| United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Operation Fortis | |
.jpg) HMSQueen Elizabeth, lead ship of the carrier strike group, departing Portsmouth for Exercise Strike Warrior | |
| Type | Carrier strike group |
| Commanded by | Commodore Stephen Moorhouse |
| Date | May 2021 – December 2021 |
TheUnited Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) was a British-led naval force that was deployed onOperation Fortis[1] from May to December 2021. The Carrier Strike Group is seen as the beginning of the British Government's tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region in terms of defence and foreign policy,[2] that had been announced in March through theIntegrated Review.[3] It was the first strike group deployment for theQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, and the first operational deployment of theUK Carrier Strike Group since 2011. The deployment was the largest single deployment ofF-35 fighter aircraft since the programme started in 2006,[4] and the largestfifth-generation fighter carrier air wing in the world at the time.[5] Furthermore,HMS Queen Elizabeth saw the largest number of personnel embarked since she entered service,[6] and the group contained the largest number of Royal Navy maritime helicopters deployed in over 10 years.[7]
The United Kingdom had been without a wholly-British deployable carrier strike group in almost 40 years;[8] and without a deployable aircraft carrier altogether since 2014, when the finalInvincible-class light aircraft carrierHMS Illustrious was decommissioned – three years ahead of the two replacement carriers.[9]
TheUK Carrier Strike Group re-formed in February 2015, withCommodoreJerry Kyd appointed asCommander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group;[10] only the next year however, Commodore Andrew Betton succeeded him as commander,[11] as Kyd became the first sea-going captain ofHMS Queen Elizabeth.[12] HMSQueen Elizabeth was commissioned on 7 December 2017,[13] and subsequently began the process of operational sea trials and training – including fixed-wing flying trials off the coast of the US. Subsequently, the UK Carrier Strike Group assembled for the first time in September 2019, when the Type 45 destroyer,HMS Dragon; Type 23 frigate,HMS Northumberland; and the Tide-class replenishment tanker,RFATideforce, came together to partake inNATO's Exercise Cutlass Fury, off the coast ofCanada.[14] This exercise also marked the first time that British F-35s (fromNo. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron of theRoyal Air Force) had landed on theQueen Elizabeth's deck.[15] In September 2020, as part of NATO'sExercise Joint Warrior 2020–2, the full carrier strike group of nine surface vessels and accompanying air wing assembled for the first time in theNorth Sea,[16] under the command of Commodore Steve Moorhouse.[8] While the carrier strike group disbanded and the ships returned to their respective ports, the F-35Bs undertook further exercises from their base atRAF Marham, including partaking in Exercise Crimson Warrior,[17][18] in preparation for the group'sinitial operating capability which was declared on 4 January 2021.[19]
In 2016 the UK had moved a satellite in itsSkynet military communications system eastward to extend coverage to east Asia and thewestern Pacific Ocean, and opened a ground station in Australia.[20]
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HMSQueen Elizabeth departedHMNB Portsmouth on 1 March 2021, in order to conduct a period of working-up before deployment. She operated both in theEnglish Channel and theIrish Sea to prepare the members of the ship's company, alongside this she conducted helicopter exercises with the Royal Air Force and theBritish Army'sArmy Air Corps to maintain the aircrew for carrier operations.[21] Once finished, the carrier sailed up the British coast toLoch Long in order to embark munitions at the Northern Ammunition Jetty ofDefence Munitions Glen Douglas, which had recently been extended by theDefence Infrastructure Organisation in order to accommodate the vessel.[22] The ship was berthed there for five days between 15 and 20 March, before returning to Portsmouth.[23] During her time in Scotland, the vessel also held a memorial service on board for theSecond World War escort carrierHMS Dasher, which suffered a major internal explosion and sank offArdrossan in March 1943.[21]
