Britannia rules the waves once more: HMS Queen Elizabeth leads flotilla of nine ships as Royal Navy's new carrier strike group assembles at sea for first time

These images show Britain's HMS Queen Elizabeth leading the largest and most powerful task force assembled by a European Navy in almost 20 years.

The £3billion aircraft carrier - the joint largest in the Royal Navy's history - was the crown jewel in a flotilla of nine ships which form the UK's new Carrier Strike Group.

Yesterday it assembled at sea for the first time off the north east coast of Scotland as part of Joint Warrior - NATO's largest annual exercise.

The 930ft long aircraft carrier led the flotilla of destroyers and frigates from the UK, US and the Netherlands, together with two Royal Fleet Auxiliaries.

In total, 3,000 personnel from the UK, US and Netherlands were involved.

These images show Britain's HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured centre) leading the most powerful task force assembled by an European Navy in almost 20 years

The £3billion aircraft carrier (pictured centre), which, along with its sister ship HMS Prince of Wales, is the largest in the Royal Navy's history, was the crown jewel in a flotilla of nine ships which make up a new carrier strike group

Today the task force, including HMS Queen Elizabeth assembled at sea for the first time off the north east coast of Scotland as part of Joint Warrior - NATO's largest annual exercise

What was the Royal Navy's new Carrier Strike Group made up of?

HMS Queen Elizabeth - Royal Navy Aircraft carrier - Weighs: 65,000 tonnes, Length: 930 feet, Speed: 25+ knots, Use: Carries 65 aircraft at surge capacity

HMS Diamond - Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer - Weighs: 8,000 tonnes, Length: 500 feet, Speed: 30+ knots, Weapons: Fleet of helicopters, anti-air and anti-ship missiles

HMS Defender - Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer - Weighs: 8,000 tonnes, Length: 500 feet, Speed: 30+ knots, Weapons: Fleet of helicopters, anti-air and anti-ship missiles

USS The Sullivans - US Navy Destroyer - Weighs: 6,900 tonnes, Length: 505 feet, Speed: 30 knots, Weapons: Guided missiles, with guns, torpedoes and two helicopters

HMS Northumberland - Royal Navy Frigate - Weighs: 4,900 tonnes, Length: 435 feet, Speed: 28+ knots, Weapons: Torpedoes and missiles

HMS Kent - Royal Navy Frigate - Weighs: 4,900 tonnes, Length: 435 feet, Speed: 28+ knots, Weapons: Torpedoes and missiles

HNLMS Eversten - Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate - Weighs: 6,000 tonnes, Length: 470 metres, Speed: 28+ knots, Weapons: Guns, missiles and helicopters

RFA Tideforce - Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships - Weighs: 37,000 tonnes, Length: 201 metres, Speed: 27+ knots, Weapons: Cannons, Primary Use: Replenishment tanker

RFA Fort Victoria - Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships - Weighs: 37,000 tonnes, Length: 201 metres, Speed: 27+ knots, Weapons: Cannons, Primary Use: Replenishment tanker

The group also includes 15 fighter jets, 11 helicopters and 3,000 personnel from the UK, US and the Netherlands

Meanwhile, HMS Queen Elizabeth embarked two squadrons of F-35B stealth jets, the UK's 617 Squadron and US Marine Corps fighter attack squadron 211.

Alongside eight Merlin helicopters of 820 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons, it is the largest air group to operate from a Royal Navy carrier in more than thirty years, and the largest air group of fifth generation fighters at sea anywhere in the world, say the Royal Navy.

The task force meanwhile is the largest assembled by an European Navy in almost 20 years.

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: 'The new UK Carrier Strike Group is the embodiment of British maritime power, and sits at the heart of a modernised and emboldened Royal Navy.

'Protected by a ring of advanced destroyers, frigates, helicopters and submarines, and equipped with fifth generation fighters, HMS Queen Elizabeth is able to strike from the sea at a time and place of our choosing; and with our Nato allies at our side, we will be ready to fight and win in the most demanding circumstances.

'Carrier Strike offers Britain choice and flexibility on the global stage. It reassures our friends and allies and presents a powerful deterrent to would-be adversaries.'

The Carrier Strike Group includes NATO's most sophisticated destroyers – the Royal Navy's Type 45s HMS Diamond and HMS Defender and US Navy Arleigh Burke-class USS The Sullivans.

It also contains frigates HMS Northumberland and HMS Kent from the UK and the Dutch Navy's HNLMS Evertsen.

They will not only protect the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers from enemy ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles, but are also capable of conducting a range of supporting missions, from maritime security to disaster relief.

Meanwhile, two Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, RFA Tideforce and RFA Fort Victoria, will supply fuel, food, spares and ammunition, to enabled sustained operations from the sea without host nation support.

Commander Vince Owen, Commanding Officer of HMS Defender, said: 'Providing air and missile defence to a Carrier Strike Group is exactly the task HMS Defender and the Type 45 has been designed to do.

'Having previously supported the French aircraft carrier FGS Charles de Gaulle in the fight against ISIL in 2015 and more recently been part of the USS Abraham Lincoln task group as she transited through the Strait of Hormuz last year, it is exciting to be integrating HMS Defender into the UK-led Carrier Strike Group for the first time.

The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier led the flotilla of destroyers and frigates from the UK, US and the Netherlands, together with two Royal Fleet Auxiliaries

HMS Queen Elizabeth embarked two squadrons of F-35B stealth jets, the UK's 617 Squadron and US Marine Corps fighter attack squadron 211

Commodore Steve Moorhouse , Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: 'The new UK Carrier Strike Group is the embodiment of British maritime power, and sits at the heart of a modernised and emboldened Royal Navy

Big Lizzie: The 930ft-long £3billion aircraft carrier which is the joint largest in Royal Navy history

HMS Queen Elizabeth - named after 16th century monarch Elizabeth I - is the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-Class of aircraft carriers. Its sister ship is HMS Prince of Wales.

The ships, which together cost more than £6billion, are the largest in the history of the Royal Navy.

At 72,000 tons and 932 feet long, the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier is taller than Nelson’s Column and considerably wider than the M25 at its widest point.

She generates enough energy to power Swindon, she can produce 500 tons of fresh water a day — and travel 500 miles a day, too.

Last month, it was reported that flagship aircraft carrier will set out on its first operational mission with more US than British warplanes on board, under plans being examined by defence chiefs.

HMS Queen Elizabeth could deploy with as many as 20 US F-35 jets and just 16 UK F-35s under one scenario, defence sources told the Daily Mail.

The Ministry of Defence is expected to rely on US jets to fill a gap in numbers because it has been too slow to buy its own F-35s.

The aircraft carrier is expected to set sail on its first deployment in May next year.

'Having just successfully completed a period of Basic Operational Sea Training over the summer, the men and women that make up my ship's company are motivated and ready to take part in the next stage of our training in preparation for deploying with the Carrier Strike Group next year.'

Cdr Rick Ongering, Commanding Officer of HNLMS Evertsen, added: 'The Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Navy have been very close maritime partners for decades.

'Our marines have been working together through the UK-Netherlands Amphibious Force for almost fifty years and our ships regularly undertake Fleet Operational Sea Training in the UK.

'However, the opportunity to accompany HMS Queen Elizabeth is a new experience and HNLMS Evertsen is excited to be working with the UK Carrier Strike Group during Exercise Joint Warrior this October.'