Tight squeeze under Forth Bridge as Royal Navy’s largest ever vessel returns to sea after months of repairs

Britain’s biggest warship has returned to sea after spending months docked for essential repairs.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth was pictured under the Forth Rail Bridge after spending months docked at Rosyth for essential repairs and upgrades.

The Royal Navy warship was due to take to the North Sea for NATO’s largest mission since the Cold War, but a fault to the propeller shaft was discovered back in February.

The mission, named Steadfast Defender, took place in Norway, and was instead led by sister ship HMS Prince of Wales.

In March, the ship set sail from Portsmouth to Rosyth, but now, after months of repairs, the Navy’s largest ship has “completed her defect repair.”

The crew had to lower the vessel’s radio mast to allow it to pass underneath the Forth Bridge

A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘HMS Queen Elizabeth has completed her defect repair work and capability upgrades at Rosyth and will now undergo a period of sea trials to prepare for future tasking.’

The ship’s crew had to lower its radio mast to allow it to pass underneath the Forth Bridge, which has clearance of 150ft. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is 184ft tall with its mast up. 

The ship, which can carry up to 40 aircraft, and is equipped with a flight deck, chapel and medical centre, weighs 65,000 tonnes and is capable of travelling at over 25 knots.

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