HMS Queen Elizabeth ( R08 ) - wikipedia HMS Queen Elizabeth ( R08 ) For other ships with the same name, see HMS Queen Elizabeth. HMS Queen Elizabeth, February 2018 History United Kingdom Name : Queen Elizabeth Namesake : HMS Queen Elizabeth Operator : Royal Navy Ordered : 20 May 2008 Builder : Aircraft Carrier Alliance Cost : £ 3.1 bn $ 4.3 bn Laid down : 7 July 2009 Launched : 17 July 2014 Sponsored by : HM The Queen Christened : 4 July 2014 Completed : 7 December 2017 Commissioned : 7 December 2017 In service : 2020 ( planned ) Homeport : HMNB Portsmouth Identification : Pennant number : R08 Deck code : Q IMO number : 4907892 ITU callsign : GQLZ Motto : Semper Eadem ( `` Always the Same '' ) Status : In active service Badge : General characteristics Class and type : Queen Elizabeth - class aircraft carrier Displacement : 65,000 tonnes ( 64,000 long tons ; 72,000 short tons ) Length : 284 m ( 932 ft ) Beam : 39 m ( 128 ft ) ( waterline ) 73 m ( 240 ft ) overall Draught : 11 m ( 36 ft ) Propulsion : Integrated Electric Propulsion via Two Rolls - Royce Marine 36MW MT30 gas turbine alternators and four 10MW diesel engines Speed : 29 knots ( 54 km / h ) Range : 10,000 nautical miles ( 19,000 km ) Capacity : 1,600 Troops : 250 Complement : 679 Sensors and processing systems : S1850M long range radar Type 997 Artisan 3D medium range radar Ultra Electronics Series 2500 Electro Optical System ( EOS ) Armament : 3 x Phalanx CIWS 4 x 30mm calibre gun, various Miniguns and GPMGs to counter asymmetric threats. Aircraft carried : Planned Carrier Air Wing of 24 to 36 STOVL fighter jets & 14 helicopters F - 35B Lightning II Chinook Apache AH MK1 Merlin HM2 and HC4 Wildcat AH1 and HMA2 Merlin Crowsnest AEW Aviation facilities : Hangar below deck Two aircraft lifts Ski jump HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom and capable of carrying up to 60 aircraft. She is named in honour of the first Queen Elizabeth, a renowned World War I era super-dreadnought, which in turn was named after Queen Elizabeth I. The new Queen Elizabeth will carry her namesake 's honours, as well as her Tudor rose - adorned crest and motto. The ship began sea trials in June 2017, and was commissioned on 7 December 2017. Her first Commanding Officer is Commodore Jerry Kyd, who had previously commanded the carriers HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious. As Captain of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Kyd will wear the Royal Navy rank of Captain while retaining the substantive rank of Commodore. Queen Elizabeth has no catapults or arrestor wires and is instead designed to operate V / STOL aircraft ; the air wing will typically consist of F - 35B Lightning II multirole fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare. The design emphasises flexibility, with accommodation for 250 Royal Marines and the ability to support them with attack helicopters and large troop transports such as Chinooks. She is the second Royal Navy vessel to bear the name Queen Elizabeth and is based at HMNB Portsmouth. Contents 1 Design and construction 1.1 Naming ceremony 1.2 Sea trials 1.3 Future work 2 Aircraft 3 Passenger / crew transfer boats 4 Weapons systems 4.1 Highly Mechanised Weapon Handling System ( HMWHS ) 5 Affiliations 5.1 Official affiliations 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Design and Construction On 25 July 2007, the then Defence Secretary Des Browne, announced the order for two new carriers. At the time of approval the first carrier was expected to enter service in July 2015 and the budget was £ 4,085 m for two ships. The financial crisis led to a political decision in December 2008 to slow production, delaying Queen Elizabeth until May 2016. This added £ 1,560 m to the cost. By March 2010 the budget was estimated at £ 5,900 m and in November 2013 the contract was renegotiated with a budget of £ 6,200 m. The in - service date was further extended to 2020 in the Strategic Defence and Security Review in October 2010. Construction of Queen Elizabeth began in 2009. The assembly took place in the Firth of Forth at Rosyth Dockyard from nine blocks built in six UK shipyards : BAE Systems Surface Ships in Glasgow, Babcock at Appledore, Babcock at Rosyth, A&P Tyne in Hebburn, BAE at Portsmouth and Cammell Laird ( flight decks ) at Birkenhead. Two of the lower main blocks, together weighing more than 6,000 tonnes and forming part of the base of the ship, were assembled and joined into one piece on 30 June 2011. On 16 August 2011, the 8,000 - tonne Lower Block 03 of Queen Elizabeth left BAE Systems Surface Ships ' Govan shipyard in Glasgow on a large ocean - going barge. Travelling 600 miles ( 970 km ) around the northern coast of Scotland, the block arrived at Rosyth on the evening of 20 August 2011. On 28 October 2012, an 11,000 - tonne section of the carrier began a lengthy journey around the south coast of England, avoiding bad weather from the shipbuilding hall at Govan to the Rosyth dockyard ; it arrived on 21 