AN ENORMOUS aircraft carrier nearly 1,100ft long and weighing 100,000 tonnes can now be seen off the Hampshire coast after striking anchor.

Hundreds of people  lined the coast to view a giant US aircraft carrier arriving for a five-day visit.

The USS Roosevelt, which has a four-and-a-half acre flight deck and houses more than 5,000 sailors, can now be seen in Stokes Bay, Gosport.

The gigantic ship is visiting as part of a round-the-world tour and will now be anchored for five days and Admiral Sir George Zambellas, the Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, said the common bond between the US and UK had “never been stronger”.

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, said: “It brings tourists in and people down to the area and people come in huge numbers to get a look - they are really enormous and quite impressive and people do come down to get a glimpse so it's good for our area.

“I was born and brought up in the area and you can't live in the area without having seen lots of Navy ships - it's quite exciting.”

More than 5,000 sailors are expected to spill into the area during the trip, which is part of a partnership between the Royal Navy and US on carrier operations.

The promenade was packed with visitors wanting to get a glance of the 1,092ft-long carrier which is affectionately known as the Big Stick.

The visit forms parts of an ongoing partnership between the Royal Navy and US on carrier operations until the first of the new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, enters service in 2017.
 Among Roosevelt's 5,226 crew are six Royal Navy aircraft handlers who are honing their skills ahead of serving aboard the first of the new carriers.

And senior officers will call on Royal Navy top brass during the visit to discuss recent global operations and get an update on the UK's carrier programme.

The Royal Navy's First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, said: ''It is excellent to see US Navy carrier steel in Portsmouth. And in barely two years we will see UK carrier steel here too.

''We warmly welcome the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group - a reflection of the close partnership between our nations and navies, and the value of credible seapower in support of our shared national interests.

''Across the spectrum - from Type 45 destroyers providing area air defence for US carriers launching air strikes against ISIL, to generous US support as we regenerate our own carrier strike capability - our common bond has never been richer.''

The Roosevelt is accompanied by its escort ship, the destroyer Winston S Churchill, which traditionally has a UK navigator on board to honour the ship's British connection and the post is currently held by 27-year-old Lieutenant Lynsey Sewell.

The two navies will also come face-to-face on the football field when a Theodore Roosevelt team face HMS Diamond at HMS Temeraire.

SEND US YOUR PICTURES! E-mail newdesk@dailyecho.co.uk or picdesk@dailyecho.co.uk