The UK’s largest ever naval warship has docked in Scotland for the first time since its launch in 2014.
HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into the Firth of the Clyde before stopping at Glen Mallan Ammunition Jetty, which completed a £67m upgrade to accommodate the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Carriers last year.
Development of the 65,000 tonne vessel began in 2009 across six shipyards across the UK.
Each of the shipyards were tasked with building different sections of the ship, which were then transported to Rosyth dockyard to be assembled.
The Queen officially named the carrier on July 4, 2014, with the vessel leaving the dry dock a few days later.
Production of the carrier is said to have cost a whopping total of £3.2bn.
The ship can carry up to 72 aircraft, with a maximum capacity of 36 F-35B fighter jets. The vessel’s flight deck is 280m long and 70m wide, which is enough space for three football pitches.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will have a crew of around 700, which increases to 1,600 when the full roster of jets and helicopters embarks on the vessel.
It can also travel at a top speed of 25+ knots, according to the Royal Navy.
The ship is expected to be the Navy’s flagship craft for at least the next 50 years.
Speaking about her arrival in Scotland, Captain Ian Feasey RN, who is in charge of the powerful vessel, said: “It is fantastic for the Fleet Flagship to be back in this spectacular region to make use of this upgraded facility supporting our role as the United Kingdom’s Strike Carrier.
“The ship’s drumbeat of visits here over the coming years will punctuate the strong affiliation that we have with Scotland.”
Supported by eight other ships, a submarine, five air squadrons and some 3,700 personnel, the seven-month-long deployment saw the ship visit more than 40 countries.
The ship is using the transit from her home at Portsmouth and follow-on programme to test newly refurbished equipment and to continue to train as a team.
Part of that team is Leading Engineering Technician (Mechanical Engineer) (LET (ME)) Cook, who is continuing an Accelerated Apprenticeship with the ship.
He said: “The ship has brilliant facilities and is so modern; it’s a great place to put theory into practice.
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