In the middle of April, the Royal Navy began the process of administeringCOVID-19 vaccines to members of the carrier strike group in preparation for the deployment.[24] TheSecretary of State for Defence,Ben Wallace announced on 26 April that every sailor within the strike group would have received two vaccines prior to their departure.[25]
USS The Sullivans departedNaval Station Mayport on 19 April, bound for the United Kingdom in order to join the carrier strike group for deployment.[26] Between the 26 and 28 April, the 10 F-35B jets of theUnited States Marine Corps'sMarine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) that contribute to the air group, arrived atRAF Lakenheath; the pilots that will operate with the strike group had already started a 14-day isolation period due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[27] On 2 May, the first F-35B fighters belonging to VMFA-211 flew from RAF Lakenheath, and joined HMSQueen Elizabeth.[28][29]
820 Naval Air Squadron spent the week before departure to Exercise Strike Warrior, on conducting dummy launch trials for theSting Ray torpedo inFalmouth Bay;[30] before its three Crowsnest airborne surveillance and control (ASaC), and four anti-submarineMerlin Mk2 helicopters embarked on theQueen Elizabeth on 27 April.[31][32] The strike group's fourLynx Wildcat helicopters of815 Naval Air Squadron left their base atRNAS Yeovilton on 1 May,[33] and embarked on each of the four Royal Navy escorts.No. 617 Squadron RAF and their 8 F-35B fighters started to fly out ofRAF Marham and embark on HMSQueen Elizabeth, on 3 May;[34] before the final British aircraft to join the strike group, threeMerlin Mk4s from845 Naval Air Squadron, departed RNAS Yeovilton and joinedRFAFort Victoria later that day.[35]
During February 2021, the carrier strike group's warfare staff partook in Exercise Virtual Warrior, a command and control exercise which tested how the ship's crew would react in the event of a crisis on the maiden deployment.[36] The exercise picked right back up from when the group disbanded the previous autumn, and took place at the Maritime Warfare School, atHMSCollingwood inFareham, utilising the base's combined simulation training suite.[37][38]
The strike group departed from their respective ports on 1 May:[39]HMS Diamond,HMS Defender,[40]HMS Kent, and HMSQueen Elizabeth[41] from HMNB Portsmouth;[42]HMS Richmond fromHMNB Devonport;[43]RFAFort Victoria, and anAstute class submarine fromHMNB Clyde; andRFATidespring fromPortland Harbour. The vessels then made their way to Scotland to partake in the final exercise before their deployment – the maritime element of NATO's UK-led Exercise Joint Warrior 2021–1, known as Exercise Strike Warrior, which saw the carrier strike group building on and enhancing the scenarios that were tested in the previously held Exercise Virtual Warrior. Taking place between 8 and 19 May,[34][44] a total of 31 ships, 3 submarines, 150 aircraft, and 13,400 personnel from 10 nations took part in the exercise.[45] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, port visits were restricted to only those needed for operational and logistical reasons, and all personnel were required to isolate for 14 days before embarking onto their respective ships.[46] The over 150 aircraft that were involved in the exercise were based atRAF Lossiemouth,HMSGannet, andStornoway Airport.[47] The exercise saw twoMV-22B Osprey from theMarine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 stationed on board theUSS Iwo Jima land on HMSQueen Elizabeth for the first time,[34] along with the first launch of a Crowsnest radar-equipped Merlin helicopter from aQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier,[48] and the firstAdvanced Short Range Air to Air Missiles being fired from a British F-35 fighter – the first missile firings from a British jet at sea for 15 years.[49] Nearing the end of Exercise Strike Warrior the Carrier Strike Group met up with the vessels of Exercise Ragnar Viking that had been taking place off the Norwegian coast, which included the USSIwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, the Royal Navy's Littoral Response Group (North), along with the FSNormandie,HDMS Esbern Snare, andHNoMS Fridtjof Nansen; the 15 vessels together conducted ashow of force Photo Exercise (PHOTEX).[50]
