Editing Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier (section)

{{Short description|Royal Navy aircraft carrier class}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Good article}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = File:HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales meet at sea for the first time.jpg
| Ship caption = {{HMS|Prince of Wales|R09|6}} (foreground) and {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}} (background) on 19 May 2021
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''Queen Elizabeth'' class
| Builders = [[Aircraft Carrier Alliance]]
| Operators = {{navy |United Kingdom}}
| Class before = {{sclass|Invincible|aircraft carrier|4}}
| Class after = |Subclasses
| Cost = {{ShipCost|GBR|7.6|b|r=1|year=2019|ref=<ref name="QE2019">{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-government-major-projects-portfolio-data-2019|title=MOD Major Projects Report 2019|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref>}} for two units
| Built range = 2009–2017
| In commission range = 2017–present<ref name=commission>{{cite web |url= http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newshms-queen-elizabeth-crew-switch-on-its-radar-for-first-time-4657457 |title= HMS Queen Elizabeth crew switch on its radar for first time |date= 26 August 2015 |publisher= Naval Technology |access-date= 29 August 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150911134334/http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newshms-queen-elizabeth-crew-switch-on-its-radar-for-first-time-4657457 |archive-date= 11 September 2015 |url-status= live}}</ref>
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 2
| Total ships completed = 2
| Total ships cancelled = 
| Total ships active = 2
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = 
| Ship type = [[Aircraft carrier]]
| Ship displacement = Est. {{convert|80600|t}} full load<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pape |first=Alex|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2023-2024|date=April 2023 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Limited |isbn=9780710634283 |location=United Kingdom |pages=886 |language=en}}</ref>
| Ship length = {{Convert|284|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Future-Ships/Queen-Elizabeth-Class |title=Queen Elizabeth Class|publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810221625/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Ships/Future-Ships/Queen-Elizabeth-Class|archive-date=10 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Ship beam = *{{convert|39|m|ft|abbr=on}} waterline
* {{convert|73|m|ft|abbr=on}} overall<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvf/ |title=Queen Elizabeth Class (CVF) |publisher=Naval Technology |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701141010/http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvf |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armedforces.co.uk/navy/listings/l0012.html |title=Royal Navy – Aircraft Carriers – The Future Carrier (CVF) Queen Elizabeth Class – Illustrious – n3a3 |publisher=Armed Forces |access-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012064343/http://www.armedforces.co.uk/navy/listings/l0012.html |archive-date=12 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| Ship draught = {{convert|11|m|ft|abbr =on}}
| Ship decks = {{convert|16000|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} 9 decks beneath flightdeck with hangar covering the centrepiece of two decks (without islands)
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship power = * 2 × [[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]] [[Marine Trent|Marine Trent MT30]] {{convert|36|MW|hp|abbr=on}} [[gas turbine engine]]
* 2 × [[Wärtsilä]] 16V38 and 2 x 12V38 [[marine diesel engine]]s  {{convert|40|MW|hp|abbr=on}}
* '''Total:''' {{convert|118.4|MW|HP|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = {{ubli
 | [[Integrated electric propulsion]]
 | 4 × [[GE Power Conversion]] {{convert|20|MW|hp|abbr=on}} Advanced Induction Motors and VDM25000 drives
 | 2 × shafts; fixed pitch propellers
}}
| Ship speed = In excess of {{convert |25|kn}}, tested to {{convert |32|kn}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hms-queen-elizabeth-exceeds-stated-maximum-speed-trials/|title=HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' exceeds stated maximum speed on trials|publisher=ukdefencejournal.org.uk|date=24 July 2017|access-date=10 July 2018}}</ref>
| Ship range = {{convert |10000|nmi}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship boats = 
| Ship capacity = 
| Ship troops = 250<ref name=Hargreaves201312 /> to 900<ref name=900EMF>{{cite web|title=HMS Ocean:Written question – 19049|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-12-07/19049/|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom|access-date=16 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222075916/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-12-07/19049/|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Ship complement = 679 crew, not including air element; total berths for up to 1,600
| Ship time to activate = 
| Ship sensors = * [[S1850M]] long-range radar
* [[Type 997 Artisan 3D]] medium range radar
* [[Ultra Electronics]] Series 2500 Electro Optical System (EOS)
* Glide path camera (GPC)
| Ship armament = * 3 × [[Phalanx CIWS]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/december-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/2266-babcock-to-deliver-convert-phalanx-1b-ciws-for-royal-navy-queen-elizabeth-aircraft-carrier.html |title=Babcock to Deliver, Convert Phalanx 1B CIWS for Royal Navy Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=17 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217074504/http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/december-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/2266-babcock-to-deliver-convert-phalanx-1b-ciws-for-royal-navy-queen-elizabeth-aircraft-carrier.html |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 4 × [[30mm DS30M Mark 2 Automated Small Calibre Gun|30-mm DS30M Mk2 guns]] ([[for but not with]])<ref name= "30mm">{{cite web|url=https://www.navylookout.com/close-in-defence-for-the-royal-navys-aircraft-carriers/|title=Close-in defence for the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers|publisher=navylookout.com|date=28 April 2021|access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>
* 6 × [[M134 Minigun|7.62 mm Minigun]]s (retired in 2023 and replaced by [[Browning .50 caliber machine gun|0.5 inch (12.7 mm) Browning heavy machine guns]])<ref name="Navy Lookout">{{cite web |url=https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-fleet-solid-support-ship-design/ |title=In focus: the Fleet Solid Support ship design |publisher=Navy Lookout |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref>
| Ship aircraft = * 1 × carrier air wing of 40 aircraft in peacetime or up to 72 aircraft in wartime; typically,
** [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35B Lightning]] (maximum of 36)<ref name=hc-394/>
** [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Chinook]]
** [[AgustaWestland Apache|Apache]]
** [[AgustaWestland AW101|Merlin HM2, HC4]] and Crowsnest [[airborne early warning and control|AEW]]
** [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Wildcat AH1 and HMA2]]
| Ship aircraft facilities = * Large flight deck with 12º [[Aircraft ski-jump|ski jump]]
* Hangar deck
*- 155 m x 34 m x 7 m
* Two aircraft lifts
*- 27 m x 15 m
*- 54,500 kg max load<ref name="hobbsp347">{{harvnb|Hobbs|2013|p=347}}</ref>
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
[[File:HMS Queen Elizabeth.jpg|thumb|HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'', July 2014]]

