Big Lizzie is back! £3billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth after completing sea trials with F35B Lightning jets

• UK’s biggest warship sailed back to its home port of Portsmouth Naval Base as a ‘fully trained’ aircraft carrier
• Royal Navy aircraft carrier spent 10 weeks at sea undergoing trials for its first operational deployment in 2021
• Families of crew were unable to give quayside welcome due to Covid-19, but some waved from harbour walls
• 65-000 ton vessel will spend next few weeks docked in Portsmouth, before resuming training in the autumn 

By KATIE WESTON FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 22:06 AEST, 2 July 2020 | UPDATED: 00:33 AEST, 3 July 2020

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The £3billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has returned to Portsmouth today after completing sea trials with F35B Lightning jets.

The UK’s biggest warship spent 10 weeks at sea undergoing a series of trials, clearing it for front-line duties ahead of her first operational deployment next year.

She will spend the next few weeks docked at Portsmouth Naval base, before resuming training later in the autumn alongside Nato and US allies as the final stage before it can sail as part of a carrier strike group.+17

The UK’s biggest warship passed the Spice Island pub as it returned to Portsmouth today after spending 10 weeks at sea undergoing a series of trials ahead of her first operational deployment next year+17

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives back in Portsmouth Naval Base, where it will spend the next few weeks, after carrying out flight tests with F35B Lightning jets to prepare it for Carrier Strike Group readiness+17

People wave from the Round tower as the 65-000 ton vessel arrives back in Portsmouth Naval base as a ‘fully trained’ aircraft carrier. The warship has completed sea trials and flight tests with the F-35B Lightning jets, clearing it for front-line duties+17

Sailors pictured on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, as it arrives back to the city. Before being deployed at the ‘height of the Covid-19 outbreak’, the crew were tested for the virus and two sailors were taken off after testing positive

Families of the crew were unable to give the warship the traditional quayside welcome because of Covid-19 restrictions, but some waved home their loved ones from the harbour walls.  TOP ARTICLES1/5READ MORECOVID-19 Victoria review threatens bars ascoronavirus cases spike

Sailors on the vessel were also spotted waving towards the Round Tower as it arrived back to the city, passing by Gunwharf Quays shopping centre and the Spice Island pub. 

Before sailing, the crew, who had spent a period in isolation, were tested for coronavirus and two sailors were taken off after testing positive.

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Armed forces minister James Heappey said: ‘HMS Queen Elizabeth is an extraordinary ship crewed by extraordinary people from both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

‘They deployed at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak and have remained at sea for over 10 weeks so that they could complete their operational training with the minimal risk of infection.

‘They’ve put their duty to our country ahead of spending time with their families during the pandemic and, in the process, they’ve taken us a step closer to once again having a carrier strike capability with the capacity to project British influence across the globe.’+17

The warship passes by Gunwharf Quays shopping centre in Portsmouth, after setting sail from the city in April. The trials are seen as a huge milestone in the ship’s historic journey towards her first operational mission in 2021+17

A Royal Navy officer waves from the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth as the aircraft carrier arrives back in Portsmouth. Her first posting next year will see her travelling to the Mediterranean, Gulf and Far East+17

The warship, pictured, will stay at Portsmouth Naval Base for a few weeks before resuming training later in the autumn alongside Nato and US allies as the final stage before it can sail as part of a carrier strike group+17

People wave from the Round Tower as HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives back in the city. Families of the crew were unable to give the warship the traditional quayside welcome because of Covid-19 restrictions, but some waved from harbour walls+17

Sailors seen waving towards the Round Tower from on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Armed forces minister James Heappey said the crew have ‘put their duty to our country ahead of spending time with their families during the pandemic’+17

Sailors on board the warship, which has returned after carrying out sea and flight tests with F35B Lightning jets. The aircraft that landed on board will be the same that will sail with the vessel next year

The ship set sail from Portsmouth in April for sea trials, then returned briefly to base before setting off again for flight trials in the North Sea with the F-35 stealth jets from 617 Squadron, better known as The Dambusters.

Captain Angus Essenhigh, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s commanding officer, said: ‘The ship’s company have worked incredibly hard over the past 70 days, making every effort to surpass the high standards set by our assessors.

‘They have come through with flying colours which means HMS Queen Elizabeth has taken a huge step towards sailing on her maiden deployment, flying the flag for the United Kingdom and demonstrating that we are a global naval power with global ambitions.’

