HMS Queen Elizabeth departs Portsmouth for three-month NATO training deployment
The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth set sail from Portsmouth with over 800 crew members for a three-month training mission across the UK and northern Europe.
At about 18:20 BST on Saturday, HMS Queen Elizabeth departed Portsmouth Naval Base, beginning a pre-planned three-month deployment around the United Kingdom and northern Europe. The £3.2 billion warship, commissioned in 2017, will host more than 800 sailors and serve as NATO's Allied Response Force command ship, a role assigned in July. Over the course of the mission, the carrier will run intensive training to practice coordinated Allied naval responses and enhance deterrence and readiness.
Captain Claire Thompson said the crew is rested after summer leave and ready to integrate a battle staff while honing safe aviation operations. The deployment also marks a milestone toward returning the carrier to the Royal Navy's highest readiness status, succeeding HMS Prince of Wales next year. Family members, including Petty Officer Weapons Engineer Thomas Hoare, waved the ship off, expressing pride and noting the Navy's support for families.
Why it matters
The deployment tests NATO naval coordination and readies the UK’s flagship carrier for future joint operations.
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