HMS Queen Elizabeth and her Carrier Strike Group have passed through the Suez Canal.

The Royal Navy say here that the passage through the world famous waterway marked the end of a six-week phase of exercises and operations in the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas.

“The nine ships of the Carrier Strike Group between them visited eleven different European countries, drawing together presidents, prime ministers, diplomats and military leaders, as well as holding a series of events designed to support British trade and exports.

But the central purpose of the opening phase of this seven-and-a-half month deployment was to promote solidarity and cooperation with the Untied Kingdom’s NATO partners. Highlights included exercises with the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, with the Italian air force and navy, and with the combined might of Western maritime forces for Steadfast Defender, NATO’s flagship exercise for 2021.”

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.

The Carrier Strike Group.

Not pictured above is an Astute class submarine. The Carrier Strike Group was joined in the opening phase of the deployment by HMS Artful (which returned to Gibraltar after completing the opening phase), now another Astute class submarine (HMS Astute or HMS Ambush) has joined the group as pointed out by NavyLookout on Twitter.

CSG21 will see the carrier along with her Strike Group work with over 40 countries from around the world. The Strike Group will operate and exercise with other countries Navies and Air Forces during the 7 month deployment.

Recently, the Strike Group joined coalition operations in the Eastern Mediterranean; an historic milestone as British and American F-35B strike fighters flew the first operational missions from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier, as they stood ready to strike at Daesh.

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, said:

“The Carrier Strike Group’s period working with our NATO partners in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas offers unmistakable proof that the United Kingdom’s most important overseas defence commitment remains the security of the Euro-Atlantic region. While HMS Queen Elizabeth launched counter-Daesh missions over Iraq and Syria from the Eastern Mediterranean, HMS Defender and HNLMS Evertsen were conducting concurrent operations 1600 miles away in the Black Sea – true strategic reach.

Meanwhile, our programme of defence engagement involved a huge amount of work in support of British Embassies and High Commissions, but from Alicante to Alexandria and Bar to Batumi, the message was the same: Britain’s friends and allies are delighted to see the Royal Navy back in town. Now we head east, towards the rising economies of the Indo-Pacific. From the Strait of Gibraltar to the Strait of Malacca, CSG21 offers unprecedented influence and engagement in support of Global Britain.”

Avatar photo
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
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

20 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
farouk
farouk
2 years ago

When the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge transited the Suez Canal in 2019 it deployed an active vehicle borne Anti UAV system on its flight deck. I wonder if the UK had something similar in play?
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26067/uss-kearsarge-transits-the-suez-canal-with-anti-drone-buggies-keeping-watch-on-deck

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Phanlanx

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago

OT, apologies, but….

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!

Sorry George.

The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
2 years ago

😂👍🏻

David
David
2 years ago

The Vikings are fighting…

Trevor Holcroft
Trevor Holcroft
2 years ago
Reply to  David

The berserkers are fouling!!

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago

Yeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss…….2-1……..yeeeeeeeeeesssssss…..er, nice carrier……yeeeeeessssssssssss……..

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

❤ oh yes, T31s, T32s, Suez Canals…..COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!! Have some of that Denmark!!

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
2 years ago

YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Final on Sunday GO ENGLAND!!!!!!!

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago

I may need medicating for the final 🍺🍺🍺🥃🥃🍺🍺🍻🍻

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago

come on England! my nerves are shot

Klonkie
Klonkie
2 years ago

GO ENGLAND- congrats!

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago

2-1……but, getting back to the subject matter, great pics, escorts cutting about in 3 different countries, flying the flag , got to say the RN are the dogs nads at this time, bloody well done to all involved.

Airborne
Airborne
2 years ago

Another interesting point, 2 x Astutes in the med, therefore is a third in the North sea? 3 boats operational? If correct bloody good planning and prep, well done once more.

David Barry
David Barry
2 years ago

So, if that Argentine tw@t credited the hand of God and no one is pointing out the lack of a penalty foul on the English striker tonight…

Are you all just going to grab a beer and yell..

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssss!

Cheers!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
2 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

Yes. In a word.

YYYEEEEEEÈÈEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS 😜

Quentin D63
Quentin D63
2 years ago

Carry on 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. What a bloody ripper! Lol 😁

Jonathan
Jonathan
2 years ago

Just don’t get stuck…..

Trevor Holcroft
Trevor Holcroft
2 years ago

Meantime no hoards of swarming drones attacking us through the canal.
Quelle Surprise .

Ron
Ron
2 years ago

Just been reading about the carrier group in the Eastern Med and how the Russians tried to get a sub to go snooping. It seems with two Astutes and a clutch of Merlins I think the Russian sub had a bad hair day. Ooops a daisy,l the words of a song come to mind, The boys are back in town.