Jul 22, 2021
🌊 Sailing through the Suez Canal
Aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and the UK Carrier Strike Group have recently passed through the Suez Canal
The Carrier Strike Group began the next phase of their maiden global deployment following operations and exercises in the Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea.
The nine ships of the Carrier Strike Group between them visited eleven different European countries, operating alongside allies through a variety of exercises and operations.
“The Carrier Strike Group’s period working with our NATO partners in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas offers unmistakable proof that the United Kingdom’s most important overseas defence commitment remains the security of the Euro-Atlantic region.”
— Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group
After passing through the Suez Canal, the UK Carrier Strike Group headed East, marking a new chapter in their global deployment.
Highlights of the deployment so far included exercises with the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle on Exercise Gallic Strike. There were also exercises with the Italian Air Force and Navy, with the combined might of Western maritime forces for Exercise Steadfast Defender 21.
More recently, the Carrier Strike Group joined coalition operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. This marked a historic milestone as British and American F-35B strike fighters flew the first operational missions from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier, as they stood ready to strike at Daesh.
“The days are long and the work is hard but it’s rewarding: I am enjoying the deployment so far. After a year of being so restricted at home it’s great to be able to look out and experience the world, even if at times it is still from the confines of the ship.”
— Squadron Leader Magill, a Royal Air Force physiotherapist based within HMS Queen Elizabeth’s medical team
The UK Carrier Strike Group’s deployment will last a total of 28 weeks, with their return later at the end of the year.