Upon the culmination of Exercise Strike Warrior, the ships of the Carrier Strike Group each returned to port in order to embark the necessary fuel and stores.[51] On the 19 May, on her way back to port, HMSQueen Elizabeth met up with her sister shipHMS Prince of Wales, which is currently undertakingFleet Operational Sea Training, and sailed together for the first time before taking part in a PHOTEX, and finally parting ways.[49] Originally, theQueen Elizabeth was scheduled to anchor inThe Solent in order to maintain a COVID-secure state, however due to forecasted heavy winds, she instead docked alongside at HMNB Portsmouth with personnel remaining on board.[52][53] On 21 May 2021,Prime MinisterBoris Johnson visited HMSQueen Elizabeth in order to tour the ship and speak to the crew before their departure;[54] followed byQueen Elizabeth II the next day, who also received a tour and spent time talking to crew members.[55][56]
HNLMSEvertsen departed fromNieuwe Haven Naval Base in the Netherlands, on 22 May; along with HMSDefender and HMSKent, which both sailed from Devonport also on 22 May.[57][58] HMSQueen Elizabeth was originally planned to depart Portsmouth on 23 May, however in order to avoid the strong winds that had been forecasted,[59] she instead left port in the evening of the 22 May,[60][61] along with USSThe Sullivans.[62] On 23 May, HMSDiamond, RFAFort Victoria, and RFATidespring departed from Devonport, Portland, andLoch Striven respectively;[63] The final ship, HMSRichmond, left Portsmouth on 24 May.[64] Once the Carrier Strike Group departed from the UK, operational command of the group passed from theFleet Commander, Vice AdmiralJerry Kyd, over to theChief of Joint Operations, Vice AdmiralBen Key.[33]
 | This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is: The whole section is written in the future tense despite much of the deployment having happened.. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2021) |
The plan for the 28 week deployment was for the carrier strike group cover 26,000 nautical miles, and conduct over 70 engagements in 40 different countries.[65]
On 1 May 2021, it was announced that the documentary film makerChris Terrill will be onboard HMSQueen Elizabeth for the duration of the deployment, in order to produce a documentary series for theBBC in succession to his two previous series about life on the carrier.[6]
_and_Charles_de_Gaulle_(R91)_underway_in_the_Mediterranean_Sea_on_3_June_2021_(210603-M-MS099-336).JPG)
Initially after leaving Portsmouth on the 22 May,[54] the group straight away entered into another major NATO exercise – Exercise Steadfast Defender. Between 20 and 28 May in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast ofPortugal, the maritime element of the exercise included 18 vessels from 11 different nations, and was directed from the newly raisedJoint Force Command Norfolk based on board theUSS Mount Whitney.[34] The exercise included the carrier strike group and the USSIwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, along with bothStanding NATO Maritime Group 1 and2.[66]
Concurrently, the embarked aircraft of 617 Squadron took part in Exercise Atlantic Trident 2021 over the south west French coast. The exercise ran from 17 to 28 May, with theArmee de l'Air,United States Air Force, and Royal Air Force all taking part in the French-led exercise, which was directed fromMont-de-Marsan Air Base.[67]
After finishing Exercise Steadfast Defender, the strike group made its first port visit inGibraltar. After leaving port, the group entered theMediterranean, where it undertook further exercises with Mediterranean NATO allies, including operating with theFrench aircraft carrierCharles de Gaulle,[68][69] before arriving atSouda Bay inCrete for a logistic stop.[70] Prior to this however, HMSDefender, HMSKent, and HNLMSEvertsen[71] detached from the group and entered theBlack Sea[72] – a visit that was already planned prior to theheightened Russian activity in the region.[73] Whilst in the Mediterranean, the strike group joinedOperation Shader in the fight againstDaesh;[74] before continuing on through theSuez Canal and stopping at theBritish military port in Duqm. However, HMSDiamond was forced to remain in European waters having suffered a serious engine defect.[75] After the stopover at Duqm, the group proceeded across theArabian Sea to conduct exercises with theIndian Navy in theIndian Ocean,[76] before calling for a brief stop at theBritish naval facility in Singapore. It entered the disputedSouth China Sea region to conductfreedom of navigation exercises in the area.[77] Whilst there, the strike group tracked Chinese submarines and used its anti-submarine assets to hold them off, allowing HMSQueen Elizabeth to steer clear.[78] As of 3 September 2021 it was reported thatDiamond had completed repairs, undertaken in Taranto, Italy and had put to sea to re-join the strike group.[79]