November. The forward island was constructed at BAE Portsmouth and attached on 14 March 2013 ; the aft island was attached in June 2013. The ski jump was added in November 2013, leaving just the elevators and radar to be lifted into place. By September 2013 Queen Elizabeth was 80 % complete internally. A journalist reported that computers on the vessel appeared to be using Windows XP, which had raised concerns about its vulnerability to a cyberattack, but the source of the confusion was later revealed to be a laptop in use by a contractor. She is two and a half times the size of the Invincible - class, and has the ability to carry approximately three times as many aircraft. Despite this, Queen Elizabeth has marginally fewer crew than the Invincible - class. She is approximately three times as large as HMS Ocean. The ship has two superstructures, or islands, one for navigation and ship 's operations and the other for flight control and aerial operations. The islands can take on each other 's function in an emergency. Naming ceremony Queen Elizabeth was named at Rosyth on 4 July 2014, by Elizabeth II, who said that the warship `` marks a new phase in our naval history ''. Instead of smashing the traditional bottle of champagne on the hull, she used a bottle of whisky from the Bowmore distillery on Islay. The ceremony was attended by the Duke of Edinburgh ( the Lord High Admiral ), Admiral George Zambellas ( First Sea Lord ), senior naval officers from the United States and France, and by politicians including David Cameron and Gordon Brown ( the Prime Minister and his immediate predecessor ) and Alex Salmond ( the then First Minister of Scotland ). The official piece of music HMS Queen Elizabeth March, composed by WO2 Bandmaster John Morrish, was performed at the naming ceremony by HM Royal Marines Band, Scotland. This piece of music is a competition winning march chosen by the Carrier Alliance Group, performed and recorded by the Royal Marines Massed Bands. The ceremony also featured a fly - past by the Red Arrows and a second comprising Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and British Army helicopters. HMS Illustrious was berthed adjacent to Queen Elizabeth during the ceremony. The ship was floated out of dry dock on the morning of 17 July 2014. Fitting out was completed at the end of 2015 and the crew moved aboard in May 2016. On 24 May 2016, Commodore Jeremy Kyd assumed command of the ship from Captain Simon Petitt who had been the Senior Naval Officer since October 2012 ( joining with the first 8 crew ). Sea trials Queen Elizabeth at sea on 28 June, two days after her departure from Rosyth, in company with HMS Sutherland ( foreground ) and HMS Iron Duke ( background ) Sea trials were planned beginning in March 2017 with delivery expected in May 2017, but technical issues delayed her trials. Prior to her departure from Rosyth, an extensive survey was carried out of the Firth of Forth by Template : HMSML and 42 Regiment, Royal Engineers to gather information on the tides, the depth of the river bed, and the height of the three river crossings ( Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, and Queensferry Crossing ). This was necessary as the most recent data available were 60 years old. Queen Elizabeth sailed on 26 June 2017 to undergo sea trials. The first stage of the operation was to move the ship from inside the fitting out basin, via one of the access gates, into the Firth of Forth itself, before taking her under the three Forth bridge crossings. Once this was accomplished, the ship took to the open sea off the east coast of Scotland to undertake the first set of trials, including handling and speed tests. During this period, Queen Elizabeth was accompanied by a pair of Type 23 frigates, HMS Sutherland and HMS Iron Duke, acting as escorts. The first aircraft to land on the ship was a Merlin HM. 2 of 820 Naval Air Squadron on 3 July. Following initial runs in and around the Firth of Forth, Queen Elizabeth was taken further north to the Moray Firth, during which period the ship encountered the Cunard cruise liner MS Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth arrived at her first stopover at Invergordon, where the ship was fuelled and provisioned. At this point inspections of the hull were carried out. This opportunity allowed for defect rectification to be carried out prior to the ship returning to sea. On 8 August 2017, Queen Elizabeth diverted from her sea trials to rendezvous with the ships engaged in Exercise ' Saxon Warrior ' ; this allowed for a photo exercise in company with the American Nimitz - class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and her battle group, comprising USS Donald Cook, USS Philippine Sea, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Westminster and HNoMS Helge Ingstad. A pair of Super Hornets from USS George H.W. Bush overfly Queen Elizabeth during Exercise Saxon Warrior in 2017 Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to return to Rosyth at