HMS Queen Elizabeth takes flagship role of the Royal Navy

HMS Queen Elizabeth assumed the role of Fleet Flagship on 27th January as the Royal Navy moves closer to deploying the technologically advanced carrier strike group, the Royal Navy announced.

Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd was received on HMS Queen Elizabeth to mark the transfer of the role from HMS Albion, while Royal Navy ships and shore establishments were informed by a signal at 1330.

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, said: “The position of Fleet Flagship is a symbol of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s importance to the nation, not just in restoring our carrier strike capability, but as a rolling statement of British commitment to global security, prosperity and trade.

“It’s right that we bestow such a historic title now. In the coming months HMS Queen Elizabeth will lead the most ambitious Royal Navy deployment in decades. She will be a focal point as we look forward to an extraordinary year.”

It was announced last week that the UK’s new Flagship and Lightning Force of F-35B stealth strike fighters will also be complemented by a detachment of the fifth-generation aircraft from the US Marine Corps, and a US Navy destroyer during her first operational strike group deployment.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers and the Fleet Flagship of the Royal Navy. Capable of carrying 40 aircraft including fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and autonomous vehicles. She is the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy.

The lenght of the ship is 280 mt and her displacement is 65.000 tonnes. Maximum speed of the cutting-edge carrier is more than 25 knots.

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.

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