Latest news with #HMSQueenElizabeth
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
U.K. Navy Aircraft Carrier Prince of Wales Docks at Yokosuka; Marked 1st Visit by a U.K. Aircraft Carrier Since 2021
YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa — The British Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier made a port call at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Tuesday. This marked the first visit to Japanese port by a U.K. aircraft carrier since the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier in 2021. Accompanying the carrier were British destroyer HMS Dauntless and the Norwegian Navy's frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen, both of which are part of the carrier strike group led by the Prince of Wales deployed in the Indo-Pacific region. The two ships also docked at the Maritime Self Defense Force base in the city on the same day. This is the first-ever port call to Japan by a Norwegian Navy vessel. An arrival ceremony was held at the MSDF base. Vice Adm. Tomohiko Madono, commander of the MSDF Yokosuka District, said he hoped this port call would further enhance operational effectiveness between the MSDF, British and Norwegian navies. The Prince of Wales is due to call at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal in Koto Ward, Tokyo, on Aug. 28, and leave Japan on Sept. 2.
Japan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
Britain's Prince of Wales aircraft carrier makes Japan debut
Britain's Prince of Wales aircraft carrier made its Japan debut on Tuesday, arriving at the Yokosuka Naval Base just days after some of its embarked F-35B fighter aircraft touched down and took off from the deck of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kaga carrier as part of 'cross-decking' training activities. The 280-meter warship, which is in the final leg of a monthslong Indo-Pacific deployment at the helm of a multinational carrier strike group, docked at the base in Kanagawa Prefecture alongside British destroyer Dauntless and Norwegian frigate Roald Amundsen. The move marks not only the second time that a British aircraft carrier has docked in Japan — after the HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 — but also the latest in a series of incremental steps between Japan and European partners to deepen military ties amid concerns over Chinese assertiveness in the region. The cross-decking activities were part of a larger naval exercise held between Aug. 4-12 in the western Pacific that featured U.S., Spanish and Norwegian warships, including four aircraft carriers. They marked the first time that British short-takeoff-and-landing F-35Bs have landed on a Japanese carrier — a move designed to enhance interoperability, flexibility and operational capacity between the partner navies, especially as Japan just recently took delivery of its first three of a planned fleet of 42 F-35Bs, most of which will be deployed from Kaga and its sister ship, Izumo. Such level of interoperability could prove crucial In the case of a contingency as cross-decking would allow for the extension of flight operations beyond the range of a single carrier or platform as similar aircraft could be refueled or rearmed on different ships, including those from partner nations. The Prince of Wales and the two other warships are part of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group 25. The remaining members of the group proceeded to South Korea. Before the carrier's arrival in Japan, however, one of its F-35Bs suffered a malfunction that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing on Sunday at Kagoshima Airport in southwestern Japan. The incident closely followed the forced landing of another F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram Airport in Kerala, India, in June. After Yokosuka, the Prince of Wales will head to Tokyo for six days from Aug. 28 while the Norwegian warship will be in the Japanese capital over Aug. 19-22 before returning to Yokosuka. All three ships are scheduled to leave Japan on Sept. 2. Tokyo has hailed the visit as a 'demonstration of Britain and Norway's commitment to contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, with a view to realizing a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific.' The Japan visit will mark the strike group's final leg during Operation Highmast — the name of this year's deployment — before the group reassembles and heads back to Europe. The route has already taken the warships from Portsmouth in England to the Mediterranean, across the Red Sea via the Suez Canal and through the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia to conduct exercises and port visits with partners such as the U.S., India, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Last month, elements of the strike group took part in this year's iteration of the multinational Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia and Papua New Guinea, highlighting that the eight-month deployment was not only aimed at showing presence and making port calls. An image published Saturday on X shows British F-35B aircraft landing for the first time on Japan's JS Kaga carrier. | BRITISH ROYAL NAVY Just like with the Queen Elizabeth carrier-led deployment four years ago, this year's mission has tested the Royal Navy's logistical capabilities as well as its ability to operate alongside regional partners. This is key as the navy seeks to understand how to better operate and exchange capabilities with non-NATO partners while discussing how best to handle potential regional contingencies ranging from disaster-relief operations and gray-zone activities to countering hostile cyberactivities and engaging in high-end warfighting. But the British deployments are also meant to send a dual strategic message — one of deterrence to potential adversaries and another of reassurance to allies and partners that Britain remains focused on maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. This comes after the U.K. Ambassador to Tokyo told The Japan Times last year that London will remain laser-focused on the Indo-Pacific as the region remains critical for British economic and security interests. Of particular importance are ties with Japan, which views Britain as its closest European defense and security partner. In recent years, the scope and frequency of joint military activities with the Self-Defense Forces has grown, including port calls and exercises such as the Vigilant Isles drills. Many of the military maneuvers are now being facilitated by a visiting-forces pact that entered into force in October 2023. The Prince of Wales is the third European aircraft carrier to visit the region and exercise with the MSDF over the past 12 months, following the Italian Navy's Cavour deployment last August and the French Navy's Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier in February. The move is part of an attempt by some of Europe's largest nations to expand security cooperation and interoperability with Indo-Pacific partners. This has, at least in part, been prompted by fears that a crisis akin to that in Ukraine could erupt in Asia — whether due to developments in the South China Sea or in relation to Taiwan — with both European and U.S. regional allies embracing the argument that Indo-Pacific security is 'inseparable' from that of the North Atlantic.
