The official tested speed for the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers is 32 knots. That maximum figure differs from the cruising speed associated with their published 10,000-nautical-mile range. No public source cited here declares the exact cruising-speed basis, although comparisons with other Royal Navy ships can support an informed estimate. A published top speed and range do not necessarily reveal the full operating profile.
Notable Point · 2:36:26-2:37:40
What the Queen Elizabeth class's official speed leaves unsaid
The carriers' publicly stated 32-knot test performance does not disclose the cruising speed used for their quoted 10,000-nautical-mile range.