The Wall Street Journal has reported that “the most powerful U.K. fleet to be assembled in decades” is sailing in what it describes as “an effort to show British military muscle”.
The Global deployment of a British Carrier Strrike Group is attracting attention in the United States.
According to the Wall Street Journal:
“The most powerful U.K. fleet to be assembled in decades is preparing to set sail this month on a tour of 40 countries, focused on the Indo-Pacific, in an effort to show British military muscle in a region where the U.S. is seeking to counter Chinese influence..
Spearheading the fleet is HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of two new aircraft carriers that are central to the U.K.’s new foreign-policy strategy. The approach seeks to cement the ‘special relationship’ with the U.S. while bolstering alliances within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and across the globe.”
Additionally, writing in Bloomberg, James Stavridis a former US. Navy officer, wrote that “the news that the UK will soon send a full-strength carrier strike force to sea for the first time since the Falklands War in 1982 reminds me how capable U.S. allies can be globally”.
Stavridis added:
“And given that the flotilla is deploying to the Indian and Pacific Oceans — with stops planned in India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea — it demonstrates the unity those allied nations are showing with the U.S. in its growing rivalry with China.”
He also said:
“Centered on the 60,000-ton aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, the strike group includes two frontline air-defense destroyers and two very capable antisubmarine frigates, as well as a nuclear submarine. The air wing is made up of fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighters built by the U.S. and a consortium of allies, including the British. Additionally, there is a very capable suite of helicopters onboard capable of attacking both surface ships and submarines, and carrying out long-range reconnaissance and targeting.”
You can read the article here.
What is the Carrier Strike Group doing?
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Carrier Strike Group deployment will feature visits to India, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore.
According to the Ministry of Defence, on the 28-week deployment spanning 26,000 nautical miles the Carrier Strike Group will conduct engagements with Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan and India as part of the UK’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region.
Additionally, ‘CSG21’ will participate in NATO exercises such as Exercise Steadfast Defender, and provide support to NATO Operation Sea Guardian and maritime security operations in the Black Sea.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
“When our Carrier Strike Group sets sail next month, it will be flying the flag for Global Britain – projecting our influence, signalling our power, engaging with our friends and reaffirming our commitment to addressing the security challenges of today and tomorrow. The entire nation can be proud of the dedicated men and women who for more than six months will demonstrate to the world that the UK is not stepping back but sailing forth to play an active role in shaping the international system of the 21st Century.”
Units from the Carrier Strike Group are expected to visit more than 40 countries and undertake over 70 engagements, say the Ministry of Defence.
“HMS Queen Elizabeth, the most powerful surface vessel in the Royal Navy’s history, will next month set sail as the flagship of a Carrier Strike Group. Joining her will be a surface fleet of Type 45 destroyers, HMS Defender and HMS Diamond, Type 23 anti-submarine frigates HMS Kent and HMS Richmond, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring. Deep below the surface, a Royal Navy Astute-class submarine will be deployed in support, armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Providing a cutting edge on the carrier’s flight deck will be eight state-of-the-art RAF F-35B Lightning II fast jets. Alongside will be four Wildcat maritime attack helicopters, seven Merlin Mk2 anti-submarine helicopters and three Merlin Mk4 commando helicopters – the greatest quantity of helicopters assigned to a single UK Task Group in a decade. And supporting below deck will be a company of Royal Marines Commandos. A US Navy destroyer, a frigate from the Netherlands and a squadron of US Marine Corps F-35B jets are also fully integrated.”
Additional remarks from the statement explain the “Indo-Pacific tilt”.
“CSG21 will be a truly global deployment, from the North Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific. In Parliament, the Defence Secretary will explain how it will help achieve the UK’s goal for deeper engagement in the Indo-Pacific region in support of shared prosperity and regional stability – a stated aim of the Government’s recently published Integrated Review into foreign, defence, security and development policy.
The forthcoming deployment will bolster already deep defence partnerships in the region, where the UK is committed to a more enduring regional defence and security presence. Ships from the Carrier Strike Group will participate in Exercise Bersama Lima to mark the 50th anniversary of the Five Powers Defence Agreement between Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Engagements in Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan and India will provide the opportunity for strengthening our security relationships, tightening political ties and supporting our UK exports and International Trade agenda.”
Great picture, shows off how big she really is
A lot bigger than the 60kt quoted in by Stavridis in his article.
Strangely there isn’t much mention of the support fleet of tankers etc that are rather critical and almost nobody in NATO has other than UK & USA…..odd omission that given how critical it is.
