Royal Navy Officers Join Forces on USS George H.W. Bush Ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth Deployment
The Royal Navy is teaming up with the US Navy this week as officers embark on the mighty USS George H.W. Bush. It’s all part of Exercise Saxon Warrior, a major drill to prep for the deployment of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth.
USS George H.W. Bush Arrives in Gosport
The massive American aircraft carrier pulled in to Stokes Bay, Gosport, this morning, ready to kick off Saxon Warrior. This joint exercise sharpens theatre-specific combat skills while boosting cooperation between multinational forces.
Testing Skills & Strengths in a Simulated Warzone
Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) leads the charge in Saxon Warrior. The exercise throws a mix of tough, unpredictable scenarios at the multinational fleet to simulate real-world conflict.
“Saxon Warrior will test every aspect of our war-fighting capabilities—from air wing strikes to the self-defence of the carrier,” said Cmdr Eric Retz, US Navy Carrier Strike Group 2’s operations officer. “Operating with coalition partners allows us to practice, learn their strengths, and blend them into a potent coalition force.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth: Sea Trials Underway
While Saxon Warrior unfolds, HMS Queen Elizabeth and her F-35B Lightning jets are also battling for readiness. Sea trials cover everything from speed and manoeuvrability to weapons tests and propulsion power.
The Queen’s initial sea trials were delayed from March 2017 due to minor technical glitches but finally kicked off at the end of June. Her journey began in Rosyth, navigating the Firth of Forth and threading her way beneath the iconic Forth bridges.
Escort ships HMS Sutherland and HMS Iron Duke shadowed the carrier as she headed into open waters off Scotland’s east coast for key handling and speed tests.
Milestones & Next Steps for the Queen
- 3rd July: First aircraft landed – a Merlin HM.2 from 820 Naval Air Squadron
- Encountered Cunard cruise liner Queen Elizabeth in the Moray Firth
- Stopover at Invergordon for refuelling, provisioning, and hull inspections
After initial trials, HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Rosyth for more testing and maintenance. Next up is a second round focusing on Mission Systems, ahead of her triumphant handover to the Royal Navy at portsmouth/" title="Portsmouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Portsmouth Naval Base later this year.
