Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has sailed from Portsmouth to prepare for deployment to the High North and North Atlantic under Operation Firecrest.
The RN flagship will shortly lead a carrier strike group (CSG) on a range of exercises and missions which will include activity under NATO’s Arctic Sentry initiative to boost maritime security in the region.
The warship sailed from Portsmouth on Friday and as per an RN statement, over the coming days she will be conducting training off the U.K. coastline ahead of taking on ammunition in Scotland ready for her extended operations.
She will embark Malloy drones and Merlin and Wildcat helicopters ahead of her mission, having already taken on loading food, spare parts and supporting equipment in port.
Second-in-command, Commander David Mason commented: “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.”
Last year a CSG led by HMS Prince of Wales carried out Operation Highmast, an eight-month mission to the Indo-Pacific, which involved activities with over 30 nations, including particiaption in Exercise Neptune Strike under NATO command in the Mediterranean.
It took in exercises and port visits in India and the Indian Ocean, with partners including the U.S., India, Singapore, and Malaysia, and linking up with 19 partner nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre in and around Australia. The CSG also visited Japan, and trained alongside the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force.
Announcing the forthcoming Operation Firecrest in February, Defence Secretary John Healey commented: “This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key allies.”
At the time it was announced that the CSG flotilla would sail alongside U.S. vessels, with American jets expected to operate from the flight deck of the British carrier, which will also conduct a port visit on America’s east coast.
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website