HMS Queen Elizabeth to set sail from Portsmouth for first major exercise after returning to sea - when, times
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The 65,000 tonne carrier is back in action after months on the side-lines
A Royal Navy aircraft carrier is scheduled to leave Portsmouth tomorrow afternoon in the run-up to Nato exercises.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to depart from HMNB Portsmouth on May 8 subject to weather conditions. According to the King’s Harbour Master shipping movements, the 65,000 tonne warship will be departing from the Princess Royal Jetty at 4.40pm.
She will be given a pilot and tug escort from Apex, Tempest, Independent, Indulgent, Suzanne, and Christina. HMS Queen Elizabeth will proceed to the NAB Tower from 5.30pm.
As previously reported in The News, the £3.2bn warship will be taking on her first major series of drills since July last year. She conducted short-term sea trials before heading to the Rosyth dry dock and work beginning in September 2025. Her second planned docking period saw an extensive period of engineering work, with mechanical faults found during routine machinery trials in Portsmouth before heading up to Scotland.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to undertake a series of sea trials to bring her personnel up to speed. This will prepare the ship’s company for upcoming exercises with Nato as part of the alliances Allied Response Force (Maritime). During this period alongside the allied force, she’ll be readied to protect the UK at a moment’s notice should any situation arise.
Earlier this year, Nato undertook Exercise Steadfast Dart in the Baltic Sea in order to boost security in the region. The Nato Information Centre said the drill was “an excellent opportunity to raise training standards and enhance interoperability, while strengthening Allied cohesion and reinforcing the deterrence and defence posture of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”.
They added: “These elements are essential to ensuring forces remain ready, prepared, and capable of responding whenever and wherever required in the event of a crisis or contingency.”