USMC F-35B Lightnings deploy to HMS Queen Elizabeth

The US Marine Corps and Royal Air Force are now operating with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 "The Wake Island Avengers" ('CF-xx') and 617 Squadron "Dambusters" from the HMS Queen Elizabeth off the coast of the United Kingdom.

Together they form the largest 5th generation Carrier Air Wing in the world onboard the 65,000 ton brand-new carrier. Next to the ten USMC F-35B Lightning IIs, the air group will consist of five RAF F-35B Lightnings and six Royal Navy Merlin helicopters. With 15 jets on board, this will be the largest embarkation of F-35s afloat in the world so far.

This month’s overarching UK-led Group Exercise will see VMFA-211, 617sq and HMS Queen Elizabeth joined by six Royal Navy destroyers, frigates and auxiliaries for exercises with NATO allies in the North Sea. It includes Dutch and US warships.

The ten USMC Lightning IIs arrived at RAF Marham in the evening of 3 September 2020. After the planned period of quarantine and preparation they now participate in the exercise Crimson Ocean. The aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth (R08) spent the summer alongside in Portsmouth preparing for this Autumn Group Exercise (GroupEx) which will be part of the Joint Warrior (JW202) construct.

The Joint Warrior exercises are usually run twice each year in March-April and September-October off the West coast of Scotland. There was no JW in April 2020 and the GroupEx will also see a bigger surface escort group join the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG). The September GroupEx will be a big step-up in complexity from the modest scale of the recent exercise Crimson Ocean, consisting of 10 days of work-up, followed by two weeks of ‘free play’ in combat scenarios.

Photos: 3rd MAW