When will HMS Prince of Wales leave Portsmouth? Work on carrier continues amid op second phase
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The Royal Navy flagship previously spent several months carrying out military operations in freezing conditions
Work is continuing aboard the Royal Navy flagship ahead of second phase of a major operation.
HMS Prince of Wales, currently alongside HMS Queen Elizabeth at HMNB Portsmouth, returned to the city after completing the first part of Operation Firecrest. Hundreds of people descended on Old Portsmouth on the morning of July 24 to welcome their loved ones home.
According to the King’s Harbour Master shipping movements, a tug push on has been scheduled for tomorrow between 9.15am and 12pm. Bountiful and Indulgent will be operating alongside the 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier at the Princess Royal Jetty.
Such operations are usually undertaken to move the aircraft carrier ahead of an upcoming operation or maintenance work. The start of Operation Firecrest’s second phase has not been officially confirmed, though it’s expected later this year. She was previously at the helm of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) alongside HMS Duncan and RFA Tidespring, operating in the North Atlantic and High North.
During the four-month period between April 24 and July 24, HMS Prince of Wales’ warfare department navigated the £3.2bn warship across 15,684 nautical miles. Sailors on the bridge kept watch across 7,890 hours.
Aviators operating F-35B fighter jets and helicopters conducted more than 750 deck landings. This included the 9,000th since entering service, with several of the aircraft conducting sorties thousands of miles from the ship.
British personnel are also currently training alongside their American allies. The UKCSG social media account said: “Op Firecrest Phase One complete, but for the UKCSG HQ, training continues in the US. Warfighting advantage comes from understanding how we train/fight together. Great work with the US Navy.”
The Royal Navy previously confirmed that maintenance will be undertaken aboard the carrier before the second phase starts. On the completion of phase one, Commodore Richard Hewitt, UKCSG Commander, said: “Over the past three months, we have a proven the UK Carrier Strike Group capabilities over and over again, committing this capability to NATO and demonstrating our determination to defend NATO’s Northern flank.
“We have shown how we can generate, sustain and when called upon, defend our NATO and JEF allies against unwanted threats in the High North and North Atlantic. Exercise Neptune Strike has been a successful finish, demonstrating our capability and supporting NATO deterrence across the Euro-Atlantic.”