'Showing what Britain has': Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth for sea trials and Nato ops
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It’s her first major operation since coming out of the dry dock and being back at sea
Waving families greeted a Royal Navy aircraft carrier as she set sail on her first major operation since returning to sea.
HMS Queen Elizabeth left HMNB Portsmouth in the bright sunshine late this afternoon (May 8). Well-wishers and loved ones of the ship’s company gathered along the Hotwalls and at The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth to watch her depart.
Victoria Le Santo, of Waterlooville, was waiting with the family to see her 20-year-old son AB Max Le Santo go off on his first operation from Portsmouth.
She told The News: “I’m very proud and wanted to see him on his way. It’s brilliant what he;s achieved in the last couple of years. He’s very excited and looking forward to getting out there. He’s grown in confidence since being in the Royal Navy, that’s the biggest change we’ve seen in him. He can do all the practical things too. He’s really proud of his work and loves telling everyone about it.”
Victoria added: “It’s about time the carrier is out there and giving everyone a taste of what Britain has in its navy.”
Max’s brother Harry added: “I’m well proud of him being up there. He’s absolutely loving it. I kind of hope he falls off as I think it’ll be quite funny. He’s been with the ship for the past couple of weeks. I reckon he’ll smash it.”
The family of Warrant Officer 1 Robert Harvey, of Gosport, were once again on The Round Tower showing him support.
His father Richard, who also served in the Royal Navy, said: “Now the carrier has gone through a refit and they’ve fixed everything, once they get the workup done they’ll be fine. This is the first time I’ve seen the carrier up close. Quite a sight. I’ve been on smaller carriers back in the day.
“She’s going to go operational at some stage, but as long as they’re safe, because the world at the moment is in a bit of turmoil.”
WO1 Harvey’s daughter Elizabeth said her pride in her dad’s job makes it easier being separated from him. She added: “It’s emotional seeing him going out. As long as he comes back safe. He’s doing this for all of us. You have the emotions of him leaving and being reunited when he comes back. I’m so proud of him. It’s nice to see HMS Queen Elizabeth up close. My whole family is in the navy, and it’s nice to be at an age where I understand it.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth will be taking on her first major series of drills for several months. She went through a two-part maintenance period, the first taking place in Portsmouth where she was given “significant” upgrades to her propulsion systems and other components. Despite the progress, mechanical faults were found during routine machinery trials.
The 65,000 tonne warship proceeded to the Rosyth dry dock in Scotland - where she was built - for the second stage of her planned maintenance. From September to April, the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier was on the side-lines, but she is now back in action after returning to Portsmouth on April 27.
She is now 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 alliance’s 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.
Her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is also on active operations alongside HMS Duncan and RFA Tidespring. After taking on ammunition at the Glen Mallen jetty in Loch Long, she is now set to take part in Exercise Tamber Shield alongside Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies. Alongside her escort ships and naval aircraft, she’ll proceed to the North Atlantic and High North for a series of Nato military drills. Operation Firecrest was formulated in response to increased Russian activity in the area.