Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers

Introduction to Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers

The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are a pair of aircraft carriers operated by the Royal Navy. These ships are the largest warships ever built for the United Kingdom and are intended to serve as the centerpiece of the Royal Navy’s power projection and amphibious assault capabilities. The two ships in the class are HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. The Queen Elizabeth class is designed to replace the previous Invincible class aircraft carriers, which were decommissioned in the mid-2010s.

Design and Construction

The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers were designed and constructed by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a consortium of companies including BAE Systems, Babcock International, and Thales Group. The ships were built at several different shipyards around the United Kingdom, with final assembly taking place at the Rosyth Dockyard in Scotland. The Queen Elizabeth class has a displacement of approximately 65,000 tons and measures 280 meters (920 feet) in length. The ships have a crew of around 700 personnel, although this number can be increased to over 1,600 when embarked with a full air group and other personnel.

Capabilities and Features

The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are designed to provide a wide range of capabilities, including: * Air power projection: The ships are equipped with a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) flight deck, which allows them to operate the F-35B Lightning II multirole fighter jet. * Amphibious assault: The ships have a large well dock that can accommodate a variety of amphibious assault craft, including the Royal Navy’s new Albion class landing platform docks. * Command and control: The ships have advanced command and control systems, which enable them to act as a flagship for a naval task force. * Self-defense: The ships are equipped with a range of self-defense systems, including the Phalanx close-in weapon system and the Sea Ceptor air defense system.

Aircraft Carriers’ Air Group

The air group of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers is expected to consist of: * F-35B Lightning II: The F-35B is a multirole fighter jet that is capable of conducting a wide range of missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and reconnaissance. * Merlin helicopters: The Merlin is a multirole helicopter that can be used for a variety of tasks, including anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and cargo transport. * Apache helicopters: The Apache is a attack helicopter that can be used to provide close air support for ground troops. * Wildcat helicopters: The Wildcat is a multirole helicopter that can be used for a variety of tasks, including anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and cargo transport.

Ship	Commissioned	Homeport
HMS Queen Elizabeth	2017	Portsmouth
HMS Prince of Wales	2019	Portsmouth

💡 Note: The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are still in the process of being fully operational, with HMS Queen Elizabeth having completed her first operational deployment in 2021 and HMS Prince of Wales still undergoing sea trials.

Operational History

The Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers have begun to enter operational service with the Royal Navy. HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned in 2017 and has since conducted several deployments, including her first operational deployment to the Indo-Pacific region in 2021. HMS Prince of Wales was commissioned in 2019 and is currently undergoing sea trials. The ships are expected to play a key role in the Royal Navy’s future operations, providing a powerful and flexible capability that can be used to project power and protect British interests around the world.

In summary, the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers are a vital part of the Royal Navy’s fleet, providing a wide range of capabilities and features that make them an essential tool for power projection and amphibious assault. With their advanced design and construction, these ships are expected to serve the United Kingdom for many years to come, playing a key role in maintaining the country’s position as a major naval power.