HMS Queen Elizabeth will return to Portsmouth on Thursday afternoon after completing a massive global deployment leading her Carrier Strike Group to the Pacific and back.

According to the Queens Harbor Master Portsmouth, the vessel will return at 1430 on the 9th of December.

The Carrier Strike Group 21 deployment is largely seen as the beginning of the British Government’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region. It is the first strike group deployment for a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier and the first operational deployment of a British Carrier Strike Group since 2011.

The Ministry of Defence say that the deployment was the largest single deployment of F-35 fighter aircraft since the programme started in 2006, and the largest fifth-generation fighter carrier air wing in the world.

After six months and sailing over 40,000 nautical miles to the Pacific and back, the Carrier Strike Group is now heading back to Britain.

An Astute class submarine was also part of the deployment.

Earlier in the deployment Russian jets were being intercepted almost every day and now that the Strike Group is back in the Mediterranean Sea it’s happening again.

In fact, it was reported that F-35 jets from HMS Queen Elizabeth intercepted Russian jets in the eastern Mediterranean more than 30 times as part of the Carrier Strike Group. Now that the vessels have returned to the region after sailing to the Pacific and back it appears Russian interest has been renewed. You can read more about this here.

George Allison
George Allison
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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84 COMMENTS

  1. Instead of sending up aircraft and wasting airframe hours is there anything stopping the navy from aiming missiles from ships?

  4. All personnel shall be taking PCR tests prior too stepping foot back in Blighty ? . ENQUIRING GUARDIAN reader would like too know

  5. In reality, this was a Potemkin Village exercise. Sending a carrier that can be manned by only 8 UK aircraft and only defended by addition of allied naval resources around the oceans of the world may make for spectacular aerial TV shots but any military analyst worth his salt would note the hollowness of the force.

    • HMS QE hasn’t achieved full operational capability, as I understand it, and won’t until 2023.

      That date also applies for the F35b from what I can see too.

      In addition, the UK is part of a number of multilateral and bilateral defence and security agreements, many of which involve, even at the bottom of the list, an ability to work together on an operational basis.

      You don’t care about any of that though, you just wanted to have a pop because you’re either half-head or a troll.

      • Your correct, full carrier strike ability for the RN carriers is 2023. This operation was a test to see how it would work. Basically a good work up. All I can say is that for the carrier she has proven her design and build, seven months at sea for a first deployment without any major issues with the ship. Well done to the builders and her crew, welcome home.

      • I wonder how nervous the head shed were when it was announced they’d send a small fleet around the world; must have massive cajones.

    • And yet no other nation on earth could match the carrier task groups capability except the Americans. And it’s still early day’s in carrier strike regeneration.

      • Well the french operate CATOBAR for decades so…

        You can have some F35B and praise them all you want, a QE class stay behind the small CDG for its capabilities.

        I would never understand how you can spend billions in carrier and not going for a CATOBAR.

        Did the RN would have planned some V22 to come in the fleet ?
        It will be very nice for reduce the gap

        https://imgix.gizmodo.com.au/content/uploads/sites/2/2014/12/30/ishvbxi9enjwbuhcqre7.jpg?ar=16%3A9&auto=format&fit=crop&q=65&w=720

          • Please explain.

            Atm, I can easily say the same with your both comments.

            The first because obviously you dont know the capabilities of others, so you cant judge the capabilities of the QE.

            The second because you cant even understand one of the biggest issue of the QE with a big image to show what is lacking on a QE’s deck and capabilities.

          • F35B deliveries continue. Crownsnest AEW is at initial operating capability, with much more to come. Loyal wingman UCAV’s are in development for strike, AEW, and maybe A2A refueling. And we have two vessels for 365 days a year availability to work around refits and maintenance. VSTOL carrier’s can launch and recover aircraft in much rougher sea states compared to COTOBAR. Aircraft can launch and recover at the same time. Cheaper to operate, fewer deck crews required. And the F35B is much more capable than a Super Hornet or Rafale, able to provide first night of war capability, and considerably enhance the capability of 4th gen allied aircraft. CATOBAR obviously has advantages too. But at great cost, maintenance, and we would still be operating the F35. So very little difference in overall capability, except a little more fuel, which would be used up in missed bolter fuel. So in the real world, probably very little difference in combat endurance. VSTOL aircraft land first time, every time.

          • I dont talk about the lack of F35B even its a problem to have the ships and not the fighters.

            For the moment you have nothing to launch heavy UCAV with great capabilities.

            “>STOVL< carrier’s can launch and recover aircraft in much rougher sea states compared to COTOBAR”.
            It was the case with the Harrier 40y ago, I’m not so sure with the F35 and modern carrier.