Most Navies have some supporting assets, but it’s also worth noting acknowledging that the RN has an unsually large supporting arm for a navy of it’s size.
The German Navy has the Berlin and Rhön classes, but both are quite small (the 3 Berlins come in at 20,000 and the 2 Rhön at about 14,000), compare with the RFA’s 30-40,000t Waves and Tides, + Forts.
Patiño and Cantabria are also both quite small too, and there is only one of each (even a quick look at the maths shows the German Navy actually has a bigger Auxiliary capacity than the Armada, despite not having a CSG).
Exactly
I think the MoD gently let on she is 72,000t at full load 36′ draught and that waterline tops out at 40′. As a Commander said to me, give the lowest figures, give the slowest speed, make yourself look less.
While I agree with your Commander in principle, I think the opposition already knows more than he does. The question is more – does this knowledge effect the overall equation?
Yes true. He is out of the RN now with a nice life in Hampshire jokingly said tha the is too old for further promotion, whether that is true or not, but a very thorough guy who has a nice jiob in the private sector now. I think it was more of being the grey man and not bigging anything up. I think the priginal speed of the Type 45s was a fair bit lower and given than the actual figure and speed they can achive. Things like that, but it all comes out in the end. It may be more for our own politicians though. Give the shortest lenght possible between perps, waterline or just the level fight deck or the low tonnage as with the Carriers and so on. The perevious carrier were called through deck cruisers as to hide the real fact.
Are the carriers not 70,600 tonnes in fact? That’s what I read on an official construction page a couple of years back. 65,000 tonnes was the design displacement but was superceded by the greater tonnage of the finished ships.
What a country what a people the greatest union in the history of the planet , we invented the modern world and now we are dominating the sea lanes again with this impressive task force 👏🏻👊🏼🇬🇧 All made possible by the unique numero uno genetic sequencing code that is Scottish DNA .
I welcome any negative rebuttals from the London boys in here 😃 c’mon say something negative 😂🚽💩
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I agree it’s great to see a combination of Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Irish ingenuity. The Scottish are critical to the greatest union on earth and I for one am a great supporter and friend of the Scottish. Friends, allies, brothers and sisters all as one. I live in London but I’m a Mancunian originally. Long live the UK and may it show the world the way forward in terms of free trade, free thought and freedom of the sea lanes as it has done for the last 314 years. Interesting that this is the month of May which symbolically important. The 1st May 1707 was the date when the act of union between England and Scotland commenced.
I like your first 15 words but the rest just sounds a bit silly when all things are considered.
Not so man you realise For such a small population within the union Scots have produced some of the greatest minds and inventors these isles have ever seen? The U.K.’s success is as a result of ALL the Scots , Welsh, English and Irish tribes that make it up. The system the world runs on (the modern world) was put together by Britain , the institutions , the practices, etc this is simple fact sorry if you are offended by it.
absolutely nothing silly about any of that go research some history as I can’t be bothered trying to enlighten you.
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Well to be honest with you, your reply is even Sillier when all things are considered, especially the last paragraph, as a proud member of the “Union” you know nothing of my own DNA nor have any knowledge of my knowledge of history.
Shite it is son, it’s ok there’s no problem you don’t like the fact , the Scots have made an unequally large contribution to this islands success , or the fact that the “Modern” world for better or worse is what it is thanks to the British Empire again 8 fcuks given that you are unhappy with this situation.
never questioned your DNA only self promoted my own , the mere fact you are disagreeing with my pointing out the world runs on British influence tells me you aren’t really a history buff.
so please stop your silly Billy routine there’s no need for drama 👍🏻
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Oh I see, You can deduce that I’m not Scottish and that I’m disagreeing with you from the few words I’ve typed ? Wow, how amazing 🤔
No idea what your issue is other than you don’t like what I factually pointed out about the modern world and its shape thanks to the U.K and the Scots influence that’s it .
no idea where your from or what that has to do with anything?
best we just agree to disagree 👍🏻
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Well I agree with your last few words at least. But all the others are just gross stupidity and ignorant of any substance or facts to be honest with you. Especially when all is considered. 💪💪👌 Are you one of the Multi Account Holders that we see on other sites ?
Please put this to rest now, you’ve both agreed to disagree – no need to further fuel the fire.
OK Lisa but can you tell me why you chose to tell me please and not Him ? I’m not the one who actually caused any argument here what so ever.
Also Lisa, I think you need to take a look back at the original post as it goes against everything your site has recently reacted to. Again I have taken Screen Shots and await your reasoned reply.
Because yours was the last comment in the thread, it was directed to both of you and it’s done with now.
Is this a site for free speech and discussion or a place that is heavily Censored now ? I’m more than a bit confused to be honest. Screen Shots being taken of all the above now just incase you decide to delete my fair and balanced comments .
Could you please take note of our comment moderation policy? Be civil, this comment should serve as a warning, cheers.
Well I ‘m guessing this site might take up a load more of your time George, from what your new rules and personal involvement seem to indicate. As a fellow Admin, I feel your pain here what with all the confusing and somewhat multi faceted if not multi personality members that appear here. The best of luck though. It’s a brilliant site I have to say.
We can see people’s IP’s when they comment, ones from the same address but different accounts are put into spam.
Oh, And can you see who of those posters might just use the same IP Address at their place of work as there are 4 of us in our office who comment on here most days ? have done for at least 5 years now. Are you now showing us those multi account members on here with the latest Mexican Head type feature then ?
Comments from already approved posters aren’t held in moderation in that way.
Aye Rodger that 👍🏻
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It was Winston Churchill that remarked that no nation on the planet, of comparable size, had given so much to the world. Mind you, he was probably having a ‘Twee’ moment.
You almost managed to be agreeable almost ……you cheeky wee rascal you 😂
You seem to be an Item. It’s very normal to see replies like this from multiple account holders on these type of sites. I hope Admin can clarify ?
Let me assure you, if you see and read these boys previous efforts and “conversations” you will see they are most certainly not the same person…both are very very strange in their own loveable way…..
Coming from the J.R.Hartley of this sites contributors I’ll take that as a compliment man😁👍🏻
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So, what is the likelihood that we are the same person Artist?
What is that daft Kent trying to say you n me are the same person? 😂🤣 ha ha I’ve had my run ins with you so eh no don’t think so . Now I understand why he was so un agreeable and why his wee panties are all twisted if he believes that😂👋🏻
ive heard it all know😂😂😂 aye we’re totally the same person 🤣🤣 good grief
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If I understand your logic Artist, not liking me is understandable, but not liking you is inexplicable. You may well be right!😀
Not so I do not dislike you as you put it ,we simply had a wee disagreement about history that’s all. I bear no grudges anything disagreed about in the Octagon stays in the octagon.
Im in no way prejudice against Morris dancers👍🏻😃
Ermmm not what I wrote….I was being facetious in a Yes Minister way. Hey ho….and a hey nonny nonny no and back to banging sticks together! 😁
your understanding of my logic was incorrect and not what I meant but I see now we are heading deeper into the valley of misunderstanding so we shall end ex .👍🏻
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You are correct. It was the Scots who provided the brains, initiative and inspiration for GB.
in 1089 Margaret of Wessex ran north of the border to escape the Norman thugs who took over England. She married Malcolm II and is reputed to have brought grace and good manners to the Scottish Court. She became Saint Margaret, the Pearl of Scotland for her efforts. The Saxon respect for grace and learning prospered in Scotland which the Normans never conquered. Sadly in England despite a short flowering in the Plantagenet period (when the key principles of English Law were laid down) it all went pear shaped with the Tudors. The rest as they say, is history.
👏🏻 How’s there’s a lesson in history you don’t hear every day 👍🏻
I like your style man , the cut of your jibber is large👍🏻
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It suits the establishment to pretend that the history of GB began in 1066. I have an old school ruler with a list of monarchs…it starts with William of Normandy.
In fact both England and Scotland are very old nation states. Scotland was formed before 900AD. McAlpin unified the Picts and Celts and subdued and assimilated the Vikings. England took a bit longer until 927AD. Aethelstan led a unified forces of Wessex, Mercia, Anglia and to defeat the combined forces of the Scots and Vikings at Brunanburgh. The poem of the battle is a good read.
What is worth noting is that in both cases the marauding Vikings were allowed to stay if they renounced violence and were baptised. England under the Wessex kings was a wealthy, well run and pious nation. Scotland of course had been evangelised by St Columba across from Donegal I think.
Henry the 7th put the English finances on a much better footing, but his son managed to balls that up……bye bye monasteries!
I still don’t accept those Norman/German imposters as monarchs I have to say even if both my Surnames from. Other and father are of Norman origin. Anyone named Godwin or variation thereof probably has greater claim to the English throne, though interesting to hear there is probably more Saxon dna in the Scottish lineage than the English, or had it been sidetracked by obscure linage Ganges by the time the Stuart’s arrived (hardly a great role model there mind). And there comes the extra problem, the Stuarts were not of course really direct Scottish Kings or Queens at all, as I know from my own name Stuart was re spelt from Stewart which itself came from Steward and originated when no direct rightful monarch existed to take the throne, it was the Steward of the Court who was offered the role and that Steward was of course appointed by the King of England. Thus ‘Stuart’ is of Norman/Saxon origin not Scottish at all. So all as clear as mud then.
Out of some obscure interest some years back I read that something like all American industrial wealth last Century was reliant on Scottish inventions/inventors, presumably Bell is responsible for much of it depending how far you want to take it into telecommunications income. I guess that’s all somewhat subjective but yes they certainly have had influence well beyond their size and then some.
Another man that knows history 👍🏻👏🏻
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Don’t forget that crazy inventor called “Bru”. top bloke, invited a form of ginger coloured acid, which stripped paint and rust in seconds, which then could be swallowed………;0)
And West Country DNA (Appledore) 😎
Well here’s the rub most British dna prior to modern immigration goes back to the Beaker people who have been on these islands from before 3000 years ago. The further east you go you will find a higher Germanic marker from Saxon and Viking influence (Danish and Saxon is indistinguishable they and Norwegian is however distinguishable ironically). Lowland Scots are closer to Southern English than they are to Highland Scots generally because of a higher influx of Bretons who made up much of the Norman armies. However we are talking degrees here ie the Welsh and South Western English and Scots have a bit higher ancient British dna (I won’t use Celt as the Celts never existed in the British isles) than the English generally and as I say a gradual change goes East to West to reflect incursions. It’s thought that there may have been no more than a small percentage of the population actual Saxons in England they just as the Romans had held the power controlled the culture.
As lowland Scotland some or which was part of the Kingdom of Northumbria remember, was mixed with Saxons and Normans along with the people who never acknowledged a border anyway highland Scots (an Irish tribe name in itself) mixed with Irish invaders. Ireland itself clearly has two fundamentally different peoples mixing the ‘black Irish’ probably from Iberian infiltration and the ancient Beaker Britons and Norwegian Vikings who are greatly red or blond haired. This itself infiltrated into mainland fringe Britain too mostly in the western regions. But I guess it has become far easier to stick to inaccurate but easier to comprehend presumptions about the people’s of these islands that have more to do with Victorian archaeologists definitions of discovered cultural objects they dug up than any real genetic analysis of the people involved using those objects throughout these islands. The fact that we exploit it to create false differences is I guess faintly amusing if somewhat sad.
Are you an archaeologist as well as a Westland fan?
Spot on, as the modern Welsh and Cornish are pretty much what was left of the ancient Britain’s pushed west in the 4th-6th Centuries by those dastardly Anglo Saxons. In fact I believe the term Welsh is a bastardised form of old English for “foreigner”….
Nope, nothing negative, particularly when you consider how many Prime Ministers of the UK have been Scots. I would love to say that she was Clyde built, but Rosyth Assembled sounds pretty good. And if you want another Scottish connection, don’t forget that the Captain is called Angus!
Most of it was built by cheap foreign labour from Eastern Europe tbf.
I remember discussing British PM (Scots/Canadian) Bona Law with an A level history class. Every-time I mentioned Bona Law there were sniggers and red faces amongst the girls. I eventually found out what they were laughing at.😄
Don’t need to I think you did a brilliant job there.
Funny you should mention that I’m currently reading book 9 of a Sci-fi series
(Empire Rising by D J Holmes) as mentioned Its a sci fi series where the world has been placed in space. So there are:
Russian, US, Chinese, Indian, Argentine, German, French and other empires.
Very well written and I have to admit I love the politics, (The Indians, argies and Brazilians stab the Brits in the back) The UN which rules Earth is a joke filled by yes men and women.
The first few books deal with a bun fight between the UK and Chinese empire, followed by a bunfight between the British and Indian empire , then an alien invasion which sees the Uk and US fight them off, followed by a Russian invasion and now another alien invasion. But at the front it is always the British.
Im scottish and served on some of the naby ships and yes scotland certainly built the helicopter carriers….excellent quality & addition to our national defence, Bravo to our British Nations 👏
Great to see the coverage but far from the biggest Royal Naval deployment since the Falkland war. The 2001 deployment to Oman was significant. Look at the Royal Naval and RFA forces listed here including two flattops.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Saif_Sareea#Saif_Sareea_2
Once every 20 years then!
On a superficial level, which is what most media stories are, it’s a great looking deployment. But when one considers that there are only 8 UK F-35s actually on the carrier – and right now just 10 more back home; that it involves one-third of all UK destroyers and the ONLY solid stores replenishment vessel in the fleet – one begins to appreciate how little there is behind the front shelf for this deployment. The Chinese, among others, are fully aware of that. It is great for peacetime posturing, but were it ever to come to conflict with a peer adversary …
Nope mate….. apparently you are wrong on this ! Well that’s just what folk are telling me on this place for even daring to voice similar concerns. Anyway, whatever, I’m out of here for a few days now Off to wave at the passing Off Spring and a few others ! Not even sure if any of my post’s will be allowed anymore on here after having to wait for them to be approved/deleted but heck, Proud to be one of the few who earned the right to freedom.
There hasn’t been a conflict between peer adversaries involving carriers since WWII. None of the modern fast-jet supercarriers have ever been tested in anything other than constabulary missions against significantly weaker opponents, so how long a QE (or Nimitz) strike group would last in a WWIII scenario is hard to judge. My suspicion is that all these major surface assets would be lost in fairly short order and some kind of stalemate ensue because no-one’s got much left to fight with, and no-one can churn out modern platforms fast enough to replace the losses. Hopefully we’ll never find out.
‘There hasn’t been a Conflict between peer adversaries involving Carriers since WWII’ I think your forgetting the Falklands War.
Not sure HMS Venerable actually did anything during the Falklands War.
Sadly true the capacity would be lucky to last longer than our deployed ships did in late 41 against another Asian Superpower. Nonetheless still worthwhile as an addition to a greater allied force physically as well as psychologically especially to keep a lot of regional powers/countries onboard..
Well that’s true sadly, Even with a Navy the size of which has never been eclipsed in peacetime , there are comparisons being drawn here that are unbelievably underestimated if you ask me. And I’m no expert at all.
Yet China couldn’t put to sea anything close in capability. Let alone deploy it to the far side of the world for 7 month’s. F35 numbers will increase. This is a first deployment that is a huge undertaking. We have been out of the carrier game for 10 years. I don’t recall people being upset when we only deployed 8 subsonic, short ranged Sea Harriers Armed with only sidewinders and Aden cannon. The capability and the statement this deployment provides is not to be underestimated. It’s the largest deployment of 5th gen capability to date. Somthing we could only have dreamed of a few years ago. And should be rightly proud of today. And we are never going to go to war with China on our own. In a few years, allied nations will have 29 vessels capable of deploying 5th gen F35 capability to sea. China will have zero.
There is a problem if people think the navy is doing something on a scale that hasn’t been exceeded since its last major Naval conflict.
Gives a false impression of scale and capability and I just have a strong dislike of Trumpian style ideology …..biggest, best,..the likes of which has never been seen before…blah blah blah
Keep it real…it’s significant, it’s great news, but it’s 7 surface hulls and a sub.
Welcome back to the big boy club!
love the new Jewish ? Hated persons , not sure if that’s what was intended but I can see a few reasons why.
What are you talking about?
You not looking at your site then ? it’s being shown as some sort of Jewish Hated Person on virtually every Posters Post ? Quite why this is the choice I don’t really know to be honest ? strange George really, don’t you think ? I’d be more than happy for you to delete me though, it’s no big problem.
That’s the responsibility of Gravatar, not us. We aren’t in control of their default profile photo placeholder image.
What’s with the attitude? Have I offended you in some way?
Not offended , just sensing a bit of attitude to be honest , not that it matters though. It’s your site after all.
No ill-will from me.
I took this just a person that is just with a moustache. Nothing more. It took me a few passes through the conversation to even work out what you were talking about. I think it is a bit of a reflection of our own worldview. Nothing untoward.
For an article about US perception on UK capability, however nuanced, there are some bizarre responses in this comment section.
Realistically, in my humble opinion, the object of CSG21 is to demonstrate UK capability, and emphasise freedom of navigation, in a global context.
If that becomes a multinational effort so much the better.
There are negative aspects concerning UK capability of supporting a Task Force, and the effectiveness of UK support capability, but the bottom line is that we can, at least, provide an alternative to the US doing all of the work.
I am sure that this must be more than welcome.
Very very welcome… but keep it real.
Nice replies even if it seems to have wandered a bit of topic,
nice to see that the Americans acknowledging us ,
but as long as we remain united great Britain will be around for centuries to come , just an armatures opinion,
nice site by the way..
I don’t know how to rate this discussion. 5 stars
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSYhimH7iI
The USAF will be the FIRST unit of F35s to deploy overseas… stand up USMC!