Subsequently, the group took part in Exercise Bersama Gold 21 with theRoyal Australian Navy,[80]Royal New Zealand Navy,Royal Malaysian Navy andRepublic of Singapore Navy, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of theFive Power Defence Arrangements;[73] before paying a visit to South Korea and then conducting exercises with theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force andUnited States Navy around the islands of Japan.[81] Whilst in the Indo-Pacific regionHMS Tamar andHMS Spey, the Royal Navy's newly established permanent presence in the region, met up with the strike group, having just arrived in the area.[82]
In October, the strike group began its journey home - on 20 October,The Sullivans detached to begin its return to its home base ofMayport. On 16 November, one of the carrier's F-35B fighters, from617 Squadron, crashed during operations in the Mediterranean. The pilot was able to eject safely.[83] Early reports suggest some of "the covers and engine blanks" had not been removed before takeoff.[84] Regular flying operations continued following the crash, with a multilateralcross-decking exercise that saw Italian aircraft operating from theItalian Navy flagshipCavour land, refuel and launch from the deck ofQueen Elizabeth, and US aircraft operate from the Italian ship.[85] The strike group finally returned to the United Kingdom at the beginning of December.[71]
| Aircraft carrier | Queen Elizabeth-class | HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) |
|---|---|---|
| Destroyers | Type 45 (anti-air warfare) | HMS Defender (D36) |
| HMS Diamond (D34) | ||
| Arleigh Burke-class (multi-role) | USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) | |
| Frigates | Type 23 (anti-submarine warfare) | HMS Richmond (F239) |
| HMS Kent (F78) | ||
| De Zeven Provinciën-class (air-defence & command) | HNLMS Evertsen (F805) | |
| Auxiliaries | Tide-class (fast fleet tanker) | RFA Tidespring (A136) |
| RFA Tidesurge (A138)[86] (Mediterranean return only) | ||
| Fort Victoria-class (replenishment oiler) | RFA Fort Victoria (A387) | |
| Submarine | Astute-class (fleet-submarine) | HMS Astute (S119)[87] |
| Fighter | No. 617 Squadron RAF | 8 ×F-35B Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 | 10 × F-35B Lightning | |
| Airborne surveillance and control | 820 Naval Air Squadron | 3 ×Merlin Mk2 Crowsnest |
| Anti-submarine | 4 × Merlin Mk2 ASW | |
| Troop transport/logistics | 845 Naval Air Squadron attached to RFAFort Victoria | 3 ×Merlin Mk4 |
| Force protection | 815 Naval Air Squadron attached to Royal Navy escorts | 4 ×Wildcat |
|---|
Alongside the major units mentioned, the group also consist of a number of personnel drawn from other units, including:
820 Naval Air Squadron (820 NAS) of the Royal Navy, composed of around 190 personnel[91] and seven Merlin Mk2 (including 3 equipped with Crowsnest radar), provide airborne surveillance and control, and airborne anti-submarine capabilities.[31] The anti-submarine aircraft can either be equipped with depth-charges orSting Ray torpedoes, in order to protect the strike group from both submarines and threats above the water;[92] whilst the Crowsnest-equipped aircraft provide long-range, early-warning capability[93] and can also be used to direct F-35B fighters on to their target.[92]
Ten of the air wing's eighteen fighters were from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) of the United States Marine Corps,[94] nicknamed the "Wake Island Avengers".[95] The strike group was the single largest deployment of the F-35 fighter since the beginning of the programme in 2006, and was also the first time the USMC has deployed a full F-35 squadron of 10 aircraft;[4] USMC squadrons had 16 aircraft until reforms by GeneralDavid Berger that are intended to transition the USMC to a lighter, more agile force.[96]Lieutenant Colonel Andrew D'Ambrogi, the commanding officer of VMFA-211, said that the deployment was a chance to experiment with the downsized squadron and ensure that it is capable enough to meet the output that is required to execute the mission.[4] The US contingent included 180 U.S. Marines to maintain and handle the aircraft on the flight deck and a team of 18 United States Navy ordnance specialists who handled the ordnance required by the Marine Corps fighters, as that is not a Marine activity and policy does not allow for another country to do so.[4]
[...] will also support the strategic effect of Operation Fortis, the deployment of the UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG).