Queen Names UK's Newest And Biggest Warship

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Queen has named the UK's new aircraft carrier, marking a major milestone in the history of the Royal Navy.

At 65,000 tons, HMS Queen Elizabeth is the biggest and most powerful warship ever built in the UK.

The naming ceremony, in Scotland, has also been attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary, the leader of the SNP and heads of military.

Helicopters will initially be onboard. Pic: Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Before naming the ship the Queen said: "Lord Mountbatten told my father on becoming King that there is no better training than the Royal Navy.

"This reputation for excellence continues to this day.

"In sponsoring this aircraft carrier, I believe that (the ship) will be a source of inspiration and pride for us all."

The Queen then smashed a bottle of Islay malt whisky, rather than the traditional champagne, on the ship's hull, reflecting the role Scotland has played in its construction.

A CGI image of the ship's runway. Pic: Aircraft Carrier Alliance

It is significant, given the country is only two months from the independence referendum.

Eventually, F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter planes will fly off the carrier, although the Government is yet to announce the order of the first tranche of planes.

Confirmation of that order is expected within weeks.

The F-35 is the world's first fifth-generation fighter jet. The 'B' variant ordered by the UK Government can land vertically and take off on a short runway like its predecessor, the Harrier jump jet.

But it means that, for its first two years of service, HMS Queen Elizabeth will sail with only helicopters onboard.

There has been no shortage of controversy around the building of two aircraft carriers at a time of severe budget cuts in the military.

The current and previous Government changed their minds over which variant of F-35 to order, resulting in expensive changes to the ship's design.

A decision on the future of the second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, has been delayed until 2016, although the Government is expected to keep it as part of the fleet rather than sell it off.

Some 10,000 people helped build the ship. Pic: Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Together, the two carriers will cost £6.2bn to build.

Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, said: "We absolutely need two. If you've only got one, you've only got one for sure for  80% of the time. If you've got two, you've got one for 100% of the time."

Parts of the carrier have been constructed in six cities across the UK, supporting 10,000 jobs and more than 600 companies in the supply chain.

One of the earlier aircraft carriers, HMS Ark Royal was retired in 2011 and the last carrier HMS Illustrious, which has sailed to Rosyth to sit alongside her successor, will be decommissioned later this year.

Later this month, the new carrier will be floated for the first time before she embarks on sea trials for a few years and finally enters service.

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