HMS Prince of Wales Sails For Steadfast Defender Exercise After Week Of Rapid Preparations
HMS Prince of Wales set sail from Portsmouth on Monday for the North Sea, after the aircraft carrier’s crew completed a week of rapid preparations to replace HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was supposed to participate in NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise prior to developing a propeller shaft coupling issue that prevented its participation.
HMS Prince of Wales’ departure from Portsmouth had been delayed once, with crowds gathering outside Portsmouth Naval Base on Sunday to see it off left disappointed. Later on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry told Sky News that “suitable tide and weather conditions” would decide when the aircraft carrier would depart Portsmouth.
Prior to HMS Queen Elizabeth’s mechanical troubles, HMS Prince of Wales had been preparing for planned maintenance, and would have been able to sail at 30 days’ notice.
“I am immensely proud of how my ship’s company and their families have responded to this short-notice tasking,” said Captain Will Blackett, HMS Prince of Wales’ Commanding Officer. Blackett continued:
“We have managed to bring the ship from 30 days’ notice to immediate readiness in just one week. This has been a monumental effort by the whole enterprise, including HMS Queen Elizabeth, Portsmouth Naval Base, and our numerous defence and industry partners.
HMS Prince of Wales is now ready to go; we are all looking forward to delivering the mission.”
The carrier’s Logistics Officer, Lieutenant Commander Chris Barnett, added: “In less than a week we have brought onboard approximately 70,000 sailors days rations – £400,000 of food – with 450 pallets of stores and 30,000 toilet rolls; not to mention spare parts for F-35 Lightnings, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, cold weather kit, and medical stores. It has been an amazing effort from all involved.”
HMS Prince of Wales will lead a carrier strike group of eight ships during Steadfast Defender. Four of the ships will be British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, with US, Spanish and Danish vessels providing support.
Before heading for Norwegian waters where Steadfast Defender’s maritime exercises will be held, HMS Prince of Wales will conduct a week’s training in the North Sea with her air group of F-35Bs, Merlin Mk2 airborne early warning helicopters, and Wildcat multirole helicopters, honing the skills of the 780-strong ship’s company and the nearly 600 men and women embarked with the air group.
Following the completion of the work-up, HMS Prince of Wales will formally join Exercise Nordic Response, Steadfast Defender’s maritime element, defending northern Norway, Sweden and Finland from a simulated attack.