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HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) is currently on deployment
Carrier Strike Group
Global
This unit is currently on deployment, find out how that might affect you.
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HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy. This awe-inspiring warship is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft.
As well as state-of-the-art weaponry and communications systems, HMS Queen Elizabeth boasts five gyms, a chapel and a medical centre.
The flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth comes in at an enormous four acres, and will be used to launch the fearsome new F35 Joint Strike Fighter fast jet. Four fighter jets can be moved from the hangar to the flight deck in just one minute.
The ship’s two propellers weigh 33 tonnes each. The powerplant behind them generates enough power to run 1000 family cars.
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When HMS Queen Elizabeth becomes operational in 2020, her ship’s company will number around 1,600 personnel which is a mix of the ships company and embarked forces including her Air Wing. Between them, this highly trained crew will have an extraordinary range of skills, including but not limited to:
The Carrier Strike Group is our nation's spearhead. The role of the Carrier Strike Group is to act as a self-contained force that can work independently or as part of wider operations.
Just like a regular service for your car, all ships go through maintenance to ensure best performance.
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William joined the Royal Navy in 1999, and has gathered significant operational experience over the years. William was awarded an OBE in the March 2020 Operational honours list, and was recently promoted to Captain in 2022.
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HMS Queen Elizabeth is an investment in Britain’s security, prosperity and place in the world. She will provide a conspicuous presence on the global stage, sending a clear message of reassurance to our allies, and of defiance to those who would do us harm.
As well as being a powerful deterrent and symbol of British influence, HMS Queen Elizabeth will replace HMS Ocean as the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship. As the Fleet’s principal ship, she will carry senior naval staff, receive foreign dignitaries, and act as a command and control centre for the entire Royal Navy.
January 2021 HMS Queen Elizabeth assumed the role of Fleet Flagship as the Royal Navy moves closer to deploying the world’s most technologically advanced carrier strike group.
The first HMS Queen Elizabeth, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth I, enters service in 1915 at the height of the First World War. She fights in the Dardanelles and supports the Gallipoli campaign.
The German fleet hands in its surrender on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth, signalling the end of the Great War.
Following reconstruction during the interwar period, the original HMS Queen Elizabeth sees action in the Second World War before finally being decommissioned and scrapped in 1948.
Almost a century after the construction of the original HMS Queen Elizabeth, a new breed of ship is commissioned by Defence Secretary Des Browne. The two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers will be the largest and most powerful ever built for the Royal Navy.
The new carrier is launched at Rosyth by Her Majesty The Queen, ushering in a new era for the Royal Navy and British naval warfare.
The second HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Rosyth for her maiden sea trials before being formally commissioned into the Royal Navy.
From divers to chefs, musicians to engineers, there’s a whole world of career options with the Royal Navy. Join us to be part of something special, protecting our nation’s interests, all over the world.
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Mine hunter ships, frigates, destroyers and assault ships, among others, form the backbone of our naval prowess.
A vital element of the Royal Navy's role is keeping the peace, preventing conflict and containing situations before they develop.
By forging international partnerships with friendly nations, we're better able to protect the UK's interests, both at home and abroad. Find out more here.
