Assembled at Babcock Rosyth, from modules built by BAE Systems (Glasgow), BAE Systems (Portsmouth), Babcock (Appledore), A & P Tyneside and Cammell Laird
2014-jul-4
Launched
Naming Ceremony. Dry dock flooded at Babcock Rosyth, after modular construction and cleared No. 1 Dock on 17 Jul
WESTLANT 18 departed HMNB Portsmouth on maiden deployment for 11 week WESTLANT 18 exercise off east coast of USA. Accompanied by HMS Monmouth and RFA Tiderace, she also has 3x Merlin HM.2 from 820 NAS which embarked in the preceeding week plus part of 42 CDO Royal Marines to conduct amphibious exercises. Before leaving UK waters, 3x Merlin HC.4 of 845 NAS (Furious Flt) embarked on 20 Aug (including ZJ120 / D and ZJ129 / N). Main objective is to determine operating parameters for the F-35B, which will embark for the 1st time. Shadowed along the western English Channel by RFS Admiral Makarov.
Rota Naval Base visited Rota to disembark USMC F-35 complement.
2021-dec-8
Aircraft
disembarked 4x 820 NAS Merlin HM.2 (at least 3 of which were Crowsnest fitted) to RNAS Culdrose, after CSG21 deployment, whilst on her way to HMNB Portsmouth