Inflatable slides and life rafts deployed in HMS Queen Elizabeth evacuation drill

The Royal Navy has staged a large-scale evacuation drill in Portsmouth Harbour to test the emergency escape systems fitted to HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The exercise, which lasted around three hours, involved deploying large enclosed slides from both ends of the aircraft carrier – part of a system designed to allow the ship's company to escape quickly and safely in the event of an emergency at sea.

Despite blustery conditions, the drill went ahead with both HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales alongside at the Princess Royal Jetty in Portsmouth.

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The first bright orange slide was released from the stern of HMS Queen Elizabeth, dropping around 10ft from just below the flight deck into the water.

Within seconds, an inflatable life raft attached to its base deployed automatically and fully inflated.

Tugs and police launches quickly moved in to inspect and secure the raft.

Around 10 minutes later, the same process was repeated from the bow of the ship, with a second evacuation slide splashing down and inflating its life raft shortly afterwards.

The system – known as a marine evacuation system – is a critical piece of safety equipment, enabling crew members to leave the ship rapidly without entering the water directly.

Each slide is integrated with a life raft and is designed to be deployed under pressure, including in rough conditions.

These types of drills are carried out periodically, forming part of routine safety checks to ensure the systems remain operational.

While a full evacuation of a carrier is highly unlikely, the Royal Navy stresses the importance of maintaining readiness for any eventuality.

The training comes at a busy time for the UK's carrier strike group, as HMS Prince of Wales is preparing to set off on Operation Highmast. 

The operation will see the Royal Navy flagship lead Carrier Strike Group 25 on a major Indo-Pacific deployment, operating with two full squadrons of F-35B Lightning jets embarked.