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Following their summer break, the crew of HMS Queen Elizabeth is back, rejuvenated and prepared to advance to the next stage of their training. Ahead of setting sail, the ship’s commanding officer, Captain Claire Thompson, emphasized the importance of this phase. She highlighted that operating with an embarked battle staff is crucial for training and integration, as it helps the team refresh the necessary skills to conduct aviation safely and effectively. This preparation ensures the crew is ready to carry out operational duties within NATO if called upon.
Captain Thompson further described the upcoming deployment as a significant achievement for both the ship’s role within NATO and its progression toward returning to the Royal Navy’s “very high readiness” status as an aircraft carrier. Notably, HMS Queen Elizabeth is expected to take over this high-readiness role from its sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, next year, marking an important transition within the fleet.
Among those seeing the ship off was Annie Hoare, who was on the shore waving goodbye. Her son, Thomas, serves as a Petty Officer Weapons Engineer aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Reflecting on the moment, she shared, “Watching a boat that big and knowing your son is part of this is absolutely an amazing feeling, we are all so proud.” Thomas has been a member of the Navy since 2018 and has previous deployment experience.
Although Annie acknowledged the difficulties posed by “information blackouts” during deployments, she praised the Navy’s support system for families separated from loved ones. She commented on the positive impact the service has had on her son, saying, “The navy is amazing and really supports families and they have really turned my son into a fine young gentleman.
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