Over 70,000 tons of British sea power just sailed into New York, and the photos are stunning
"I am delighted and proud to have brought HMS Queen Elizabeth into New York Harbor for the first time," Captain Jerry Kyd, the ship's commanding officer, stated upon arrival. "This visit is very symbolic of the intimate relationship the Royal Navy has with the US Navy and Marine Corps."
The flagship of the Royal Navy has been undergoing intense trials with the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter over the past few weeks.
"The largest warship in British history is joining forces with the most advanced fighter jets on the planet," Gavin Williamson, the British defense secretary, said late last month as the training began. "This marks a rebirth of our power to strike decisively from the seas anywhere in the world."
"HMS Queen Elizabeth is not just a warship, but a symbol of our enduring commitment to our security, and the security of our allies too. This state-of-the-art ship is built on more than 470 years of proud Royal Navy history and her entry into New York harbor shows that our Armed Forces are ready to stand by our allies for generations to come," Williamson said as the ship arrived in New York.
After her stay in New York, the Queen Elizabeth will return to the North Atlantic for continued training with supersonic F-35B stealth fighters, which use engines that swivel for short landings and take-offs.
When an F-35 landed on the Queen Elizabeth late last month, it marked the first time in eight years that an aircraft has landed on a British carrier.
Sources: Business Insider
British pilots have, however, been practicing taking off from and landing on American carriers to maintain their skills.
The Queen Elizabeth was commissioned late last year, and the ship is reportedly expected to be operationally deployed with the F-35 stealth fighters in the next two to three years.
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