The 14 Jets Represent The Largest Air Group Of Fifth Generation Fighters At Sea In The World
The Royal Air Force 617 Squadron “Dambusters” and the United States Marine Corps Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 “Wake Island Avengers” deployed aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier on Sept. 22, 2020, and are now underway for their first joint group exercise in preparation for Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21). The USMC squadron arrived in the UK earlier this month for a training deployment.
🎥 F-35B stealth jets from the RAF and @USMC have embarked HMS Queen Elizabeth as she prepares to take her place at the heart of a UK-led NATO Carrier Strike Group. #WeAreNATO
Here’s the moment they touched down: 👇 pic.twitter.com/Twac1KWohg
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 23, 2020
The ten US F-35Bs and four British F-35Bs (according to some sources there are 15 F-35Bs, but images just show 14 ones..) currently represent the largest air group of fifth generation fighters at sea in the world. Together with the eight Merlin helicopters also deployed on the carrier, this is the largest concentration of fighter jets to operate at sea from a Royal Navy carrier since HMS Hermes in 1983, as stated by the Royal Navy in a press release.
Even without sailing it has been a busy day.
After @OC617Sqn joined last night, this morning it was @42_commando @RoyalMarines, @846NAS with 2 #CommandoMerlin and @3rdmaw Wake Island Avengers.
And, of course, @smrmoorhouse; Commander UK Carrier Strike Group.#Groupex #JW202 pic.twitter.com/5u7XU4bxkD
— HMS Queen Elizabeth🇬🇧 (@HMSQNLZ) September 18, 2020
The HMS Queen Elizabeth is being joined by seven Royal Navy ships: Type 45 destroyers HMS Diamond and HMS Defender, Type 23 frigates HMS Kent and HMS Northumberland, an unnamed nuclear submarine, Replenishment Vessels RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Tideforce. The UK CSG will be also joined by the Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate HNLMS Evertsen and US Navy Destroyer USS The Sullivans and will stay at sea for about a month to work for the first time with the entire Carrier Strike Group off the north east coast of Scotland.
Proud to form part of the largest #F35B 5th generation Carrier Air Wing in the world. Honored to be doing so alongside @OC617Sqn onboard @HMSQNLZ . @theF35JPO @USMC @DefenceHQ pic.twitter.com/IA0GpQjp74
— UK Carrier Strike Group USMC Senior National Rep (@SenNatRepQNLZ) September 23, 2020
Commodore Steve Moorhouse, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said in the press release: “The United Kingdom’s maritime renaissance has been unfolding over many years, as we introduced a new generation of ships, submarines and aircraft into service. But this marks the first time we have brought them together in a cohesive, potent, fighting force. HMS Queen Elizabeth will be operating with the largest air group of fifth generation fighters assembled anywhere in the world. Led by the Royal Navy, and backed by our closest allies, this new Carrier Strike Group puts real muscle back into NATO and sends a clear signal that the United Kingdom takes its global role seriously.”
Next steps
After completing carrier qualifications for pilots and crews, the CSG is scheduled to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior 20-2, NATO’s largest annual exercise, initially planned from September 21 to October 15 and now postponed from October 10 to October 23 according to NATO’s website, which will also include live and inert weapons training during day and night carrier operations.
This training deployment, together with the CSG21 operational deployment, represent the first time a squadron of American 5th generation aircraft will be deployed aboard a foreign vessel. The “Wake Island Avengers” also completed the first ever F-35B combat deployment in 2018, successfully supporting ground operations in Central Command’s area of responsibility.
The Marines are excited to work with their British colleagues, as said by Lt. Col. Joseph Freshour, the commanding officer of VMFA-211: “The Wake Island Avengers are ready in all respects to work with the British sailors and aircrew onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. We are looking forward to deploying alongside our British counterparts.”
At the end of Joint Warrior, the two squadrons will return to RAF Marham for another exercise, Crimson Warrior, to conduct high end synthetic live combat training alongside other platforms, including Royal Navy helicopters, in a contested and degraded environment as a continuation of the workup for the entire carrier wing, while HMS Queen Elizabeth will return to Portsmouth for the fitting of the defensive armament.
