USS Gerald R. Ford makes a transatlantic port call to Portsmouth, UK | Rare Techy

The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits Portsmouth, England, for the ship’s second international port call Nov. 14, 2022. U.S. Navy photo

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is anchored off Portsmouth, United Kingdom, the US Navy announced today.
Sailors from Ford and USS Thomas Hudner One of the carrier’s escorts (DDG-116) arrived in Portsmouth on Monday, according to a Navy news release.

“During their visit, sailors will have the opportunity to experience Portsmouth’s rich culture through wellness and leisure trips to the city’s popular cultural and historical attractions. This port visit will be the first stop for the ships during their stay in the US Naval Operations Europe (NAVEUR) area,” the announcement reads.

Over the weekend in Portsmouth, UK News announced that due to the carrier’s size it would park at Stokes Bay, off the coast of the town of Gosport, rather than sailing to Portsmouth Pier.

“The crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford honored and excited to visit Portsmouth, the heart of the Royal Navy, on Ford’s first deployment. Ford commanding officer Captain Paul Lanzilotta said in a press release. “The UK is a valuable ally. We are here to work together, strengthen our partnership and give our sailors the opportunity to explore this beautiful city.

Sailors man the rails of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), part of the Gerald R. Ford Strike Group, on Nov. 14, 2022, in Portsmouth, England. US Navy photo

Portsmouth is home to HMNB Portsmouth, one of the main bases of the UK Royal Navy and home to its carrier HMS. Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09).

The Ford Carrier Strike Group took part in exercise Silver Wolverine in the eastern Atlantic last week with ships from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France and the Netherlands.

FordIn the UK it stops after the carrier made its first foreign port visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, last month.

The carrier departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Oct. 4 for a two-month operational stress test of the ship’s new systems and technologies before full-scale deployment next year, USNI News previously reported.

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