Rise of the Supercarrier

The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain's $4 billion gamble, is finally ready to set sail from Portsmouth Dockyard on her make-or-break four-month deployment on the high seas. The mission is to forge the brand-new ship's crew into an effective fighting force. Hop on board for an exclusive look at life above and below deck, and follow the crew as they face the challenges of a Russian warship, floods, fuel leaks, and a headline-making first night on U.S. soil.

Britain's biggest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is in her second month of a grueling four-month deployment in the west Atlantic Ocean to test her compatibility with the top-secret F-35B Lightning stealth jet. After dozens of landings and launches--by day and by night--Commanding Officer Jerry Kyd wants to find out how well the aircraft and the supercarrier will operate in difficult weather and wind conditions. They are put to the test when the ship is pounded by one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the southeastern U.S. in decades.

During the course of the HMS Queen Elizabeth's first deployment, the F-35B Lightning jet has completed over 200 launches and landings, 20 high-risk shipborne rolling vertical landings, and nearly 100 bomb drops. After four months of grueling training, it all ends with pageantry and military spectacle in New York Harbor. Witness the challenges and achievements of this remarkable ship, her pilots, and her crew during the final weeks of her assignment.