            “Aircraft can launch and recover at the same time.”
            Thats the case for bigger CATOBAR even if not for the small CDG.
            Its also a planned feature of the PANG of the MN (globally same size of the QE).

            “Cheaper to operate, fewer deck crews required.”
            I agree for that ofc…
            But you can operate 2 to 3 Rafale for 1 F35… They can fly with less restrictions, farther, longer, quickier.
            Of course carrier must also be compared with its aerial fleet.

            “And the F35B is much more capable than a Super Hornet or Rafale, able to provide first night of war capability”
            Much more… Leave the dream, reality is a lot more complicated.
            All fighters are able to provide “first night”.
            Rafale is designed for low altitude deep strike.
            Yeah, all missions are not in a high altitude / BVR scenario, the lone where the F35 is more capable than the Rafale. And hopefully since it was designed for…
            (But really lack of EW capabilities even if the last months we hear about a Rafale-like growler)
            F18 is also a very capable striker and not alone on the deck (Growler and F35C) so…

            “considerably enhance the capability of 4th gen allied aircraft.”
            Agree even if its “speciality” will only last for less than a decade.
            All modern fighters are already going to catch these, especially the Rafale.

            “So very little difference in overall capability, except a little more fuel,”
            Its not “little more fuel”, its a greater combat payload, far greater…

            Its also the weakspot of the STOVL carrier, not a little difference.

            Less range mean that your carrier must be closer to the coast to keep a good range in territory.
            If not, you lose your strike capabilities, weakens your fleet..
            Its worse with the lack of self defense capability of the QE class compared to others carriers.

            I can add the nuclear capability of the CDG-Rafale, but its more specific and political than real spec.

          • I’m sorry. But can’t operate 2 or 3 Rafales for the price of 1 F35. And first night of war capability is because of the F35’s all aspect stealth and survivability. Somthing Rafale, Typhoon, F18 ect does not have. As capable as those aircraft are, they will be well behind the F35’s, F22’s, B2’s and cruise missiles ect on the opening waves of a campaign.

      • STRIKE??? a few tomahawks lobbed from a submarine and less than a dozen f 35 couldn’t strike a match🤬🤬🤬

    • Yes Daniel Morgan you are correct on the whole a hollow force AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, however look back 5 yrs ago we did not have any carriers. no F35B force, no Tidespring tankers, only 1 or 2 Astute, Type 45 bedding in with engine issues.
      However 5 yrs from now we will have 2 fully operational carriers, upto 48 F35B’s, 5-6 Astute SSN operational, 4 operational Tidesspring tankers, Type 45 engine replacement programme completed, Type 26 in the water and close to being operational, type 31 on the way if not operational, type 32 on the way again if not operational. things are improving.
      As far as I am aware ships from other nations have been joining fleets from other countries for quite a long time. Sorry if Im teaching you how to suck eggs, but lets be proud of what has been achieved in 5 yrs, and to see what coming off the production lines.

    • Well it’s a hell of a lot better than the Russians could deploy!!!! Don’t think the Chinese could deploy a carrier half way round the world for 6 months either…

    • What are you talking about? Lockheed Martin is still building the F-35s for the UK, so the carrier deployed with less than a full complement – so what? The carrier can be manned by an air wing of 24-36 F-35s (more in surge) – just not enough aircraft were available. It was very sensible to have USMC aircraft embarked to make up the numbers and for allied cooperation. Only 2 of the escorts were not British – again a good example of Allied solidarity to have an escort from the USN and another from the Dutch Navy.

      Only a very poor or inexperienced analyst would consider the construct and execution of CSG21 to be anything less than impressive.

      Would you rather the carrier stayed alongside for a few years not doing anything while we waited for the full complement of British F-35s to be delivered?

    • Or…
      The Dutch and USN unit could not have deployed as they did and conduct the exercises that they did without the additional resources provided by CGS21.
      The USMC aircraft could not have deployed on a carrier with a ramp and undertaken the exercises that they did without CSG21

    • Yer talking shite son 🤣 honestly awa n get yersel onto the RT defence news journal cos yer stinkin the joint out with all that pish min 😂😂😂

      Whole exercise An amazing success Great Britain does it again👏🏻

      🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻🇬🇧

    • The UK carriers will often have NATO and other allied naval resources helping to protect our carriers. Same as the UK helping the USA or France to protect their carriers, nothing new. I see things in a more positive way.. This is something that not too many country’s can do, impressive as far as i’m concerned. Well done to all involved.

  6. Well I think the lads and lasses have done what they set out to do, yes there have been a few hic-ups along the way, but that is the nature of these big deployments and the lessons will be learnt ready for the next one, HMS PoW next year we hope.
    Well done and have a good well deserved leave.

