R08 HMS Queen Elizabeth departed her Portsmouth homeport at lunchtime today heading for Babcock's Rosyth dockyard for repairs to her starboard propeller shaft bearing.Pelican wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2024 11:29 amCurrent info is that she is due to sail around now.Pelican wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 12:11 pm Navy Lookout
HMS QNLZ departure from Portsmouth this evening has been postponed due to high winds.
Please note: the aircraft carriers could be sailed from Portsmouth in high winds if really needed.
However, it is pointless taking unnecessary risk (even if quite small) when there is no urgent reason to sail (HMS Queen Elizabeth is heading for maintenance in Scotland).
The weather was wet and cold so not the best for photography today!
It is understood R08 will visit the Armaments Depot at Glen Mallan first to offload ammunition prior to then heading for Rosyth.
The RN previously stated that the carrier may stay at Rosyth for up to 2 months or more depending on the depth of repair to the bearing and shaft coupling required. This will become more apparent once the ship is dry and deeper inspections are completed at Rosyth. This is not an identical issue to that which befell R09 in 2022 and took nearly a year to resolve and repair.
The RN's intention is to return the ship to ops as the UK's High Readiness carrier as soon as possible - hopefully by late Spring 24.
R.A. Simpson.