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HMS Queen Elizabeth comes home in spectacular style

These stunning new images of HMS Queen Elizabeth were captured as the Royal Navy’s largest aircraft carrier returned to base at Portsmouth after completing more sea trials and training.

© Shaun Roster

The pictures were captured by Shaun Roster, a UK based professional photographer and commercial drone operator specialising in maritime operations.

The sheer scale of the 65,000 tonne carrier is apparent as she squeezed her way back to the naval base accompanied by a flotilla of small ships and tugs.

For the crew of the warship, there was also cause to celebrate as during recent trials, the carrier successfully took on fuel in the North Atlantic in a manoeuvre known as replenishment at sea.

With a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker ship (RFA Tidespring) sailing alongside, a fuel line was established between the two ships and the carrier was successfully refuelled.

© Royal Navy

If required, the RFA ship could deliver 800 cubic metres of fuel in an hour – that’s enough to fill up more than 14,500 cars.

This is a significant step forward in the carrier’s growing capability – knowing it can be refuelled from a tanker means HMS Queen Elizabeth can roam even further from home.

Read about our proud story in bringing Britain’s biggest aircraft into service here.

HMS Queen Elizabeth has now returned to Portsmouth for a spot of maintenance, leave for her crew and preparations for her maiden voyage across the Atlantic in the early autumn, when she conduct flying trials with F-35B Lightning stealth fighter/bombers for the first time.

Read about the exciting F-35 story here.