    • It’s a fantastic achievement and hopefully with the steady trickle of F35’s and the firming up of Carrier UCAV/ AEW/ Refueling plans, plus T26 and upgraded T45, it’s all on the up from here guys…

      We should be able to deploy a powerful UK Carrier Strike capability in a few years….

      • Question is how many years? We now have the carriers with a reasonable escort capability (although we need to get an ASM sorted)but we need substantial numbers of aircraft kitted out with the right weapons to form the tip of the spear….

        • Those 18 aircraft could have given a good account of themselves if combat was required. The capability is being grown – it takes time.

          • Only 8 were sovereign aircraft, and those 8 lacked the gun pod active on the other 10. Numbers of UK aircraft really need boosting, I was very surprised that we did not have 10 UK aircraft on board we had the numbers to do it……

          • What exactly are you going to use the gun for if you are not supporting marines?

            As there were no Bays or Albions with CSG21 I am lost as to what the gun pod would be used for.

            If you are in A->A Combat and down to guns and the oppo has missiles you are stuffed.

            Small boat swarm defences and drones are handled by the embarked 30mm (and other) cannons.

        • Late 2026 for F35 Blk 4 increment availability. Probably earl 2030’s for the UCAV/AEW /AAR capabilities to bear fruit. So, best part of a decade from now at a guess!!

          • Effectively one fifth of the carriers expected lifespan……..we just can’t organise anything here in the UK. All the kit these ships need should be available from the outset……too much to hope for….

          • I see where you are coming from, but to be fair to the MOD, the delays/shortcomings/failings of the F35 programme lies squarely with LM and the US. Which is a shame, as the plane could have offered so much more!
            All users are caught between a rock and hard place when deciding when to buy the jets, given the expected high costs of the Blk 4 aircraft and subsequent integration costs for various weapons.
            Part of the reason we need to invest in drones is because of the programmes shortcomings and price per aircraft.
            The AEW requirement is UK PLCs greatest failure WRT CS.
            That’s my take on it, but we will get there, eventually!

          • Drones are not the answer to everything and certainly not for projection of airpower at sea. The UK AEW could have been lot better if we hadn’t opted for the ‘cheapest option” as per usual which then proved to be far more troublesome…….

          • We were out of the carrier business for 10 years due to inept political decision. It takes time to recreate a sophisticated capability from scratch.

  8. It is very gratifying to see the Royal Navy eventually come home to port without a serious confrontation on the seas all participating return safely.Supported by other N A T O members in a solidarity of this mission to show China not forgetting Russia what a combined group of ships with high tech is capable of dealing with adverseries..

  9. Obviously there has been some hiccups, but it’s 18 years (2003) years since the RN has even attempted a Far East deployment of this scale and capability – and that was essentially scuppered by Operation Telic and the invasion of Iraq. A generation of sailors have joined and left since then. Three cheers for all involved!!!

    Lesson learnt from an aviaton perspective:

    1. The Crowsnest system is becoming a major disappointment (admitedly based on a lack of evidence that it is a success!) and serious consideration is being given to it’s early replacement by UAV – incidentally avoiding thousands of flying hours on the scarce Merlin MH Mk2’s which it was recently announced will now serve through the 2030’s.
    2. Excellent although the Merlin Mk4 is, the argument for the UK buying a few V22 Osprey’s was greatly strengthened as USMC operated aircraft repeatedly demonstrated its unique capabilities. The limited range of the Mk4 was a particular and serious problem on occasions – most notably when the pilot of the ditched F-35B needed to be flown to a hopital in Greece.
    3. Some way of refueling UK F-35B’s that doesn’t rely on the availability of USN Super Hornet’s would be a great force multiplier. Using buddy tanks on other F-35B’s would be far from ideal, but still much better than nothing.

    • Crowsnest really is only an issue if we went to war as a sovereign nation against a top tier adversary, which lets face it isnt going to happen.

      The system itself is more than capable against lower end adversaries which is really what its needed for.

      Yes when the drones take over it will be much better but its hardly a massive concern right now.

      • I understand your point, but is not the whole idea of Carrier Strike to be able to deploy a sovereign force if we so wished?

        Spending £11/12 Billion on the carriers and Fast Air Wing then equipping it with sub-par AEW suitable only for ‘lower end adversaries’ as you put it, and kidding ourselves that it is acceptable, is the same thinking that got us to the point of a hollowed out Armed Forces in the first place.

        It’s a staggeringly short sighted decision, & one that was made by Accountants and not war fighters. The practicalities of that are now becoming apparent.

