HMS Prince of Wales is set to replace HMS Queen Elizabeth on a major Nato exercise after a problem was discovered with the flagship's propeller shaft coupling during routine pre-sailing checks. The Royal Navy confirmed the issue on Sunday, delaying the Queen Elizabeth's departure for Exercise Steadfast Defender, the largest Nato exercise in Europe since the Cold War.
Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns stated: 'Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth's starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday. HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on Nato duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.'
More than 40 vessels from over 24 nations are participating in the exercise off Norway's Arctic coast in March. Before heading to the Arctic, the carrier strike group will take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland, followed by Exercise Nordic Response, the maritime component of Steadfast Defender.
This is not the first such incident for the Prince of Wales class. In August 2022, HMS Prince of Wales suffered a similar propeller shaft problem shortly after leaving Portsmouth, requiring dry dock repairs that took nine months. However, a Ministry of Defence spokesman stressed that the current issue on HMS Queen Elizabeth is 'separate and not linked' to the earlier defect.
The deployment comes amid suggestions from armed forces minister James Heappey that a British aircraft carrier could be sent to the Red Sea to replace the USS Dwight D Eisenhower amid ongoing Houthi threats.
