Commodore Kyd has been appointed the first seagoing Captain of aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Commodore Jerry Kyd is a former Captain of HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious. Cdre Kyd has a lot of command experience both at sea and ashore. As well as the two carriers he has commanded the Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth and more recently served for two years as the Captain of Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.
He joins HMS Queen Elizabeth following his appointment as Commander of the UK’s Response Force Task Group.
Capt Petitt hands over to the 1st Seagoing Captain, Capt Kyd, today on the Bridge of #HMSQueenElizabeth @RoyalNavy pic.twitter.com/I02i4vzrnp
— HMS Queen Elizabeth (@HMSQnlz) May 24, 2016
The Queen Elizabeth class mark a change from expressing carrier power in terms of number of aircraft carried, to the number of sortie’s that can be generated from the deck. The class are not the largest class of carrier in the world but they are most likely the smallest and least expensive carrier the Royal Navy could build which still have the advantages that large carriers offer.
In addition, new modular accommodation to house sailors working on the new supercarriers has been completed almost one month early.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is supporting the carrier programme by providing security, messing facilities and accommodation for the carrier’s crew. A total of 302 new cabins are now ready to be occupied by service personnel based at Rosyth.
Defence Minister Philip Dunne said:
“I am delighted to see HMS Prince of Wales coming to life and welcoming her first crew on board. Both she and her sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth are well on schedule to enter full service as the largest and most advanced aircraft carriers ever built for the Royal Navy.
From today, HMS Prince of Wales will be home to a growing complement of personnel, offering a clear demonstration of how our £178 billion investment in equipment is securing a bright future for our Armed Forces.”
Crew have already started moving aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, sea trials begin in the New Year and the vessel moves to Portsmouth in Spring 2017.
Rule Brittania !
A prime example of the bloated flag officer cadre of the UK Armed Forces. The USS Gerald Ford is commanded by a Captain.
How does the pay compare of a UK Commodore vs a US Captain? Isn’t that the real issue? Does it matter what the job title is?
Ironically in some industries the exact reverse is true re the US vs the UK. In the US it’s perfectly possible to come in and open a bank account and find oneself talking to a vice president of the bank because they’re two a penny, it’s a job title given out to middle managers.
Look at the image above. He has relinquished the rank of Commodore in order to Command the QEII.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is commanded by a Captain. Commodore Kyd will revert to the rank of Captain as commanding officer.
on usa carries there will always be a flag officer on board who commands the carrier task group,the big us carriers do not move an inch without there task group
Isn’t Commodore just an appointment?
Captain Kyd IS a cool name though.
Arrr me hearties. Hoist the Jolly Roger and go catch me that horizon or I’ll make every last one of you walk the plank. Arrrr. etc etc etc
. . . . . A pity about the F35B.