About aircraft carrier
Published 9 February 2015
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Aircraft carrier: facts and figures
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of 2 Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers that will maintain security for the UK and overseas, increase the UK’s ability to project maritime and air power and respond to crises worldwide.
Last year, HM The Queen named the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier at a ceremony in Rosyth.
HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier naming ceremony (video)
HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier naming ceremony
Built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) HMS Queen Elizabeth is an impressive 280 metres in length and displaces up to 65,000 tonnes of water. It is so big that each of its 2 propellors weigh 33 tonnes. With the ability to move 500 miles a day, it can react quickly to deal with situations across the globe.
The ship’s systems are now being tested and in 2016 the ship will be handed over to the Royal Navy for sea trials. It’s expected that the carrier will come into service in 2020.
The second aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is currently under construction at shipyards across the UK (Birkenhead, Tyne, Appledore, Portsmouth, Govan) and being assembled at Rosyth. Find out more here.
How do the aircraft carriers work?
The aircraft carriers will work with together with modern, state-of-the-art combat and surveillance aircraft in order to make them highly versatile and adaptable when out on operations. Carriers can get large amounts of people and equipment across the globe quickly to where it’s needed.
The Lightning IIis a highly technical fast jet that uses stealth, speed and agility in order to fight for the UK and our allies. It has the ability to take off and land on the carrier using advanced Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) techniques. This gives us flexibility in the way we deal with threats and emerging events either on land or at sea.
RAF Pilot performs first UK takeoff of F-35B Lightning at sea (video)
RAF Pilot performs first UK takeoff of F-35B Lightning at sea MOD
Supporting the carrier will be the Merlin Mk2 Crowsnest helicopter providing maritime surveillance and intelligence gathering. The modified helicopter will provide the carrier with accurate maritime and air information to help inform decision making. The carrier can also embark a large number of current UK helicopters, such as Chinook, Apache and Wildcat as well as Royal Marine Commandos for operations ashore.
In order to keep fuel, food, spares and ammunition supplied to the carriers, Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers and support ships will be used, giving the carriers the ability to operate for long periods of time at sea.
Why do we need the carrier?
To keep Britain safe, protect our interests at home and abroad in the 21st Century, the UK has to have a flexible, modern and responsive force. The carriers will provide a major part of this and will enable the UK to intervene appropriately, projecting power and conducting other tasks such as non-combat evacuations, delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
HMS Queen Elizabeth: how will she be used? (video)
HMS Queen Elizabeth: How will she be used? (MOD)
The carriers also support the UK’s strong relationship with Nato and international partners. This co-operation on defence and security helps build trust and in the long run helps deter conflict.
Future of engineering
As the largest warships ever built in the UK, the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are also the largest engineering project in the UK. This work involves construction at 6 shipyards nationwide and 100s of companies in regions across the UK.
The carrier’s life expectancy is around 50 years, which means that many of the ship’s crew are either still at school or haven’t even been born yet.
With the carrier being the most advanced of its kind, a wealth of engineers will be needed to maintain and run the ship.
The Royal Navy is always looking for the highest calibre of engineers. With the opportunity to work on the highly advanced equipment there are many opportunities to join the team of engineers in the armed forces. Take a look at the different engineering roles in the Royal Navy to learn more.
Supporting the economy
So far, work on the carriers have created and/or sustained around 8000 highly skilled jobs around the country including shipyards in Glasgow, Portsmouth, Birkenhead, Tyne and Devon. While another 3000 people are working in Rosyth, including supply chain companies, this has boosted local economies across the UK.
When completed, both carriers are to be based at HM Naval Base Portsmouth. This will contribute towards sustaining jobs in the dockyards and helping to boost skills in the local community.