Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth 'accomplished what many doubted possible' with Carrier Strike Group exercise, commander says
THE commander of the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group has heralded the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for ‘silencing’ critics and doubters with its latest operation at sea.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is back in Portsmouth today after spending the last four weeks taking part in a Nato exercise in the North Sea.
The exercise saw the Carrier Strike Group assemble for the first time, incorporating eight other warships and 15 fighters jets, as well as thousands of crew members.
Commodore Steve Moorhouse – commander of the strike group and the only man to have captained both of the Royal Navy’s two supercarriers – has said the latest trials have ‘busted some myths’ perpetuated by critics of the aircraft carrier programme.
In a series of posts on Twitter, Commodore Moorhouse said: ‘We embarked the largest air group of 5th generation fighters ever put to sea – finally silencing those who harp on about ‘carriers without jets’.
‘UK F-35B numbers will grow, but the ability to operate UK & US jets interchangeably from a British deck offers massive flexibility.
‘We accomplished what many doubted possible by forming a sovereign British strike group – but also integrated ships & aircraft from our closest NATO allies. It demonstrates the convening power of @HMSQNLZ & @HMSPWLS and continuing UK leadership in #NATO.
‘Against the backdrop of COVID, @RoyalNavy achieved all this alongside our standing tasks, including other task groups in the Caribbean & Med. Carrier Strike doesn’t come at the expense of the rest of the Navy – it’s Carrier Strike that balances the fleet once again.
‘So, we’ve well and truly busted some myths.
‘Our allies believe in our future and so should we.
‘Much still to prepare for deployment next year, but 20 years of ambition has been realised - the UK Carrier Strike Group is now a reality.’
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The Carrier Strike Group includes city-based HMS Diamond and HMS Defender, both Type 45 warships, and US Navy Arleigh Burke-class USS The Sullivans.
According to the Queen’s Harbour Master, HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to return to Portsmouth Naval Base at 10.25am.