the end of July for rectification work based on the results of the ship 's first sea trials, before putting to sea for a second time to undergo a series of mission system tests, prior to being handed over to the Royal Navy. This plan was abandoned and she instead steered for her home port, Portsmouth. Queen Elizabeth arrived at Portsmouth for the first time on 16 August 2017 and berthed at the newly renamed Princess Royal Jetty ( formerly Middle Slip Jetty ) within HMNB Portsmouth. On 30 October 2017, the ship departed Portsmouth for the first time for the second phase of her sea trials off the south and south - west coasts of England. For part of this second period of sea trials, she was accompanied by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon. Queen Elizabeth returned to Portsmouth on 21 November 2017 to prepare for her official commissioning ceremony, which was held on 7 December 2017. Once the initial stage 1 and 2 sea trials were complete, the ship was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 7 December 2017. Following the ship 's commissioning, she underwent a period of defect correction in Portsmouth ; one instance was a leak through a seal in one of the propeller shafts, which the Royal Navy stated was not serious enough to keep Queen Elizabeth from her planned programme. On 2 February 2018, Queen Elizabeth sailed from Portsmouth for a six - week deployment to undergo the first phases of operational training ; initially, the ship was scheduled to head into the Western Approaches to undertake her initial Operational Sea Training ( OST ) programme. Once complete, Queen Elizabeth was then taken into the North Atlantic for both heavy weather testing and operations to begin helicopter certification, including with Merlin Mk2 and Mk3 and Chinook helicopters. During this deployment, the ship made its first overseas port visit, stopping over in Gibraltar from 9 to 12 February. During this, the ship also began initial amphibious assault trials, with Royal Marines from 42 Commando embarked to simulate an air assault scenario. Queen Elizabeth was also scheduled to undergo a first replenishment at sea from RFA Tidespring ; although this had to be abandoned due to bad weather, this allowed both ships the opportunity to simulate the scenario in detail. Queen Elizabeth returned to Portsmouth on 27 February 2018, berthing at Princess Royal Jetty in a `` bows south '' configuration with her twin islands orientated away from the jetty. On 2 March 2018 in Portsmouth Harbour, Queen Elizabeth successfully tested her port side Marine Evacuation System ( MES ), a series of bright orange inflatable escape chutes and rafts. On 6 March 2018, Queen Elizabeth was rotated back to her conventional `` bows north '' configuration at Princess Royal Jetty with her starboard side alongside the jetty. Queen Elizabeth alongside in Portsmouth in September 2017 Future work On return from the initial OST and helicopter certification work, further work was undertaken to prepare the ship for operation of fixed - wing aircraft, in conjunction with regular maintenance and installation of her final weapons fit. In September 2018, Queen Elizabeth will sail for the United States where flying trials of the F - 35B will begin ; during this period, the ship will also pay its first foreign port visit to New York. A `` full operational capability '' is predicted for 2020. Aircraft The two ships of the Queen Elizabeth class are each expected to be capable of carrying forty aircraft, a maximum of thirty - six F - 35s and four helicopters. The 2010 SDSR anticipated the routine peacetime deployment of twelve F - 35Bs, but a typical warload will be 24 F - 35Bs and some helicopters. These could be a Maritime Force Protection package of nine anti-submarine Merlin HM2 and five Merlin Crowsnest for airborne early warning ; alternatively a Littoral Manoeuvre package could include a mix of Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force Merlin HC4, Wildcat AH1, RAF Chinooks, and Army Air Corps Apaches. As of September 2013 six landing spots are planned, but the deck could be marked out for the operation of ten medium helicopters at once, allowing the lift of a company of 250 troops. The hangars are designed for CH - 47 Chinook operations without blade folding and for the V - 22 Osprey tiltrotor, whilst the aircraft lifts can accommodate two Chinooks with unfolded blades. Passenger / crew transfer boats The two ships of the Queen Elizabeth class will each carry four passenger transfer boats ( PTBs ) made by Blyth - based company Alnmaritec. Each PTB carries 36 passengers and two crew to operate the vessel. The first boat named is named Swordfish, after the World War II - era aircraft of that name. The boat is 13.1 m long and davit - launched. To enable the craft to fit into the docking area the navigation and radar masts are fitted with Linak actuators so that they can be lowered automatically from the command console. The enclosed cabin is heated and there