The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy consists of two vessels. The lead ship of her class, HMS Queen Elizabeth , was named on 4 July 2014 [ 16 ] in honour of Elizabeth I [ 17 ] and was commissioned on 7 December 2017. [ 3 ]

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers. Capable of carrying 60 aircraft including fixed wing, rotary wing and autonomous vehicles, [20] she is named in honour of the first HMS Queen Elizabeth, a World War I era super-dreadnought, which in turn was named after Queen Elizabeth I.

The first global deployment by HMS Elizabeth saw her lead the assembled Carrier Strike Group across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and demonstrate the Royal Navy’s return worldwide aircraft carrier operations.

The Queen Elizabeth Class consists of the twin Aircraft Carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales - the largest and most powerful vessels ever constructed for the Royal Navy. They each weigh 65,000 tonnes, have a top speed in excess of 25 knots per hour and a range of 10,000 nautical miles.

Feb 16, 2025 · The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers were meant to project British naval power, but mechanical failures, lack of aircraft, and inadequate defenses have plagued both HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Feb 23, 2025 · The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. They’re designed to provide the United Kingdom with a modern carrier strike capability, and the class consists of two vessels: HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Jan 18, 2025 · Key Points and Summary: The UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, bring 5th-generation air power to the Royal Navy, operating F-35B fighters capable of vertical take-off and landing.

Feb 5, 2024 · The unfortunate short history of the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers operated by the UK Royal Navy has added another entry, with the development that HMS Queen Elizabeth, lead ship in the class, will no longer kickstart Nato’s Exercise Steadfast Defender.

Jul 29, 2024 · Alongside HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Queen Elizabeth is the most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy. Commissioned in 2017, she is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers and the fleet flagship of the Royal Navy.

The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers have redefined the capabilities of naval operations, projecting power across the seas and providing vital air support in strategic military endeavors. Let’s delve into their fascinating history.