HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Rosyth for planned maintenance Royal Navy
“Our return here is yet another first for HMS Queen Elizabeth and another important step on her journey as Britain generates a big deck Carrier Strike capability.”
Having lowered her pole mast to get under the three Bridges, the ship will now have to wait for the right tidal and weather conditions to manoeuvre safely through the lock into Rosyth Dockyard.
Equipped with a specially designed roller-fender system, there will be just one metre clearance each side of the ship, and just over one metre separating the keel from the entrance sill.
Is this something else we can export?
When the docking period is complete HMS Queen Elizabeth will sail to conduct further sea trials and training ahead of deploying again later this year for ‘WESTLANT 19’, where she will embark British F35B Lightning II jets to conduct Operational Testing, following on from last year’s successful Developmental Tests.
I wonder if this period might include embarkation of a full complement of Merlin HM2 for an ASW exercise like
Deep Blue, or
Deep Blue II? A big deck and multiple ASW helicopters seems to be something NATO seeks from the UK.
Alternatively, they could be bringing the ship's company and in particular the flight deck party up to speed in preparation for having multiple jets on deck (as well as helicopters).