HMS Prince of Wales has replaced her sistership at the head of an international task group for Steadfast Defender 24, the most important NATO exercise in a generation. Despite being in maintenance at 30 days’ notice, the ship was readied to sail within a week.
HMS Prince of Wales sailed from Portsmouth for NATO exercises on 12 February, in place of her sistership.
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The aircraft carrier will lead an eight-ship and submarine international Carrier Strike Group with the Type 23 HMS Somerset and two Tide class fleet tankers. They will be joined by US, Spanish and Danish escorts. With F-35B Lightning fighters, Merlin Mk.2 and Wildcat helicopters on board, it will be the first time Prince of Wales has operated with a full air group embarked. HMS Queen Elizabeth had been preparing to take part until pre-sailing checks revealed an issue with a starboard propeller shaft coupling. As a precautionary measure, the ship will instead sail to Rosyth for inspection and repairs. The RN has stated that the issue is ‘wear and tear’-related, and not the same problem that sidelined Prince of Wales for nine months recently. With a planned major refit of the ship due in 2025, the RN has to decide whether to start this early or just carry out repairs.