She has been training with F35 Lightning fighters and her first posting in 2021 will see her travelling to the Mediterranean, Gulf and Far East. +17

The £3billion aircraft carrier seen being escorted back to the naval base. During its trials last month, F-35 Lightning jets were seen landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth as the ‘Dambusters’ squadron fully joined the aircraft carrier for the first time+17

Sailors on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth wave towards the Round Tower. Captain Angus Essenhigh, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s commanding officer, said the ship’s company have worked ‘incredibly hard’ over the past 70 days+17

The aircraft carrier seen arriving back in Portsmouth Naval Base. The Royal Navy is shaping up to be a force concentrated on carrier strike by supporting ships while they conduct carrier strike missions+17

People wave from the Round Tower as the UK’s biggest warship arrives back in Portsmouth. Tests are aimed to demonstrate that the jets can successfully defend the carrier through combat air patrols and the ability to take off at short notice100+17

Sailors seen waving from on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth. The ship set sail from Portsmouth in April for sea trials, then returned briefly to base before setting off again for flight trials in the North Sea with the F-35 stealth jets from 617 Squadron

The trials are seen as a huge milestone in the ship’s historic journey towards her first operational mission. 

Tests are aimed to demonstrate that the jets can successfully defend the carrier through combat air patrols and the ability to take off at short notice, as well as check their ability to work alongside the ship’s Merlin helicopters of Culdrose-based 820 Naval Air Squadron. 

During its trials last month, F-35 Lightning jets were seen landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth as the ‘Dambusters’ squadron fully joined the aircraft carrier for the first time.

The aircraft that landed on board will be the same that will sail with the vessel next year.

The Royal Navy is shaping up to be a force concentrated on carrier strike by supporting ships while they conduct carrier strike missions, position Royal Marine Commandos, send humanitarian aid, impose no-fly zones and construct international partnerships with allies. 1000+17

The pilots of the F-35B jets, which can fly at 1,200mph, need to qualify to operate from the flight deck at day and night

Inside Britain’s most powerful warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth

At 280 metres long, with a lifespan of half a century and a flight deck of four acres, HMS Queen Elizabeth is Britain’s largest and most powerful warship ever built.

Here are the facts and figures behind the vessel which was officially commissioned into the Royal Navy December 7, 2017+17

HMS Queen Elizabeth, pictured, weighs some 65,000 tonnes and has a top speed of 25 knots and a four-acre flight deck

• The aircraft carrier weighs 65,000 tonnes and has a top speed in excess of 25 knots.
• A number of ship building yards around the country were involved in the build – these include Govan and Scotstoun in Glasgow, Appledore in Devon, Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, Wirral, A&P on the Tyne in Newcastle and Portsmouth.
• A total of 10,000 people worked on construction of the ship, made up in sections at yards around the UK and transported to Rosyth, Fife, where it was assembled.
• It is the second ship in the Royal Navy to be named Queen Elizabeth.
• The ship has a crew of around 700, that will increase to 1,600 when a full complement of F-35B jets and Crowsnest helicopters are embarked.
• There are 364,000 metres of pipes inside the ship, and from keel to masthead she measures 56 metres, four metres more than Niagara Falls.
• Facilities onboard include a chapel, a medical centre and 12-bed ward, staffed with GPs, a nurse and medical assistants, as well as a dentist and dental nurse.
• There are also five gyms on the warship which include a cardiovascular suite, two free weight rooms and a boxing gym.
• Regular fitness circuit sessions and sporting activities such as basketball and tug of war are held in the hangar and on the flight deck, with weights and other items stored inside the flight deck ramp. 
• The Captain of the ship was Angus Essenhigh
• There are five galleys on the warship which is where the food is cooked and those on board eat their meals everyday. This includes two main galleys, the bridge mess and an aircrew refreshment bar.
• The distribution network on board manages enough energy to power 30,000 kettles or 5,500 family homes.
• Its flight deck is 280 metres long and 70 metres wide, enough space for three football pitches.
•  The entire ship’s company of 700 can be served a meal within 90 minutes, 45 minutes when at action stations.
• Recreational spaces enjoyed by the crew feature televisions and sofas, as well as popular board games including the traditional Royal Navy game of Uckers.
• Each of the two aircraft lifts on HMS Queen Elizabeth can move two fighter jets from the hangar to the flight deck in 60 seconds.
• The warship has a range of 8,000 to 10,000 nautical miles, and has two propellers – each weighing 33 tonnes and with a combined 80MW output of power – enough to run 1,000 family cars or 50 high speed trains. 

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