An investigation has been launched into the cause of a fire which broke out onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth whilst she was moored at Glenmallanin, on Loch Long in Scotland.

The £3bn largest and most powerful vessel in the Royal Navy’s fleet, had stopped to unload ammunition when blaze began shortly before midnight last weekend.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported that the blaze was quickly extinguished, although it is understood that ten sailors needed medical treatment, as it ripped through mess decks and crew sleeping areas, destroying over 100 beds.

Several appliances were dispatched from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and remained in attendance for more than two hours.

The aircraft carrier, nicknamed “Big Lizzie” was en-route to Rosyth to undergo repairs to its starboard propeller shaft coupling, which forced the ship into an embarrassing withdrawal from a major Nato exercise.

A spokesperson was quick to assure the public that this latest incident would have no impact on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s programme and confirmed that the Royal Navy would continue to fulfil all of its on-going commitments.

Sailors hurt following fire

It is understood that the fire began in an air conditioning unit, but the affected compartments were sealed off and the blaze was brought under control relatively quickly, before it could spread through the ship.

Initially a Royal Navy Spokesperson said there had been no injuries and stressed: “We take the health and safety of our personnel extremely seriously and are investigating to understand the cause.”

However, shortly afterwards it emerged that ten sailors had infact required medical attention, the extent of which has not been released.

Fire service attend scene

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.50pm to assist partners at GlenMallan Jetty, Argyll and Bute. Operations Control mobilised three appliances and a height vehicle and crews remained on standby to assist and left at 2.15am the following morning.”

Could have been much worse

A source on board said the order came to clear lower decks after the fire broke out and “everyone mustered in the hangar for a headcount.” They remarked that some sailors were drunk as they were off-duty and it was Friday night, which could have been disastrous.

They added: “Those that were fit enough were given jobs to help with the fire and the sprinkler systems eventually extinguished it.” 

Bad start to the year

This represents yet another embarrassment for the Royal Navy in a year that has exposed serious questions for the proud outfit. In January, it was revealed that the mighty HMS Queen Elizabeth would be unable to back up the Prime Minister’s promises to “resist Houthi aggression in the Red Sea” as its support ship was reportedly understaffed and consequently “stuck” in a Liverpool shipyard.

No show at major exercise

Then last month the prized warship had to pull out of “Exercise Steadfast Defender” – a major NATO operation involving more than 40 vessels, and the largest maritime exercise in nearly half a century – occurring off Norway’s Arctic coast.

A coupling issue had been discovered which required urgent repairs, but just to add to the embarrassment its sister ship: HMS Prince of Wales, was due to replace her, but its own departure was also cancelled at the last minute, when it too suffered a serious malfunction.

Latest in a string of set backs

The 65,000 tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth not only boasts state-of-the-art weaponry and communications systems, but also has five gyms, a chapel and a medical centre. The ship operates with a crew of around 700, increasing to the full capacity of 1600 when aircraft are embarked. But it has had set back after set back.

There were significant leaks in both 2017 and 2019 and then in 2021 one of its high-powered multi-million pound jets, failed to take off correctly and simply toppled into the sea, leading many to believe the vessel is cursed.