HMS Queen Elizabeth Sets Sail for Crucial New Trials
The pride of Portsmouth, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is gearing up to leave port and kick off the second phase of her rigorous trials. The mighty aircraft carrier will sail at 3pm tomorrow, weather permitting, with the main harbour channel closing to all other ships from 2.30pm.
Second Phase Trials Focus on High-Tech Systems
The first round of trials saw the carrier’s engines, steering, and auxiliary machinery put through their paces – and passed with flying colours. Now, Part 2 shifts attention to mission systems, radars, communications, and cutting-edge electronics onboard.
Harbour Challenges: Tight Squeeze for a Giant
- The dredged channel is just 100 metres wide.
- HMS Queen Elizabeth’s waterline beam is 40 metres; her flight deck spans an impressive 70 metres.
- Her two “island” superstructures sit offset 25 metres starboard, floating over the water.
- The narrowest point at the harbour entrance – between the Round Tower and Fort Blockhouse – is a mere 210 metres wide.
To keep the massive warship perfectly centred, three pairs of specially designed navigation lights, dubbed Goddard’s Beacons after the bridge simulator manager, have been positioned at the harbour’s north end. These help the Captain and Navigator steer the ship safely through the tight channel by lining up the bridge with the middle beacon pair.
Weather, Tides & Tugboats: Perfect Timing Essential
The carrier’s departure depends on calm winds (under 15 knots), slack tides at high water, good visibility, and favourable sea conditions. Six tugboats will assist, starting manoeuvres at 1.15pm to ease the Queen Elizabeth out of her berth in the naval base.
Still Becoming a Warship: The Road Ahead
Right now, HMS Queen Elizabeth is more ship than warship. She lacks key defensive weapons like decoys and Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), currently armed only with light machine guns. Even once commissioned, there’s a long road ahead:
- Operational Sea Training to prepare the crew
- Flight trials with Merlin Mk2 helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron, specialising in anti-submarine warfare
- Initial operating capability planned for 2020
- Full Carrier Strike capability scheduled for 2023
This year, the first British F-35B Lightning jets will make carrier landings off the US east coast, marking a crucial milestone on the journey to restoring UK carrier strike power.
