Displaying items by tag: HMS Prince of Wales

The Royal Navy’s flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, has set sail from Portsmouth for an eight-month mission to the Far East as part of Operation Highmast, a major multinational military deployment. Leading a strike group composed of British, Canadian, and Norwegian warships, the carrier will demonstrate the UK's naval strength, support global trade routes, and affirm alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. While the Ministry of Defence has not confirmed whether the fleet will pass through the contested Taiwan Strait, the mission comes amid rising tensions with China over Taiwan and territorial claims in the South China Sea. Commodore James Blackmore affirmed that the task force is prepared for all eventualities and seeks to deter threats through presence and readiness. Families gathered to bid farewell to the 2,500 service members on board. The deployment also serves diplomatic, economic, and symbolic purposes: supporting NATO, promoting UK exports, and showcasing national defence capabilities. This show of force, blending strategy with solidarity, reflects the UK’s commitment to peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.

HMS Prince of Wales, Britain's largest warship, has embarked for Norway to spearhead a significant NATO exercise, the largest since the Cold War. The Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier, replacing HMS Queen Elizabeth due to a technical issue, was made ready in just a week, showcasing the Royal Navy's quick response capabilities and the strategic advantage of having two aircraft carriers. The carrier will lead a strike group of eight ships, including British, American, Spanish, and Danish vessels. The exercise will demonstrate NATO's unity and strength, involving over 20,000 UK personnel and focusing on defending Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The carrier, equipped with F-35B Lightning fighters and various helicopters, will first undergo a week's training in the North Sea. 600 vehicles are being shipped from the UK to Germany to join the exercise, which will Involve 90,000 NATO troops. See