HMS Queen Elizabeth Deployment

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to get underway from HMNB Portsmouth on Saturday for her first-of-class F-35B flight trials.

The deployment is dubbed Westlant 18 and will see the carrier spend four months off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States with the aim of developing the operating envelope – the parameters for safe operations – of the F-35.

Prior to her departure, HMS Queen Elizabeth was joined by Merlin Mk2 helicopters, aircrew and support personnel from 820 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) who embarked the carrier to support her forthcoming trials.

She will also be joined by RFA Tiderace and Plymouth-based type-23 frigate HMS Monmouth, and a contingent of Royal Marines from 42 Commando, Plymouth.

The ship will conduct trials in UK waters over the coming days, before departing for the USA later this month.

F-35B trials are an important step in the Royal Navy’s path to achieving a carrier strike group capability, something the UK has been without since the Invincible-class aircraft carrier left service.

Should all go according to plans, an initial carrier strike operating capability is expected to be reached by December 2020, while a Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP) capability is expected by 2026 (full CEPP meaning having both carriers in operation with F35B jets and the Crowsnest radar).

Commenting on the upcoming trials, the commanding officer of 820 NAS, Cdr Chris Knowles, said: “It’s a really exciting time for 820 squadron and for me personally.

“To take command of a squadron on the brink of a career-defining deployment, with great people, all of whom are keen, professional and very much looking forward to getting on with their job at sea.”

“We’ve been cycling all crews through a thorough pre-deployment training package to make sure everyone is current and qualified to go.

“Our force protection role will be key to the ship at sea, as will our SAR capability, we’re ready and able to provide whatever support Queen Elizabeth needs.”

Exercise Joint Warrior 111

JTEPS Exercise Joint Warrior 111 is current being conducted off the UK coast until 14 February. This exercise is comprised of a program of exercises conducted by land forces, warships, submarines and aircraft across the UK with the maritime element focused in the offshore and coastal waters to the north east, north and north west of Scotland. Our friend Huub in the NL has reported on his twitter feed (@FMCNL) that 4484.0 kHz USB has been monitored as an ective Joint Warrior 111 frequency.

UK Forces in the Operation Odessey Dawn Fight

From the UK Guardian Blog:

1.26am: A statement from Defence Secretary Liam Fox has more details of the British military forces involved:

We have launched Tomahawk land attack missiles from a Trafalgar Class submarine and Storm Shadow missiles from Tornado GR4s. The fast jets flew 3,000 miles from RAF Marham and back, making this the longest range bombing mission conducted by the RAF since the Falklands conflict. This operation was supported by VC10 and Tristar air-to-air refuelling aircraft as well as E3D Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft.

HMS Westminster is off the coast of Libya and HMS Cumberland is in the region ready to support operations. Typhoon aircraft are also standing by to provide support.

Our capable and adaptable armed forces are once again displaying their courage and professionalism. This action has provided a strong signal - the international community will not stand by while the Libyan people suffer under the Gaddafi regime.

1.17am: The UK military has officially confirmed that Royal Air Force planes also took part on the attack on Gaddafi's forces, with flights by GR4 Tornados firing Storm Shadow missiles – a European version of the cruise missile – at targets in Libya:

A statement from the Chief of Defence Staff's strategic communications officer Major General John Lorimer:

British armed forces, as authorised by the UN Security Council Resolution 1973, have participated in a co-ordinated strike against Libyan air defence systems.

In addition to the Tomahawk land attack missiles (TLAM) launched from a Trafalgar Class submarine, I can now confirm that the RAF has also launched Storm Shadow missiles from a number of Tornado GR4 fast jets, which flew direct from RAF Marham as part of a co-ordinated coalition plan to enforce the resolution.

USS Mitscher DC Teams Prepare for Joint Warrior

USS MITSCHER, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) are using the remaining days of September to hone their skills in damage control as the ship transits the Atlantic Ocean to participate in the Joint Warrior course, a multinational exercise held off the coast of Scotland.

With drills and exercises conducted daily, Sailors assigned to Mitscher's damage control division said their transit across the Atlantic gives them a chance to get back to the basics and ensure damage control teams are proficient in their levels of knowledge.

"Right now we are conducting daily drills for the at-sea fire party," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Frank Sampsel, a member of the ship's damage control division. "We are also holding training for the repair lockers, hose handling, flooding and the P-100 submersible pump. The goal is to ensure that all damage control kits go through extensive training."

Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW) Kevin Parham emphasized the importance of having every crew member qualified in a diverse cross-section of damage control and ready for potential shipboard emergencies.

"It is vital for the entire crew to be competent in damage control," said Parham. "With our smaller crew compliment, and the fact that this is a warship, the survival of the ship during an emergency rests on the quality of the training the crew receives."

The entire ship benefits from sound damage control drills and training Sampsel said.

"Having the entire crew trained in damage control helps to better the ship," said Sampsel. "Familiarization with damage control equipment and firefighting ensures that we are capable of handling any emergency that comes our way."

Joint Warrior will begin in early October and is expected to last approximately two weeks. The exercise will involve air, sea, and ground assets from participating allied and NATO forces.

Navy Ships Depart for Joint Warrior Exercise

By Lt. j.g. Arlo Abrahamson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

Blog Editor Note: For my friends in the UDXF and the UK, a US Navy monitoring opportunity close to home.

USS Mitscher DDG-57 US Navy Photo

USS DOYLE, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 24 left the U.S. East Coast for Scotland Sept. 19 to participate with allied navies in Joint Warrior, a coalition exercise designed and led by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) in the United Kingdom.

Sailors from USS Mitscher (DDG 57), USS Doyle (FFG 39), USS Klakring (FFG 42), USS Hawes (FFG 53) and USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) will play a prominent role in the exercise intended to improve interoperability between coalition naval forces and prepare participants for upcoming deployments.

"Joint Warrior will provide our Sailors with an opportunity to engage in a variety of training scenarios that explore real-world challenges on a strategic, operational and tactical level – in a controlled environment," said Capt John Kersh, commander, DESRON 24. "We will focus our efforts on enhancing our ability to operate in a multinational, multi-platform environment."

The exercise supports the Navy's Maritime Strategy, which revolves around partnerships and a global maritime network of many countries' navies with the goal of patrolling the world's seas. The exercise also serves as a deployment certification event for the participating U.S. ships, preparing ready maritime forces for global assignment.

"The relationships we make during Joint Warrior are vital to ensure we are ready to engage in a host of global maritime security operations," said Lt. Cmdr. Gil Ayan, material officer for DESRON 24.

"We become more effective by operating with allied navies and leveraging our individual strengths. This builds trust and mutual cooperation, which will make us a more capable combined force in a real-time operational environment."

Joint Warrior will begin in early October and is expected to last approximately two weeks. It will involve air, sea and ground assets from participating allied and NATO forces.

"This exercise captures the essence of our teaming concept with allies and partners in the execution of the Maritime Strategy," said Kersh. "The bottom line is that five U.S. ships and a host of allied ships will come away from this exercise at the top of their game and ready to support joint maritime operations worldwide. The exercise is a win-win for everyone involved."

United Kingdom Coast Guard MSI Broadcast

You can find details about the United Kingdom Coast Guard MSI HF broadcast on my personal blog - The Btown Monitoring Post at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2007/02/uk-coast-guard-broadcast.html.