Guernsey Press

HMS Queen Elizabeth sets sail for sea trials

The fleet flagship will eventually be part of a carrier strike group deployment to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and east Asia.

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Hundreds of well-wishers have waved off Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it set sail for sea trials.

The £3 billion warship left Portsmouth Naval Base for planned trials and training ahead of its first deployment this spring.

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire as it sets sail for exercises at sea
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Naval Base (Steve Parsons/PA)

Last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that HMS Queen Elizabeth will be at the centre of a carrier strike group deployment to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and east Asia.

The carrier will embark F-35B jets from 617 Squadron (the “Dambusters”) and Royal Navy Merlin helicopters, and will be escorted and supported by Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and support ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire as it sets sail for exercises at sea
HMS Queen Elizabeth took over the role of fleet flagship in June (Steve Parsons/PA)

The carrier and its strike group will first take part in a war-fighting exercise with other Nato navies during Exercise Strike Warrior off Scotland in May before it departs for the Mediterranean.

Last month, following talks with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Japan welcomed the decision to send the carrier to the Indo-Pacific region amid growing tensions with China over navigation rights.

Police ribs escort the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire as it sets sail for exercises at sea
Police ribs escort HMS Queen Elizabeth (Steve Parsons/PA)

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was part of the UK’s “tilt” towards the Indo-Pacific region following Brexit.

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