Common Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, visited the U.S. Navy plane service because it operated within the North Sea, full with a backseat experience in an F/A-18F Tremendous Hornet.
In his first go to to a U.S. Navy plane service since being appointed as First Sea Lord, the skilled head of the Royal Navy, Common Sir Gwyn Jenkins toured the world’s largest warship because it sailed within the North Sea following a excessive profile go to to Oslo. The usGerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is main Service Strike Group 12 (CSG-12) on a deployment to the U.S. Sixth Fleet, having departed Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia on June 24, 2025.
Jenkins, who’s the primary ever First Sea Lord to be promoted from the ranks of the Royal Marines, met with Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, commander of CSG-12, and commanding officer of USS Gerald R. Ford Captain David Skarosi whereas on board the ship. He additionally spoke to members of the ships’ crew and personnel from the embarked Service Air Wing 8 (CVW-8). The controversial spotlight of the go to noticed the British Common ‘suit-up’ with Strike Fighter Squadron 213 (VFA-213) ‘The Blacklions’ and take to the rear seat of one of many squadron’s F/A-18F Tremendous Hornet strike fighters for a flight sortie, together with catapult launch and an arrested restoration.
Along with U.S. personnel, the First Sea Lord additionally took the chance to fulfill and communicate to members of the Royal Navy who’re presently serving as CVW-8 pilots by worldwide alternate packages. Royal Navy and Royal Air Power pilots are a close to fixed presence in each U.S. Navy/Marine Corps and U.S. Air Power plane squadrons, and in reality the commanding officers of each of the UK’s frontline F-35B Lightning II models are veterans of such alternate packages. 809 Naval Air Squadron boss Commander Nick Smith previously flew F/A-18E Tremendous Hornets, whereas 617 Squadron commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Mike Carty flew U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier IIs throughout Operation Inherent Resolve.
The Ford has taken half in numerous workout routines since its arrival into the European theater. An preliminary working interval within the Mediterranean noticed the Ford participate in Neptune Strike 25-2 – described by NATO as a vigilance exercise – and launch plane on simulated strike sorties throughout Europe. A port go to was undertaken in Marseille, France.
On 24 and 25 July, 🇺🇸 U.S. Navy F/A-18 Tremendous Hornet fighter jets, launched from the plane service USS Gerald R Ford crusing within the Mediterranean, carried out long-range strike missions to 🇱🇹 Lithuania as a part of NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Exercise Neptune Strike 25-2 (NEST).
The… pic.twitter.com/ePAuSUYocZ
— NATO Allied Joint Power Command Brunssum – JFCBS (@NATOJFCBS) July 26, 2025
After departing the Mediterranean Sea, the service strike group transited to the excessive north, participating in additional NATO coaching packages with native forces, together with the following iteration of Neptune Strike, Neptune Strike 25-3.
Within the North Sea, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) demonstrates the power of NATO throughout Neptune Strike 25-3.
Collectively, we defend very important waters 🌊 and strengthen the bonds that hold us safe 💪. pic.twitter.com/DFmkMBizZt
— U.S. Fleet Forces (@USFleetForces) September 26, 2025
Crusing alongside the Ford are U.S. Navy destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Mahan (DDG 72), and the usWinston S. Churchill (DDG 81). The Winston S. Churchill paid a go to to HMNB Portsmouth, UK, whereas passing by the English Channel, with Royal Navy officer Lieutenant Commander Owen Lengthy performing as navigator. In honor of the ship’s namesake a Royal Navy officer is all the time seconded to the ship’s crew, and the ship can also be granted the precise to fly the Royal Navy’s white ensign.
An RN navigation officer is all the time assigned to serve onboard 🇺🇸USS Winston S Churchill.
Lt Cdr Owen Lengthy guided the ship into Portsmouth when she arrived on Sunday. The destroyer has just lately been working within the Arctic as a part of the usGerald R Ford service strike group.… pic.twitter.com/dvJxlMLBkZ
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) September 17, 2025
Common Sir Gwyn Jenkins
Gen. Jenkins’ profession historical past within the Royal Marines didn’t embrace any time as a pilot, although the 35-year veteran has spent nicely over a decade in high-level positions. From 2009, Jenkins commanded the Particular Boat Service (SBS) – one of many UK’s premier particular forces models. By 2012, he moved to the place of Army Assistant to the Prime Minister, then on to Deputy Nationwide Safety Advisor in 2016.
Between 2021 and 2022, Jenkins oversaw all UK particular forces operations as Director Particular Forces. In 2022, after a promotion to the rank of Common – changing into solely the second full Common within the Royal Marines in virtually 50 years – he grew to become Vice-Chief of the Defence Employees and Commandant Common of the Royal Marines. Jenkins succeeded Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell as First Sea Lord on Could 27, 2025, Connell having in flip taken on the place in an performing capability to exchange Admiral Sir Ben Key 20 days earlier.
Since his appointment, Jenkins has endorsed a radical evolution of the Royal Navy, stating his goal to see the following Service Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific (scheduled for 2029) supported by operational unmanned fight plane and unmanned floor vessels. In his speech at DSEI 2025, he confirmed that plans had been afoot to see a jet-powered collaborative fight plane launch from Royal Navy plane service HMS Queen Elizabeth by the tip of 2026.
As a member of the Royal Marines, explicit focus shall be paid to Jenkins’ affect on the way forward for the Royal Navy’s amphibious capabilities, which have been gutted by the lack of the Albion class however might see a powerful refresh with the introduction of Multi-Position Strike Ships (MRSS) within the 2030s. Orders for MRSS have but to be positioned, and can have to be positioned throughout Jenkins’ anticipated tenure ought to the Royal Navy have any hope of changing its as soon as highly effective amphibious power any time quickly. Critically, Royal Navy amphibious ships have lengthy been meant to offer an essential backstop to bolster components of Europe within the occasion of Russian offensives.
