The Royal Navy’s fleet flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth,arrived in Glen Mallan today as part of final preparations before her first operational deployment.
Sailing in along the Firth of Clyde, the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier has spent the last two weeks at sea testing and trialling her latest equipment, before berthing at the new Northern Ammunition Jetty to take on operational stores.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of the Royal Navy’s fleet to visit the new £64m facility, built by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) – work is five months behind schedule and is now not due to be completed until August, but the carrier was still able to come alongside today.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “HMS Queen Elizabeth has a very proud affiliation to Scotland and it is only fitting she returns before her first operational deployment later this year.
“The £64m investment into the new Northern Ammunition Jetty reaffirms our commitment to supporting our core capabilities and defence estate across all corners of the UK.”
Captain Angus Essenhigh, HMS Queen Elizabeth Commanding Officer, said: “We are very proud of the close connection our ship has with Scotland, especially with our affiliated city of Edinburgh.
“HMS Queen Elizabeth embodies the best of British engineering and craftsmanship, including Scottish shipbuilding, and it is a privilege to return to her birthplace of Scotland.”
The DIO project includes the installation of four new navigational aids to ensure safe passage through the confined waterway in Loch Long, two new modular fender spacer units that move with the tide to prevent the aircraft carrier flight deck from coming in to contact with the jetty and the installation of dolphin mooring points to ensure the aircraft can be securely berthed.
Craig MacDonald, DIO’s project manager, said: “It is fantastic to have HMS Queen Elizabeth berthed at Glen Mallan for the first time.
“DIO previously worked closely with contractors and local partners to ensure vital infrastructure upgrades were completed in time to prepare for the visit and I would like to thank everyone involved.”
This is the first time HMS Queen Elizabeth has visited Western Scotland, after she initially became a familiar sight on the River Forth where she was assembled.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to sail for Portsmouth at the end of the month, and will deploy to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and East Asia later this year, as part of the UK’s carrier strike group.
She is the largest and most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy. Weighing 65,000 tonnes, she is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and is primarily used to launch the F35 fighter jets.
Video and all photographs Crown Copyright
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