Powerful HMS Prince of Wales 'stands ready' to deal with intensive 'swarm attack' with HMS Duncan before op
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The Royal Navy flagship is has taken on ammunition in Scotland ahead of her next mission
The Royal Navy flagship will be faced with an intensive “swarm attack” during an upcoming Nato exercise.
HMS Prince of Wales has left Scotland to conduct a series of drills in the Atlantic and. After spending the bank holiday weekend loading ammunition and supplies at the Glen Mallan jetty in Loch Long, she is now set to take part in Exercise Tamber Shield alongside Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies.
Commanding Officer Captain Ben Power said: “HMS Prince of Wales stands ready as the nation’s flagship to demonstrate the United Kingdom’s commitment to NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force. My thanks go to our families who continue to show unwavering support as we deploy for a period away from home waters.”
The Portsmouth-based 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier will be joined by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidespring. The Royal Navy said throughout Operation Firecrest, and during this exercise, they will “reinforce the collective defence of the region” with Nato and JEF partners.
“They will head for the fjords near Bergen, conducting intensive ‘swarm attack’ drills alongside Wildcat helicopters of 815 Naval Air Squadron, P2000 patrol boats, and heavily-armed Norwegian missile craft,” the force added. “The exercise – Tamber Shield – is designed to hone the tactical agility required to protect high-value assets – such from small, fast-manoeuvrable threats in confined waters.”
HMS Prince of Wales left Portsmouth on April 24 as proud families packed the Hotwalls to see her leave for sea trials. The upcoming Operation Firecrest will see her taken charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group, conducting drills in the North Atlantic and High North amid a considerable rise in Russian activity.
There has been a 30 per cent rise in Vladimir Putin’s vessels being spotted in UK waters in the past two years. Following Exercise Tamber Shield, the British contingent will train alongside Nato’s premier anti-submarine warfare exercise in Northern Europe, Dynamic Mongoose.
Commander James Mitchell, Commanding Officer of HMS Duncan, said: “HMS Duncan brings world-class air defence capability to the Carrier Strike Group, providing essential protection to HMS Prince of Wales and other high-value units. Training alongside our allies in the North Atlantic and High North strengthens our ability to operate as an integrated and resilient force.”
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Captain Terry Barke added: “It is exciting for RFA Tidespring to play another essential role in extending the limits of the Royal Navy and NATO allies, putting training into practice and providing specialist support.”
The exercises come amid a pledge from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, to forge a strong maritime force alongside other northern European navies. The force’s actions are being directed by the staff of Commander UK Carrier Strike Group under Commodore Rich Hewitt.
He said: “This 2026 deployment delivers a clear signal of the UK’s steadfast commitment to working with regional partners and securing Europe’s northern flank. In an increasingly volatile environment, our integration with partner nations is vital to safeguarding our mutual interests.”