British Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier Returns to Home Port After Unscheduled Repairs

HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s flagship aircraft carrier, will return to Portsmouth Today after a four-month repair stint in Scotland.

The 65,000-tonne carrier left Rosyth Dockyard a week ago and has since completed intensive sea trials to test its systems.

The carrier underwent unscheduled repairs in dry dock, focusing on its shaft lines, and has now successfully finished marine engineering trials, high-speed sailing, and aggressive manoeuvring tests. These trials aimed to ensure confidence in the vessel's systems post-repair.

Before docking in Portsmouth, HMS Queen Elizabeth will perform a sail past the Isle of Wight, exchanging gun salutes with the Royal Yacht Squadron during Cowes Week.

During system tests, HMS Queen Elizabeth has conducted various training drills, including boat drills and damage control exercises. RAF P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft supported the carrier, while sailors performed upper deck maintenance in the North Sea. The carrier’s return to sea involved a collaborative effort by the Royal Navy, Defence Equipment & Support, and Babcock.

A team from Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) conducted a week of firefighting and damage control training for the crew.

Additionally, the ship completed maintenance projects, including a fresh coat of paint on the hull and upper deck.