CSG23 And Operation Firedrake

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2023 Carrier Strike Group deployment begins
HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed on 8th September to lead the RN’s first major carrier strike group deployment since 2021. Known as operation FIREDRAKE, the group will undertake of a series of exercises in northern European waters working closely with JEF and NATO partner nations.

The group will operate in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic and return home in time for Christmas. The carrier will make her first visit to Sweden with a mid-deployment break in Gothenburg, while HMS Diamond will enter the Baltic Sea to visit partners in the region. The group will participate in 6 or 7 separate exercises during their time away and in October the CSG will come directly under NATO command. This will be an effective demonstration of UK strike power to Russia as well as the UK’s allies.

Following the August leave period, the carrier has been a hive of activity and there has been round-the-clock preparation in recent weeks to embark stores and equipment. This included the replacement of the aircraft lift chains, completed in just 4 days as they had deteriorated due to lubrication issues. With the core ship’s company of around 800 swelled to 1,500 for the deployment, the logistic challenge of feeding and integrating the influx of personnel is considerable. Since operation FORTIS in 2021, most of the ship’s company has changed and this is something of a new era.
See - https://www.navylookout.com/2023-carrie ... nt-begins/

Royal Navy flagship sails to lead international Carrier Strike Group deployment
See - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... sion-north

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'Eyes of the Fleet' join HMS Queen Elizabeth for autumn deployment

The Royal Navy’s ‘eyes of the fleet’ - enhanced Merlin Mk2 helicopters with powerful radars - have joined the UK’s flagship for her autumn deployment.

Two Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) helicopters, delivered through the Crowsnest programme, have been significantly upgraded with new software ahead of joining HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The UK flagship left Portsmouth on Friday to head north, leading a task group of partner nations and exercising her F-35 Lightning stealth fighters and Merlin helicopters.

Flying more than a mile above the carrier strike group, the ASaC aircraft use their radars, lowered underneath the fuselage in a domed bag – which earns them the nickname ‘Baggers’ in the rest of the rest of the Navy – to look ‘over the horizon’.

Continues at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... WxbcTO2QGk

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A huge pleasure to welcome Rear Admiral Jeanette Morang, Commander Netherlands Maritime Force to the UK Carrier Strike Group COM NLMARFOR

RAdm Morang commands the Belgian-Netherlands Task Group supporting UKCSG23
Photos at - https://twitter.com/COMUKCSG/status/170 ... 02/photo/1

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2nd MAW joined us yesterday for 4 squadrons of decks this week...

MV22 Osprey last night...what will they bring tonight...Keeping up relations... See - https://twitter.com/HMSPWLS/status/1707 ... 97/video/1 - Video + 3 photos.

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Photo essay: UK Carrier Strike Group completes first phase of 2023 deployment

HMS Queen Elizabeth and her air group have completed the first part of planned operations in the North Sea and off Norway. This photo and video essay covers the activities of the UK carrier strike group since leaving Portsmouth on 8th September.

Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said: “CSG23 is off to a great start. Integrated training within the air and maritime environments, and alongside our European allies, has demonstrated the capability and agility of UK Carrier Strike”

See - https://www.navylookout.com/photo-essay ... eployment/

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UK Carrier Strike Group shows strength in combat mission training

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... deployment

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F-35Bs loaded with live Paveway IV laser/GPS-guided 500lb bombs on HMSQNLZ

Dropped during exercise on Swedish test ranges last week.
Photos at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 4388116559
And - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 7223540920

Reminder - https://www.navylookout.com/munitions-h ... -carriers/

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British carrier strike group navigates fjords in Norway

A British carrier strike group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, is working alongside Norway to defend the northern regions of NATO.
The Norwegian Armed Forces tweeted “We don’t stand alone in defending the northern regions”.

Their tweet added: “HMS Queen Elizabeth and Norwegian air- and surface units operate outside the Norwegian coast. In a time of war or crisis we have to be able to defend our sea lines of communications. These operations strengthen our readiness.”

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british ... in-norway/

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UK aircraft carrier visits Sweden

On 13 October, HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives in Gothenburg, Sweden. The naval visit is part of the UK-led defence cooperation framework Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), comprising ten countries, that Sweden has been a member of since 2017.

See - https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/news/2 ... c6d9d770bc

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Helicopters from HMS Queen Elizabeth launch torpedos

Merlin helicopters from HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Portland have dropped underwater weapons.
820 Naval Air Squadron have performed the first Training Variant Torpedo (TVT) drop from a Merlin launched from a Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier.

See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/helicop ... -torpedos/