USS Gerald R Ford: The world's biggest warship completes Portsmouth visit
The world's biggest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, has completed its visit to Portsmouth and will now return to the Atlantic Ocean.
The US Navy's newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier had been moored in the Solent, near Portsmouth.
The home of the Royal Navy was chosen as the ship's first stop away from the US, having only just started operational service.
USS Gerald R Ford's Twitter account marked the completion with images of its time in the Solent as well as a message.
It said: "Another port visit down! #Warship78 completed its port visit in Portsmouth this week and is steaming in the Atlantic Ocean once more. #LibertyCall#Navy#Port".
As the biggest warship in the world, the USS Gerald R Ford is the first in a new Ford Class which will eventually replace the famous Nimitz class.
The US's newest aircraft carrier, which has 23 new and updated major systems on board, cost around $13bn (£11.5bn) to build, considerably more than the £3.2bn cost of the Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth.
USS Gerald R Ford's Commanding Officer, Captain Paul Lanzilotta called the warship a "bad-ass", adding: "It's a really great system of systems, high technology is everywhere you walk on the ship."
Measuring 337m (1,106ft) from front to back and with a 78m wide flight deck, the warship is huge.
Forces News was able to get on board the US aircraft carrier and take a tour of the ship, packed full of new technology.
The US carrier will work alongside ships and personnel from seven Nato allies – the US, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain – and Finland and Sweden, who are in the process of joining the Alliance.
According to the US Department of Defense (DOD), the Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) will focus training on air defence, anti-subsurface warfare, distributed maritime operations, mine countermeasures, and amphibious operations.
About 9,000 personnel from nine nations, 20 ships and 60 aircraft will reportedly be involved.
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