2 x DG Sets.
Operational Capability is the driver and metric used.