The Royal Navy’s 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has set sail from Portsmouth to prepare for a NATO mission aimed at countering Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic Circle. The warship, one of the UK’s two active carriers, departed on the first leg of its journey towards the Arctic, carrying a crew of 900 personnel.
Mission Overview
The vessel will undergo combined training in British waters and make a brief stop in Scotland for ammunition before joining the NATO Arctic Sentry mission. This operation involves a strike group drawn from across the military, named Operation Firecrest, tasked with protecting undersea infrastructure. The UK will work closely with allies from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Norway for the NATO mission.
Strategic Context
The deployment follows a 30% increase in Russian naval sightings in British waters over the past two years, including spy ships lurking near vital telecommunications cables. The HMS Prince of Wales had been docked at Portsmouth Naval Base since November after completing an eight-month mission to the western Indo-Pacific. It is equipped with Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, as well as hi-tech Malloy drones.
Commanders' Comments
Commander David Mason, the flagship’s Commander, said: “HMS Prince of Wales ship’s company is looking forward to sailing, for the first time since returning from deployment in 2025, with their headquarters and air wing embarked.” Executive Warrant Officer David Wilson added: “After our time alongside the ship’s company is excited and keen to get back to sea.”
Government Statement
Announcing the UK carrier strike group in February, Defence Secretary John Healey MP stated: “I’m proud that we’re stepping up UK leadership on High North and Atlantic security. This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key allies, keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.”
Carrier Fleet Status
Britain’s other aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will soon be available for operations after finishing maintenance at Rosyth dockyard this week. The two carriers were ordered by Gordon Brown in 2008 to replace the three older Invincible-class ships. HMS Queen Elizabeth officially joined the fleet in 2017, followed by HMS Prince of Wales two years later.
