The Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, has set sail from Portsmouth on a landmark eight-month deployment, leading a multinational task force across 40 countries. The £3 billion warship will demonstrate Britain’s global military reach, with operations planned in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region.
The 65,000-tonne carrier is carrying the largest air wing in its history, including 24 advanced F-35B stealth jets from the RAF’s 617 Squadron (“The Dambusters”) and 809 Naval Air Squadron (“The Immortals”). The strike group also includes British destroyer HMS Dauntless, frigate HMS Richmond, and allied warships from NATO partners.
Defence Secretary John Healey praised the deployment as proof of the UK’s world-class military capabilities, emphasizing its role in “protecting British values and sending a powerful message of deterrence.” The mission comes amid global tensions, with commanders noting flexibility to respond to emerging crises.
Over 3,000 personnel from the Royal Navy, RAF, and British Army are participating, with families gathering in Portsmouth to bid emotional farewells. The crew is expected to return by Christmas, concluding one of the Royal Navy’s most ambitious peacetime operations.
As the carrier departed, its ensign flew at half-mast in tribute to the late Pope Francis, reflecting the solemn significance of the mission. The deployment, named Operation Highmast, represents a major test of Britain’s carrier strike capabilities following years of preparation.
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