While weather may change the date at short notice, HMS Queen Elizabeth will enter Portsmouth on Friday the 18th of August.

The time, according to some, will be 09:37am.

Sir Michael Fallon earlier said the 70,600 tonne carrier would have a window for entering Portsmouth starting on the 17th:

“In just two weeks’ time, the most powerful warship ever built for Britain’s famous Royal Navy is set to sail into her proud new home in Portsmouth.

HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the Royal Navy’s flagship for the next 50 years, keeping us safe by deploying across the seven seas, using her strike power to deter our enemies.”

In preparation for HMS Queen Elizabeth becoming operational, more than 60 personnel have been fighting a series of high tempo warfighting challenges as part of a NATO maritime exercise off the coast of Scotland.

Embedded within the Nimitz class US carrier USS George H.W. Bush the UK personnel have been working with their US counterparts to hone their carrier strike skills ahead of the arrival of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The war games, called Exercise Saxon Warrior, have seen the Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group Commodore Andrew Betton and his team direct jets, firepower and personnel across the task group for the last ten days to ensure full readiness for the UK’s own carrier strike capability.

As well as the USS George HW Bush, the group includes two Portsmouth based Type 23 frigates, HMS Westminster and HMS Iron Duke, destroyer USS Donald Cook , missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad.

Strike Warfare Commander Colonel Phil Kelly Royal Marine said:

“We have been working with the US for a few weeks now and they are doing a really good job of helping us train in bringing our skill set up so that when we do bring in our aircraft carrier and join that up with our aircraft then we can do it in a much more effective manner because we have seen how the experts do it. The exercise is going well, we are being tested at every turn and it is an extremely valuable training opportunity for us all.”

Captain Ken Houlberg, Chief of Staff to COMUKCSG said:

“The US Navy, out of huge generosity, given us the whole of their carrier strike group so that we can practise the command and control of a carrier doing these operations in British waters so that when HMS Queen Elizabeth comes into service later this year we will be well on the way to forming our own carrier strike capability.”

The exercise, which has been at play for nearly a week, has seen the COMUKTG staff work with their American counterparts to fight off a series of simulated threats from enemy forces, using all the air, surface and sub-surface assets of the entire task group. The threats have been specifically designed to test the UK personnel’s reactions for coordinating a response.

There are 15 ships from across NATO taking part throughout the exercise with more than 100 aircraft and nearly 10,000 personnel.

Fixed Wing Operations Officer Lieutenant Commander James Capps, a Royal Navy fixed wing pilot said:

“We are extremely fortunate. Being here on the George HW Bush has given us the opportunity to see where we are and what we need to achieve for our own UK carrier strike capability and to be here to see how the US does it has been fantastic preparation. They have been so welcoming and we are extremely grateful for the experience.”

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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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chris
chris
7 years ago

So Commissioning on Saturday 19th?

Better day on the trains!

Mike Saul
Mike Saul
7 years ago

Hoping it doesn’t do a Vanguard and try and take out the still and west.

Jon
Jon
7 years ago

” see how the experts do it” the Brits had the best navy in the world.

Ali
Ali
7 years ago

Without doubt a moment in history for all supporters of the RN and team GB in general to relish. A long time waiting but we are about to see a moment of great and glorious significance.
God Save the Queen.
…etc…

Mike
Mike
7 years ago

Will be an awesome sight, I am sure many will be there to welcome the new flagship of the Royal Navy, she is most worthy of that honour.

John Clark
John Clark
7 years ago

A very proud day for the Royal Navy and for the country. I would have loved to have been there to welcome her home

JohnStevens
JohnStevens
7 years ago

Really pleased for the Royal Navy… Proud day for the UK, sure would be great to be in Portsmouth on that date.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
7 years ago

Darn it, working on that day. It is going to be an amazing sight seeing such a massive warship coming into Pompie for the first time.
Proud day to be British and an avid supporter of the Royal Navy.

Pacman27
Pacman27
7 years ago

Just great

3k more sailors and 2017 will indeed be the year of the navy

Matt
Matt
7 years ago
Reply to  Pacman27

3K more sailors to do what exactly?

Geoff Goldberg
Geoff Goldberg
7 years ago
Reply to  Matt

Man our ships would be a good start

Jack
7 years ago

I really wish I lived in the Portsmouth area. This is an event not seen for many years.
I only live 400 miles away, so still time to get organised….

Peter Craig
Peter Craig
7 years ago

Worked 10 years on the project to see the day she enters Portsmouth – damn I will be yacht racing in Torbay

Jonny
Jonny
7 years ago

good luck getting there with the trains from London being constantly delayed and cancelled cos of engineering works at London Waterloo

chris
chris
7 years ago
Reply to  Jonny

Jonny – You can get to Portsmouth from Victoria or use Thameslink and change in South London. Its about 10 minutes longer than from Waterloo

chris
chris
7 years ago

She has left Invergorden, headed North round Scotland and is now heading South past the Isle of Harris. Taking the ‘long way home’?

Interesting scenarios maybe on the way home ….

Pacman27
Pacman27
7 years ago

@Matt 3k more personnel for the RN/RM/RFA would allow these services to man the fleet properly, stop canabilisation of the Royal Marines (to RN) and help to reduce time away from home that would improve morale and help improve work life balance which is critical to staff retention. It is not a massive increase in personnel but would make a big difference. We could double crew the T45 fleet, reduce time at sea by 10-20%, improve asset utilisation (like the Germans do with double crewing their frigates) and maybe even improve recruitment. I would really like 5k more personnel, but… Read more »

Peter Mancini
Peter Mancini
7 years ago

14th August 2017
Dear Sir/madam,
Why is HMS Queen Elizabeth not Nuclear Powered?

yours faithfully
P. Mancini

peter
peter
7 years ago

It,s a great moment for the Royal Navy ,just a shame there are no aircraft?

Ross Mansell
Ross Mansell
7 years ago

Just past the IOM..Clocked 28.5 this morning. Thought it would do the “measured mile” at Ailsa Craihg in the Clyde but it did a few low speed turns and headed South…

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