Navy carrier pulled late from Nato mission
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s propellor issue ‘not related’ to HMS Prince of Wales’s breakdown 18 months ago
THE departure of Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War has been cancelled at the last minute after an “issue” with a propeller shaft was spotted during final checks.
The setback comes 18 months after sister ship HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight after a similar malfunction with a coupling on the starboard propeller, which meant it could not take part in exercises with the US Navy and a delay of nine months to operational service.
The newest of Britain’s two £3 billion aircraft carriers will now be readied to take the place of the fleet flagship on the Nato exercises, which are planned to involve more than 40 vessels.
Fleet Commander Vice-adml Andrew Burns said: “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.”
HMS Prince of Wales broke down as it was heading to a diplomatic mission to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps. It came to a halt off the Isle of Wight and was brought under tow back into harbour for the problem to be identified. Inspections by divers and engineers found the ship’s 33-ton starboard propeller had malfunctioned, with the coupling holding it in place breaking. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the issue on HMS Queen Elizabeth was “separate and not linked” to the earlier defect on its sister ship.
The spokesman said: “The issue identified is with the ship’s shaft couplings. The ship’s propeller shafts are too big to be made from a single piece of metal, so each shaft is made from three sections, which are connected using shaft couplings, which bind the shaft sections together.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth had been set to lead a carrier strike group of eight ships. On board would have been F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from 617 “Dambusters” Squadron, based at RAF Marham, Norfolk, submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose, and battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton.
HMS Prince of Wales will now take over the lead of Exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place off Norway’s Arctic coast next month.
Announcing the carrier’s sailing, Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: “Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it – and that the UK continues to play a leading role in Nato.
“The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year – but that is why we have to operate up there; weather cannot put us off.”
Before heading to the Arctic, the Carrier Strike Group was due to take part in the annual Joint Warrior exercise off northern Scotland before joining Exercise Nordic Response – the maritime part of Steadfast Defender.
Having HMS Queen Elizabeth out of action could affect the ability of the Royal Navy to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea amid the continuing threat by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
James Heappey, the Armed Forces minister has suggested that this was being considered.
‘The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment in the Arctic’