HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier back in operation after four-month repairs

One of Britain’s aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has returned to its home port of Portsmouth after undergoing four months of repairs in Scotland.  

In February 2024, HMS Queen Elizabeth was supposed to participate in a major NATO exercise. However, during routine checks before the 65,000-ton aircraft carrier was due to set sail, an issue with a coupling on the vessel’s starboard propeller shaft was discovered. 

“Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s starboard propeller shaft,” said Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns. “As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday. HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.” 

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The aircraft carrier was initially due to be out of service for a few weeks, as repairs were to focus only on the starboard driveshaft. Eventually, the Royal Navy decided to also replace the port driveshaft as a precaution. In total, the warship was immobilized for six months, including four months in dry dock. 

During the repair period, the ship’s crew conducted extensive training, including boat drills and damage control exercises. 

After leaving Rosyth Dockyard where repair work was carried out, the aircraft carrier completed a series of rigorous sea trials, testing the systems to their limits. These trials included high-speed sailing, aggressive maneuvering, and various marine engineering tests.  

On its way back to Portsmouth, the carrier exchanged gun salutes with the Royal Yacht Squadron as part of the ongoing Cowes Week regatta. The aircraft carrier arrived in Portsmouth Harbour on July 30, 2024. 

The Royal Navy exchanged Gun salutes with the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes tonight as part of Cowes Week. HMS Queen Elizabeth was the ship on hand as she was returning to Portsmouth.Incredible to hear her guns. pic.twitter.com/Qs8buEPgqV— Paul Varcoe (@Varcs) July 30, 2024 Commissioned in December 2017, the HMS Queen Elizabeth is the biggest warship ever built in Europe. The Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which was commissioned in December 2019, also suffered a failure of its starboard propeller shaft line in August 2022. 

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