Technical Issue Detected on UK Aircraft Carrier in Norway
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reported a technical issue on the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, while it was docked in Norway. The warship had recently participated in operations alongside NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), according to a government spokesperson.
Earlier this month, HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain's two flagship aircraft carriers constructed at a cost of £6.4 billion, departed from Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, heading to Nordic waters. Its mission was to provide security in the Atlantic and High North regions.
The MoD described the issue as a "minor technical issue" identified during the vessel's latest port visit in Stavanger, a city in south-western Norway. The ministry stated that the ship is expected to resume sailing in the coming days.
"HMS Prince of Wales is currently conducting a port visit to Stavanger as part of the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment across the North Atlantic and Arctic, we expect her to set sail in the coming days," an MoD spokesperson said.
Deployment and Capabilities
HMS Prince of Wales, which is generally based in Portsmouth, was accompanied by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) tanker Tidespring during its transit to Nordic waters. The aircraft carrier has the capacity to carry up to 72 aircraft and accommodate approximately 1,600 personnel. Throughout the deployment, it operated in conjunction with NATO forces and the 10-nation coalition JEF.
The ship had been placed on a higher readiness status, enabling quicker deployment if required, including potential mobilization to the Middle East. An MoD spokesperson previously noted that HMS Prince of Wales could also undertake other planned missions.
Maintenance and Previous Issues
HMS Prince of Wales is one of two flagship aircraft carriers in the Royal Navy, alongside HMS Queen Elizabeth. The latter was recently taken out of service after pre-sailing checks revealed a coupling problem on its starboard propeller shaft. The maintenance and repair costs for these vessels have already amounted to significant expenditure.
HMS Prince of Wales has experienced mechanical issues in the past. In August 2022, the ship broke down shortly after departing for the United States due to a broken propeller shaft that had been misaligned during installation. Additionally, the vessel was flooded twice during its first year of service following its commissioning in 2019.
Broader Military Context
In March, the UK's military capabilities were scrutinized after the British warship HMS Dragon was deployed to the Persian Gulf, home to two UK military bases, as a defensive measure following joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
A recurring concern among military officials is the reluctance of government ministers from both Labour and Conservative parties to recognize a "capability gap". This gap refers to the discrepancy between the UK's self-positioning as a global power and the reality of stretched global military capabilities.
At the end of the Cold War, the UK maintained 51 destroyers and frigates, during a period when defence spending was 3.2% of GDP. Currently, the UK spends 2.4% of its GDP on defence, reflecting a reduction in resources available for military operations.