is a set of heads forward. The second of the four PTBs is named Buccaneer after the Blackburn Buccaneer, and the third is Sea Vixen, named after the De Havilland Sea Vixen. Weapons Systems Defensive weapons include the Phalanx Close - In Weapons System for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence, and 30mm Automated Small Calibre Guns and Miniguns for use against fast attack craft. She would be escorted into high risk areas by the Type 45 Destroyer, which was made specially to fulfil this role. In lower risk situations, frigates or even patrol vessels may be used instead. Highly mechanised weapon handling system ( hmwhs ) Incorporated into the first two blocks is a sophisticated handling and deployment system for air weapons, with the aim of achieving a sortie generation rate which is about six times faster than any previous Royal Navy aircraft carrier. The system requires only 50 people and could be operated with as few as 12 in an emergency ; it is estimated that 160 would be needed to produce the same efficiency with conventional equipment. The system moves munitions on pallets by means of remotely controlled electric vehicles and lifts. Affiliations Official affiliations City of London City of Bristol City of Liverpool Greenwich Hospital, London The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths The Welsh Guards The Royal Lancers No. 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity Heart of Midlothian F.C. Rolls - Royce Enthusiasts ' Club Gallery Bulbous bow at Appledore Forward island leaves Portsmouth in February 2013 HMS Queen Elizabeth during fitting - out on 1 December 2014 HMS Queen Elizabeth entering Portsmouth Naval Base on her delivery voyage 16 August 2017. The F - 35B Lightning II will be the primary fixed wing aircraft operated from Queen Elizabeth The AW101 Merlin will operate in two main roles, ASW and ASaC See also Future of the Royal Navy References ^ Jump up to : Allison, George ( 4 March 2018 ). `` Royal Navy press team confirm which monarch HMS Queen Elizabeth is named for ''. UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 4 March 2018. Jump up ^ As of November 2013 the official project cost for the two carriers is £ 6.2 bn. Jump up ^ `` Work begins on aircraft carriers ''. BBC News. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2011. Jump up ^ `` Queen to commission namesake aircraft carrier in three weeks, Defence Secretary announces on flight - deck ''. Royal Navy. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Key facts about the Queen Elizabeth Class '' ( PDF ). Aircraft Carrier Alliance. ^ Jump up to : `` Queen Elizabeth 's veterans Pride in Britain 's new carrier ''. Royal Navy. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. Royal Navy. Retrieved 12 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` Queen Elizabeth Class ''. Royal Navy. Retrieved 12 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Future Aircraft Carrier ( CVF ) Facts and Figures ''. Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier : A Guide '', UK Defence Journal, 2 January 2017, retrieved 6 February 2017 ^ Jump up to : Hargreaves, Richard ( December 2013 ). `` Asset management ''. Navy News. p. 8. ^ Jump up to : Osborne, Anthony ( 11 September 2013 ). `` U.K. Royal Navy Widening Scope of Carrier Use ''. Aviation Week. Jump up ^ Allison, George ( 6 December 2016 ). `` What will the Queen Elizabeth class carriers carry ? ''. UK Defence Journal. Jump up ^ Hankinson, Andrew ( 19 March 2017 ). `` Replacing the Invincibles : inside the Royal Navy 's controversial £ 6.2 billion warships ''. Wired UK. Jump up ^ Allison, George ( 9 February 2018 ). `` What type of aircraft and how many will be on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier ? ''. UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 15 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Queen Elizabeth Due To Set Sail From Rosyth today ''. BBC News. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Royal Navy Appoints First Captain of HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. Royal Navy. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 6 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Portsmouth Naval Base facts ''. Royal Navy. Retrieved 11 December 2008. Jump up ^ `` MOD confirms carrier order ''. BBC News. Retrieved 11 December 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2010 HC489 - I '' ( PDF ). House of Commons Defence Committee. 15 October 2010. p. 7 and fig 3. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 5 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` House of Commons Hansard Debates for 6 November 2013 ( pt 0001 ) ''. UK Parliament. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty : The Strategic Defence and Security Review '' ( PDF ). HM Government. 19 October 2010. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010. Jump up ^ `` Cammell Laird wins £ 50m Royal Navy warship contract ''. Liverpool Echo. