HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of Supercarrier, the largest warship ever built for the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and capable of carrying up to forty aircraft.
The ship was named by Queen Elizabeth II on 4 July 2014, and began sea trials on 26 June 2017 and will formally be commissioned by the end of 2017.
HMS Queen Elizabeth has no catapults or arrestor wires and is instead designed to operate V/STOL aircraft; the air wing will typically consist of F-35B Lightning II multirole fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare.
The design emphasises flexibility, with accommodation for 250 Royal Marines and the ability to support them with attack helicopters and troop transports up to Chinook size and larger.
She is the second Royal Navy vessel to bear the name Queen Elizabeth and is to be based at HMNB Portsmouth.