Navy’s £3bn aircraft carrier breaks down

HMS Prince of Wales encounters latest problem less than 24 hours after triumphant send-off

‘HMS Prince of Wales remains in the South Coast Exercise Area while conducting investigations into an emerging mechanical issue’

THE Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has broken down less than 24 hours after setting sail for a “landmark mission” to the United States.

The £3billion warship remained anchored off the south east of the Isle of Wight last night after it encountered an “emerging mechanical issue”.

The 900ft vessel, which only became fully operational last year, received a triumphant send-off on Saturday as she set sail from Portsmouth.

But the warship is now at anchor after suffering a technical fault – the latest setback for the vessel which has spent just 87 days of her first two years of service at sea.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “HMS Prince of Wales remains in the South Coast Exercise Area while conducting investigations into an emerging mechanical issue.”

Divers have been inspecting the 65,000-tonne carrier below the waterline after damage was reported to the starboard propeller shaft, according to the Navy Lookout news site.

It was unclear last night whether the Prince of Wales would be forced to return to port to correct the issue. The delayed voyage comes after the ship was stranded in Portsmouth in December 2020 when water poured into its engine room and damaged the electrics.

The vessel, which has a crew of 1,600, was banned from setting sail until an estimated £3.3million repairs were made. She is due to deploy to North America for four months on what the Navy describes as “a landmark mission to shape the future of stealth jet and drone operations off the coast of North America and in the Caribbean”.

The vessel is expected to visit New York, Halifax in Canada, and the Caribbean, as part of exercises alongside US allies “operating F-35B jets and uncrewed systems which will define Royal Navy aviation of the future”.

Speaking ahead of the voyage, Commanding officer Captain Richard Hewitt said: “Taking the HMS Prince of Wales task group across the Atlantic for the rest of this year will not only push the boundaries of UK carrier operations, but will reinforce our close working relationship with our closest Ally.

“From operating the F35 Lightnings and drones to hosting the Atlantic Future Forum, none of this would be possible without the efforts of the amaz- ing sailors on board, many of which are on their first deployment with the Royal Navy.”

The Prince of Wales had received a colourful send-off as it passed thousands of music-lovers at the Victorious music festival on Southsea Common in Portsmouth on Saturday.

The Prince of Wales is one of two aircraft carriers, alongside her sister vessel, HMS Queen Elizabeth, at the Navy’s disposal. The Queen Elizabeth was commissioned in 2017 and the Prince of Wales in 2019.

In June, the Prince of Wales returned from exercises in its role as the Nato command ship in the Gulf of Cadiz.

The aircraft carrier operated alongside Spanish flagship Juan Carlos I and led a 20-strong fleet from six nations.

The head of the Spanish Marine Corps, Major General Rafael Roldán Tudela, came aboard HMS Prince of Wales during Flotex to see first-hand Britain’s newest aircraft carrier.

The General was given a tour and the ship’s company showed skills worked on during Nato operations this year, including a deployment to the Arctic.