This night the UK’s Carrier Strike Group headed by HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) sailed from Portsmouth entered into Mediterranea Sea.
Joining HMS Queen Elizabeth on her maiden deployment are destroyers HMS Diamond and Defender; frigates HMS Richmond and Kent; an Astute-class submarine in support below the waves; and Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tidespring.
More than 30 aircraft will also embark across the task group including F-35 jets from 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, and the US Marine Corps’ VMFA-211; Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron and Merlin helicopters from 820 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons. Royal Marines from 42 Commando will also deploy with the carrier.
Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen and American Arleigh Burke destroyer USS The Sullivans are also part of the strike group.
This morning a RAF Boeing E-3D (reg. ZH101 – c/s NATO30) departed RAF Akrotiri made a mission in support of the carrier gstrike group entering into the Mediterranean Sea
