HMS Prince of Wales expected to be on the move again soon following "technical issue"
The Royal Navy’s flagship is expected to be on the move again soon
HMS Prince of Wales is due to set sail from Norway following repairs to a “technical issue”.
The Royal Navy’s flagship, currently in charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), identified the mechanical fault last month and is currently alongside Stavanger after it dealt with the issue. But now the aircraft carrier is expected to sail in the coming days, the Ministry of Defence has said.
An MoD spokesperson said: “HMS Prince of Wales is currently conducting a port visit to Stavanger as part of the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment across the North Atlantic and Arctic, we expect her to set sail in the coming days.”
The Portsmouth-based ship is on its way to Nordic waters, joined by Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, also based in the city, after its visit to Aarhus in Denmark, as well as Southampton-based tanker RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Tidespring after its visit to Bergen in Norway.
As part of Operation Firecrest, the Royal Navy will be conducting various military drills in the North Atlantic and High North alongside Nato allies. This is in response to Russian’s growing submarine fleet and increasing activities in the region.
The 65,000 tonne warship has worked with Nato and the Joint Expeditionary Force throughout the deployment and is expected to visit Copenhagen in Denmark.
HMS Prince of Wales and her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth are the largest and most powerful vessels ever constructed for the Royal Navy.
HMS Prince of Wales has a top speed in excess of 25 knots per hour and a range of 10,000 nautical miles. It can carry up to 72 aircraft, including a maximum of 36 F-35B fighter jets, and has an expected service life of up to 50 years, according to the Royal Navy.
The ship can operate on a crew of 678, but can accommodate up to 1,600 people.