Russian spies ready for UK’S largest warship
Britain’s largest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, could leave Rosyth dockyard as early as today
Britain’s largest ever warship is due to squeeze out of its dockyard for the first time as early as this afternoon, heading out on sea trials. The 65,000-ton HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to ease out of Rosyth and into open water with only 14in clearance on either side of the exit. The Navy expects the ship’s first appearance to attract a concerted Russian spying effort, with submarines, ships and planes trying to get a good look.
BRITAIN’S largest ever warship is due to squeeze out of its dockyard for the first time as early as this afternoon, as the ship heads out on sea trials.
The 65,000-ton HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to ease out of Rosyth and into open water through an exit with only 14in clearance on either side and 20in of water under the keel.
The aircraft carrier will then edge along the Forth under three bridges, including the landmark rail bridge, with a little over 6ft to spare.
The trials mark the latest milestone in the nearly decade-long building of the Royal Navy’s two carriers, at a cost of more than £6 billion.
The Navy is preparing for the warship’s first appearance to attract a concerted Russian spying effort, with submarines, ships and planes trying to get a good look at the UK’S new flagship.
A Royal Navy warship is expected to escort HMS Queen Elizabeth, while shore-based helicopters keep watch for submarines as commanders try out the warship in the North Sea and Moray Firth.
Cdr Fiona Percival, the head of logistics on the ship, said: “[The Russians] will come and look, but they look at everything.”
Cdr Mark Deller said the ship would be accompanied by a frigate or destroyer. He added: “We will go where it’s best to go and not where it’s best for a Soviet nuclear to go, so the reality is we can probably look after ourselves as long as our escort is in the right place at the right time. You don’t have to hang
‘We will go where it’s best for us to go and not where it’s best for a Soviet nuclear [submarine] to go.’
around and endure it, you can move away and go somewhere else.”
Sailors and engineers have worked round the clock getting the vessel ready.
A total of 1,000 sailors and contractors will be on-board for the first six weeks of testing. Crew have spent hours each day carrying out safety drills for fires, flooding and losing personnel overboard. More than 650 doors and hatches have been checked to ensure they are watertight and fire safe.
Ian Booth, the managing director of the defence industry alliance behind the ships, said: “The incident with the fire in London really brings it home to you, you don’t take chances with any incident on the ship, whether it be flooding or fire.”
Engineers hope today’s tides and weather will be suitable for the 920ft vessel to emerge from the Rosyth basin where it has been built, but a final decision will not be made until lunchtime.
The first steel was cut on the carrier eight years ago and it will still not be ready for operations until 2021. Early deployments are expected to have US Marines’ F-35B jets embarked alongside British planes, to make up for early shortages of UK jets.
The Royal Navy has not had an aircraft carrier since the defence cuts of 2010. The arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth comes as the Navy is facing a budget black hole of around £500million each year and the demands of manning the new ships have been accused of causing shortages elsewhere.
Critics of the carriers have claimed they are expensive white elephants that are too vulnerable to new highspeed missiles.
Capt Jerry Kyd, commanding officer, said: “There is nothing on the globe that is invulnerable, whether that’s a city, a car, an individual, or a ship.
“We are not shy in the military to understanding the risks and how we mitigate that in the theatre of war.
“If you look at all the premier nations around the world, why is it that every nation in the top tier is investing billions of dollars in aircraft carriers? Is it just us, or has everyone got it wrong?
“The reason being is that they provide the Government, very simply, with an incredibly flexible tool. It’s not just about warfighting. This is about deterrence, coercion, signalling, providing a huge sea base for disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, defence engagement.”
After trials this summer, the ship will move to its new home in Portsmouth. Trials for aircraft will take place next summer. The ship’s flight deck is more than four acres in size and it can carry up to 36 F35B stealth jump jets.