The British Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) of the Royal Navy has passed the zenith of its 26,000-mile strategic voyage halfway around the globe after visiting the new aircraft carrier and flagship HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH in Yokosuka, Japan. As Japan intends to upgrade its two helicopter carriers to aircraft carriers in the future with the Joint Strike Fighter F-35B (JSF, STOVL short-takeoff and vertical landing), a high-ranking delegation led by the Minister of Defence paid the guest from England a thoroughly interested visit. On its way to Tokyo Bay, the unit had previously travelled through the South China Sea as part of a multinational FONOPS (Freedom of Navigation Operation), but was unable to stop off in the South Korean port of Busan as planned due to the coronavirus restrictions in force there. Nevertheless, the manoeuvres in the sea area off Korea and Japan in early September provided ample opportunity for the participating units of their own strike group, the accompanying Dutch frigate and the allied navies, including the amphibious assault carrier USS AMERICA, to practise joint procedures. The flight operations of the eight F-35B Lightning IIs carried on board by the British squadron and the twelve JSFs of the US Marines over the decks of the two large ships through to supporting amphibious landing attacks were of course the core elements of the well-filled serial catalogue. In the meantime, the unit has left Japanese waters and moored in Guam, the southernmost island of the Mariana Islands and also the westernmost foreign territory of the United States, before embarking on the long journey home. Showing the flag 2.0!
JSF Short Takeoff (UK). Photo: Crown Copyright
JSF vertical landing (UK). Photo: Crown Copyright
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