        • It is Sovereign and can be deployed as is, but who would we fight against alone that would be a match to it especially on the open oceans?

          No way are we going against the Chinese alone and unless the French fishing issues becomes really serious that only leaves the US which we arent going to war with.

          It may be as you say short sighted but what was the ‘short’ term solution? One doesnt exist. Forget the fantasy of the V22 we are never going to operate it, drones cant be used yet so Merlin is the last choice. Its better than not having it!!

          • You’ve made the assumption that we would be choosing to fight alone which may not be our choice.

            40 odd years of us picking and instigating the fights hasn’t done us any favours in regard to mentality of Politicians etc.

            An adversary may choose to fight just us, at a time convenient to them. Without any prior warning to us. NATO may ultimately be dragged in but the idea of a strategic first strike isn’t fairy-tale stuff.

            Imagine UK Carrier Strike being taken out of the game as a first action by an enemy of NATO in the high north. It may just make the rest of NATO hesitate and blink…

            Carrier strike on an extremely tightly run budget is the issue.

            It’s like buying a McLaren then putting budget tyres on it. It is going to get you hurt unless you are extremely careful with what you do with the McLaren. It will blitz a Corsa still no doubt, something a little more on par and you’re in trouble… Hence my point… What IS the point?

            Money should have been found for the best available option. If that was V22 – So be it.

            Drones arriving in ‘early 2030’s’ is a decade away. I see a lot of trouble on the horizon in the next 10 years.

          • If an enemy of Nato has the ability to strike first and take out the entire CSG then having crowsnest or something 20% more capable isnt going to make any difference whatsoever!!!

            Having an E2 on board against such an adversary is still going to end up in the same result, the CSG being sunk.

          • Don’t be so dramatic. Detonation of a reasonably sized missile on a QE deck would likely cause enough fragmentation damage to render the ‘strike’ portion of the carrier redundant. You don’t have to sink 10 ships to do that.

            Operations cease – point is proven – NATO blinks… See my point?

            And yes credible AEW does make a difference. Pulling random figures like 20% out of the air means nothing.

          • Exactly its a random figure, no one knows the comparison (in the public domain) of how much more capable an E2 is over a Crowsnest.

            If a reasonably sized missile as you give the example of gets through all the air defence systems in a CSG to hit the carrier then again having a more capable AEW is going to have limited if any impact to that outcome. The same missile is going to navigate the same AA systems on the same ships once its within range. The missiles on our ships can only go so far and how much extra warning within the missiles firing range would an E2 give exactly over crowsnest? Again we dont know.

            Im not being dramatic you are the one that gave the example of an enemy having such a capability im simply pointing out having a slightly better AEW system in that scenario wont help.

            Going up against another carrier group with an air wing yes it would help massively, but who would we fight, China is the only current adversary which has a carrier air wing.

          • Also if you happen to notice previous posts of mine you will see I am very much an advocate of Carrier Strike and I’ve followed it almost daily for the last 15 years on various blogs etc… So don’t think I’m panning IT… I’m panning the nobs who make the short sighted calls.

        • That would be true(ish) if the direction of travel towards drone based AEW had not been identified by 1SL as being early 2030’s.

  10. I noticed one of the ships is the USS The Sullivans, a very famous name behind a very sad story from WW11, 6 brothers who served on the same ship that was sunk by a Japanese torpedo, they all perished, RIP

  11. Will they arrive ‘en masse’ today apart from any units that will disperse elsewhere? It’s going to be some welcome party-well done RN. Home for Christmas!!

    • Defender, Diamond and Kent all appear to have (or will) come into Pompey with QNLZ. The two 45’s look to have entered port this morning. Kent is following Lizzie in as I write.

      Richmond and Tidespring are already back alongside Plymouth, and Fort Victoria is currently underway just off Studland Bay. As for the submarine(s)…

  12. Yes, a big welcome home and a very well done to everyone involved, including all our allies. That was some global performance.
    Ps: I hope someone pays for the fuel bill
    … Lol 😁

  13. Unsung in this are the backroom logistics experts who could have been a bit frazzled by the end of it all; fantastic well done to all involved.

  14. I really like submarines but they cannot do this. Tub thumping, flag waving, diplomacy and soft-power projection (the hard way).

  15. Back to the topic, gutted I couldn’t get down to Pompey today. Looks on MarineTraffic that the tugs are on and she’s making her way in now. QNLZ seems to have been mistaken as Defender on MT – which must be a mistake as the real Defender was due in this morning, and shouldn’t need four tugs.

    Looking forward to seeing the other ships – inc Evertsen and The Sullivans head home too. Job superbly well done and BZ everyone.🙂

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