The '''''Queen Elizabeth''-class''' [[aircraft carriers]] of the United Kingdom's [[Royal Navy]] consists of two vessels. The lead ship of her class, {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}}, was named on 4 July 2014<ref name="RN-naming-20140714">{{cite news |date=4 July 2014 |title=HMS Queen Elizabeth is named by Her Majesty The Queen |language=en |work=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/july/04/140704-queen-elizabeth-naming |url-status=live |access-date=5 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202828/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/july/04/140704-queen-elizabeth-naming |archive-date=5 March 2018}}</ref> in honour of [[Elizabeth I]]<ref>{{cite web |author=George Allison |date=4 March 2018 |title=Royal Navy press team confirm which monarch HMS Queen Elizabeth is named for |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-press-team-confirm-monarch-hms-queen-elizabeth-named/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306082547/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-press-team-confirm-monarch-hms-queen-elizabeth-named/ |archive-date=6 March 2018 |access-date=4 March 2018 |publisher=Ukdefencejournal.org.uk}}</ref> and was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 7 December 2017.<ref name="commission" /> Her sister ship, {{HMS|Prince of Wales|R09|6}}, was launched on 21 December 2017, and was commissioned on 10 December 2019.<ref name="Maddoxx20130323">{{cite news |last=Maddox |first=David |date=23 March 2013 |title=600 Royal Navy personnel may be stationed at Rosyth |newspaper=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/600-royal-navy-personnel-may-be-stationed-at-rosyth-1-2853416 |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325235542/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/600-royal-navy-personnel-may-be-stationed-at-rosyth-1-2853416 |archive-date=25 March 2013}}</ref> They form the central components of the [[UK Carrier Strike Group]].<ref name="assemble">{{cite news |title=UK Carrier Strike Group Assembles for the First Time |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/october/05/201005-hms-queen-elizabeth-carrier-strike |access-date=5 November 2020 |agency=[[Royal Navy]] |date=5 October 2020}}</ref>

The contract for the vessels was announced in July 2007, ending several years of delay over cost issues and British naval shipbuilding restructuring. The contracts were signed one year later on 3 July 2008, with the [[Aircraft Carrier Alliance]], a partnership formed with [[Babcock International]], [[Thales Group]], [[A&P Group]], the [[UK Ministry of Defence]] and [[BAE Systems]]. In 2014 the UK Government announced that the second carrier would be brought into service, ending years of uncertainty surrounding its future. This was confirmed by the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015]], with at least one carrier being available at any time.<ref name="UK Defence Journal Guide">{{cite journal |title=Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier: A Guide |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-class-aircraft-carrier-guide/ |journal=UK Defence Journal |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112141024/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-class-aircraft-carrier-guide/ |archive-date=12 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=UK aircraft carrier Prince of Wales to go into service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29075307 |publisher=BBC |date=5 September 2014 |access-date=18 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923022814/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29075307 |archive-date=23 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The vessels have a full load displacement of an estimated {{Convert|80600|t}}, are {{convert|284|m|ft}} long and are the largest warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy.<ref name="HMSQE">{{cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet/aircraft-carriers/hms-queen-elizabeth|title=HMS ''Queen Elizabeth''|publisher=royalnavy.mod.uk|access-date=12 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207111030/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/surface-fleet/aircraft-carriers/hms-queen-elizabeth|archive-date=7 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The carrier air wing (CVW) will vary depending on the type and location of deployment, but will consist of 12-24 F-35Bs under in peacetime and 36 in a conflict scenario (with up to 48 in extreme cases) and [[Merlin helicopter]]s to conduct [[Anti-Submarine Warfare]], [[Airborne Early Warning]] and utility roles.<ref name=hc-394/> The projected cost of the programme is £6.2&nbsp;billion.<ref name=Hansard20131106>{{Cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |title=Aircraft Carriers and UK Shipbuilding | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131106/debtext/131106-0001.htm#13110656000003 |date=6 November 2013 |column_start=251 |column_end=254 |speaker=[[Philip Hammond]] |position=Secretary of State for Defence}}</ref>

The 2010 [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] announced the intention to purchase the [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|Lockheed Martin F-35C]] "carrier variant" and to build ''Prince of Wales'' in a [[CATOBAR|Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery]] (CATOBAR) configuration. However, in 2012, after projected costs of the CATOBAR system rose to around twice the original estimate, the government announced that it would revert to the original design deploying F-35Bs from [[STOVL|Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing]] (STOVL) configured carriers.