'Refining' options: Royal Navy deciding ships to escort HMS Prince of Wales on Arctic op - what could they be

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for defence, Al Carns, confirmed that work is ongoing to determine which warships will sail alongside HMS Prince of Wales on Operation Firecrest. Announced in February, the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) will be patrolling the Arctic and North Atlantic - complete with F-35B fighter jets and other aircraft.

The priority towards the region was initially outlined in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published in June last year, in response to the burgeoning threat from Russia. With Vladimir Putin bolstering Moscow’s shadow fleet and submarine force, while threatening critical undersea cables and other infrastructure, the Royal Navy is tasked with responding in kind.

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said a fast response through the Altantic Bastion concept - where conventional warships were supported by un-crewed vessels - was necessary due to increase activity “in our own backyard”. Over the past two years, there has been a 30 per cent increase in Russian navy vessels threatening UK waters, the government has said.

With this in mind, the Ministry of Defence is evaluating what capabilities to deploy alongside HMS Prince of Wales. Responding to a parliamentary written question by Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, Mr Carns, remaining tight-lipped, outlined the government’s current stance.

He said: “Operation Firecrest is intended to include key allies, including the US, Canada and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations. We are continuing to refine with our allies the specific capabilities these will contribute to the deployment, although this information is operationally sensitive and therefore will not be disclosed.”

What ships could join HMS Prince of Wales on Arctic deployment?

On Operation Highmast, HMS Prince of Wales’ previous deployment, she was accompanied by a Type 45 destroyer for air defence purposes, a Type 23 frigate, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) support ships. This deployment will include a visit to visit a US port, with US jets also expected to operate from the carrier’s flight deck, and being part of Nato’s Arctic Sentry mission.

The allied operation involves patrols in a region where melting sea ice is opening new routes and increasing threat from hostile state activity. HMS Prince of Wales’ deployment is due to commence next month.

Sign up for The Week in Defence with Freddie Webb - our newsletter rounding up the sector’s must-read stories

With HMS Dragon being deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, another destroyer is needed to take charge of Nato’s Standing Maritime Group 1. HMS Duncan entered a maintenance period yesterday in Portsmouth, so is the most likely to join the flagship given she’ll be freshly crewed and stocked with supplies. HMS Dauntless, previously deployed on Operation Highmast, is also in maintenance, so could be activated as well.

The frigate situation is more complicated. Duke-class vessels are ageing and the Royal Navy’s compliment of frigates is falling. HMS Richmond, who joined HMS Prince of Wales on Operation Highmast, is projected to be retired. HMS St Albans is currently deployed alongside RFA Tidespring in the Atlantic, so rotation from those vessels could be possible.

HMS Sutherland and HMS Somerset have both been on trials and patrols recently. HMS Portland went into a maintenance period last month. In terms of support ships, RFA Tideforce and RFA Lyme Bay are both in the Mediterranean. RFA Tidesurge recently entered the dock in Birkenhead, Merseyside, for a maintenance period. Other ships are in refit or regeneration projects.