Edinburgh Reporter
25-07-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Rosyth
HMS Queen Elizabeth returned to Babcock at Rosyth on Thursday after sailing from Portsmouth. The £3.2 billion aircraft carrier – part of the Queen Elizabeth class along with HMS Prince of Wales – sailed under the three bridges on the Forth yesterday evening heading for the dry dock. Although HMS Queen Elizabeth was always due for some maintenance there appear to have been some mechanical issues which now require attention. On social media the ship announced: 'A beautiful evening to sail past our affiliated city of Edinburgh. Hundreds of our sailors came onto the flight deck to witness the transit under the iconic Forth Bridges.' 24/7/2025 HMS Queen Elizabeth returning to Babcock Rosyth on the River Forth Picture Alan Simpson 24/7/2025 HMS Queen Elizabeth returning to Babcock Rosyth on the River Forth Picture Alan Simpson Like this: Like Related
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Royal Navy aircraft carrier departs from Portsmouth after upgrade
The Royal Navy's £3.2 billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has left Portsmouth in the middle of two extensive periods of maintenance 65,000 tonne ship, which was commissioned into service in 2017, has been undergoing "significant" upgrade work at Portsmouth Naval Base for the past nine the ship will undergo sea trials to test newly installed navigation and propulsion control systems before going into dry dock at Rosyth in Scotland for seven Claire Thompson, HMS Queen Elizabeth's Commanding Officer, said: "The departure of HMS Queen Elizabeth from Portsmouth marks the end of one phase of our upkeep period and the beginning of another. The Royal Navy says HMS Queen Elizabeth is undergoing the equivalent of a car MOT after six years that has included a global deployment to the Indo-Pacific in 2021 and a series of NATO operations in European waters. The time in dry dock will allow engineers to inspect and improve systems inaccessible when the ship is afloat."We have achieved an enormous amount in 2025, with a significant upgrade to our propulsion system being the most notable item amidst a wide range of engineering projects tackled alongside our partners from industry," Capt Thompson added: "My focus remains generating a highly capable team that can take the ship from our docking period and work towards front-line duties."The sea trials will assess the 500-strong ship's company's ability to deal with a range of emergencies – including damage control and fire and floods training. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Royal Navy set to house sailors on Bibby Stockholm-style barge in bid to cut costs
THE Royal Navy is set to house sailors on a barge like the Bibby Stockholm in a bid to save cash. Top brass leased a 100-room 'floatel' months after Labour axed a deal with Advertisement 2 The Royal Navy is set to house sailors on the Sans Vitesse barge Credit: Alamy 2 Top brass leased the 100-room 'floatel' months after Labour axed a deal with Bibby Stockholm claiming it was not fit for people Credit: Alamy The crew of flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth are moving to the Sans Vitesse barge when the ship goes in to dock for repairs. Labour had slammed the Bibby as a 'miserable and dangerous prison ship'. MPs warned conditions could breach migrants' human rights and it was decommissioned in November. Critics slammed the move over Dutch-flagged Sans Vitesse in Rosyth, Fife, as 'terrible'. Advertisement READ MORE ON ROYAL NAVY The MoD said: 'Ministers have asked for other options. "We will ensure accommodation is suitable.' A source said: 'This is the most economical option. 'It means the sailors on watch can live right next to HMS Queen Elizabeth, so there is no commuting, and the chefs can still work as chefs in the galley of the Sans Vitesse, so they remain gainfully employed.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun Life inside the Bibby Stockholm- Migrant films conditions as some of the first to board the barge describe it as 'like Alcatraz prison'
