The Fleet Air Arm rises to the challenge of COVID-19 crisis
This collection of short videos shows how helicopters of the Royal Navy are being deployed in various ways to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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News Commentaries
RFA Argus sails for the Caribbean today ready to provide medical support if needed
RFA Argus sailed from Plymouth this afternoon on a long-planned deployment to the Caribbean. Equipped with a 100-bed medical facility she may be called upon to assist British Overseas Territories dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. French, and possibly Dutch vessels are also being sent to the region to support their territories. Co-ordination between the naval forces is likely but this is not a formal joint, EU or NATO operation.
Mostly business as usual for the Royal Navy in the face of COVID-19 crisis
As the global coronavirus pandemic has begun to impact all aspects of life in the UK, this is a brief update on how the RN is responding to the crisis.
Type 45 destroyer availability improving
Poor availability of the Type 45 destroyers has been a source of frustration for the navy and attracted plenty of negative, and often ill-informed media coverage over the last decade. Measures to remedy the complex issues have been on-going for several years and there are now real signs of progress. The Defence Secretary has announced that from 2021, four of the six ships will be available for tasking and the varying levels of readiness will continue to improve.
Up close with HMS Prince of Wales as the Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier arrives in Portsmouth
On 16th November the second of the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales entered her home port for the first time. We witnessed the ship’s arrival and went on board to find out more about her progress and future programme.
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Why has the Royal Navy’s Fleet Solid Support Ship competition been suspended?
In a surprise move, the MoD confirmed yesterday that it has suspended the international tender process for up to 3 Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships to be built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Here we consider the context and possible reasons for this decision.More
Delivery of HMS Audacious to the Royal Navy delayed by another 17 months
On 16th October the head of the MoD Stephen Lovegrove formally approved a revised schedule for the delivery of the 4th Astute class submarine HMS Audacious. Writing to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee he admitted publicly for the first time that Audacious will not be handed over to the RN until January 2021.More
Photo essay: First British jets land onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth – Westlant 19 deployment – Part 3
On 13th October the first British-owned jets landed on HMS Queen Elizabeth off the eastern coast of the US. This photo essay covers the arrival of the 4 jets from 17 Squadron and 617 Squadron.
The Royal Navy becomes a two-carrier navy – HMS Prince of Wales sails for the first time
Today the second of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales left the dockyard in Rosyth for the first time. The word “milestone” has been used excessively to describe important moments the carrier project but today is another big step forward for a ship that many expected never to see service with the RN.More