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` Construction begins at Navy 's new carriers ' Portsmouth base ''. Ministry of Defence. 26 February 2010. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Jump up ^ `` Another giant piece of the carrier slots into place ''. Navy News. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` Huge carrier block arrives in Rosyth ''. Navy News. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011. Jump up ^ `` Gigantic piece of HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives to join the rest of the ship ''. Royal Navy. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Jump up ^ Allison, George ( 28 December 2017 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth does n't run on Windows XP ''. UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 13 April 2018. Jump up ^ Mizokami, Kyle ( 28 June 2017 ). `` Does Britain 's Big New Warship Still Run Windows XP ? ''. Popular Mechanics. Jump up ^ MacAskill, Ewan ( 27 June 2017 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth could be vulnerable to cyber-attack ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Tale of two islands ''. Aircraft Carrier Alliance. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Queen names new Royal Navy aircraft carrier in Rosyth ''. BBC News. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014. ^ Jump up to : Osborne, Tony ( 17 July 2014 ). `` U.K. Carrier Floated for the First Time ''. Aviation Week. Jump up ^ `` First sea captain joins Royal Navy 's newest aircraft carrier ''. Royal Navy. 24 May 2016. Jump up ^ Hirst, James ( 31 January 2017 ). `` ' Series Of Technical Issues ' Behind HMS Queen Elizabeth Delays ''. Forces.net. Jump up ^ `` Navy 's smallest ship paves way for maiden voyage of its largest ''. Royal Navy. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth sets sail from Rosyth for sea trials ''. BBC News. 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ Osborne, Samuel ( 26 June 2017 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier sets sail for sea trials ''. The Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ MacAskill, Ewan ( 27 June 2017 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier takes to the seas ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` HMS ' Queen Elizabeth ' : Her first week at sea ''. Save the Royal Navy. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Young pilot makes history with first deck landing on HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. Royal Navy. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Jump up ^ Whitelaw, Jonathan ( 7 July 2017 ). `` Queens of the Sea : Stunning moment huge Queen Elizabeth ships meet for the first time in Moray Firth ''. Scottish Sun. Retrieved 7 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` Carrier draws the crowds as two Queen 's meet on Moray Firth ''. Inside Moray. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017. Jump up ^ Allison, George ( 10 July 2017 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth encounters propeller shaft debris issue on trials ''. UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 19 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth meets up with US carrier group off Scottish coast ''. Royal Navy. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017. Jump up ^ Allison, George ( 19 July 2017 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth undergoing rectification and repair work due to propeller issues ''. UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 19 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth on track for first entry to Portsmouth ''. Royal Navy. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` New aircraft carrier arrives in home port ''. BBC News. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth Returns to Sea ''. Aircraft Carrier Alliance. Retrieved 30 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Queen 's Dragon -- Destroyer helps new carrier through training ''. Royal Navy. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` WATCH : HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives back in Portsmouth ''. The News. Retrieved 30 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` HMS ' Queen Elizabeth ' : Royals attend aircraft carrier ceremony ''. BBC News. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017. Jump up ^ `` HMS ' Queen Elizabeth ' : Leak found on new aircraft carrier ''. BBC News. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017. Jump up ^ `` HMS ' Queen Elizabeth ' -- a large and convenient media target ''. Save the Royal Navy. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017. Jump up ^ `` What 's ahead for HMS Queen Elizabeth : training, flight trials and Gibraltar ''. Save the Royal Navy. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth - Visit to Gibraltar '' ( PDF ). Gibraltar Port Authority. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018. Jump up ^ Allison, George ( 26 February 2018 ). `` 42 Commando launch ' assault ' from aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 27 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` Double first as HMS Queen Elizabeth and RFA Tidespring meet up at sea ''. Royal Navy. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018. Jump up ^ `` HMS Queen Elizabeth returns to Portsmouth after ' successful ' helicopter trials ''. The News. Retrieved 30 April 2018. Jump up ^ HMS Queen Elizabeth ( @ HMSQnlz ) ( 2 March 2018 ). `` One of the reasons that we 're currently ' port side to ' is to allow our starboard side Marine Evacuation System ( MES ) to be deployed and tested '' ( Tweet ) -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ HMS Queen Elizabeth ( @ HMSQnlz ) ( 5 March 2018 ). `` We 're winding ship this morning - making a 180 degree turn - to put us alongside ' starboard side to '... '' ( Tweet ) -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ `` HMS ' Prince of Wales ' formally named -- another step towards renewing aircraft carrier capability ''. Save the Royal Navy. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017. Jump up ^ Cotterill, Tom ( 21 April 2018 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth to visit New York on maiden trip to the USA ''. The News. Retrieved 1 May 2018. Jump up ^ `` House of Commons Hansard Debates for 10 May 2012 ''. UK Parliament. 10 May 2012. Jump up ^ Adams, Christopher ( 25 July 2007 ). `` MoD gives nod for aircraft carriers ''. Financial Times. Retrieved 19 September 2013. Jump up ^ Osborne, Anthony ( 30 August 2013 ). `` U.K. Builds Fleet of Modernized Chinooks ''. Aviation Week. Jump up ^ `` Alnmaritec boat builders ''. Alnmaritec.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` ALN 138 ' PTB Swordfish - HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier ' ''. Alnmaritec.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` News ''. Alnmaritec.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` ALN 139 ' PTB Buccaneer - HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier ' ''. Alnmaritec.co.uk. Jump up ^ HMS Queen Elizabeth ( @ HMSQnlz ) ( 27 October 2017 ). `` Our Personnel Transfer Boat `` Sea Vixen '' has been stowed in her berth '' ( Tweet ) -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Downs, David ( 1 March 2012 ). `` Assembly phase reveals Queen Elizabeth scale ''. The Engineer. Jump up ^ `` Royal Navy and City of London affirm bonds with new aircraft carrier ''. Royal Navy. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Newest aircraft carrier welcomes first affiliates on board ''. Royal Navy. Retrieved 30 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Our Affiliate Ship : HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. Retrieved 30 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Jambos ' ship shape Heart of Midlothian ''. Hearts FC. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2017. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Queen Elizabeth ( R08 ). `` HMS Queen Elizabeth ''. Royal Navy. Queen Elizabeth - class aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth Prince of Wales Preceded by : Invincible class List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy Commissioned ships of the Royal Navy Aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth - class Queen Elizabeth Submarines Vanguard class Vanguard Victorious Vigilant Vengeance Trafalgar class Trenchant Talent Triumph Astute class Astute Ambush Artful Destroyers Type 45 Daring Dauntless Diamond Dragon Defender Duncan Frigates Type 23 Argyll Lancaster Iron Duke Monmouth Montrose Westminster Northumberland Richmond Somerset Sutherland Kent Portland St Albans Amphibious warfare ships Albion - class LPD Albion Bulwark Mine counter measures vessels Sandown class Penzance Pembroke Grimsby Bangor Ramsey Blyth Shoreham Hunt class Ledbury Cattistock Brocklesby Middleton Chiddingfold Hurworth Patrol vessels Ice patrol vessel Protector River class Mersey Clyde Forth Archer class Archer Biter Smiter Blazer Puncher Charger Ranger Trumpeter Express Example Explorer Exploit Tracker Raider Pursuer Dasher Scimitar class Scimitar Sabre Survey vessels Ocean survey vessel Scott Echo class Echo Enterprise Survey launch Miscellaneous vessels Type 82 Bristol ( static training vessel ) Ship of the line Victory ( flagship of the First Sea Lord ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Queen_Elizabeth_(R08)&oldid=843584730 '' Categories : Queen Elizabeth - class aircraft carriers Hidden categories : EngvarB from April 2016 Use dmy dates from April 2016 IMO Number Articles containing potentially dated statements from September 2013 All articles containing potentially dated statements All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Русский Slovenčina Svenska Türkçe 中文 10 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 May 2018, at 03 : 16. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when does hms queen elizabeth come into service
Answer: 2020