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