Carrier takes over from Albion as RN’s flagship
THE Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has officially taken over responsibility as the flagship of the fleet. Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd, the first seagoing commanding officer of the £3 billion warship, was received onboard at Portsmouth Naval
Base to mark the transfer of the role from Devonport based assault ship HMS Albion
After taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior off Scotland during the spring, HMS Queen Elizabeth will be at the centre of a carrier strike group deployment to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and east Asia.
Complemented by a detachment of the stealth fighters from the US Marine Corps, she will embark F-35B jets from 617 Squadron (the ‘Dambusters’), Royal Navy Merlin helicopters, and be escorted and supported by Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships.