HMS Prince of Wales has left Portsmouth to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group in a critical autumn training programme.
This includes participation in Exercise Strike Warrior, a major multinational exercise in the North Sea off the Scottish coast.
For the first time, F-35B Lightning jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron will deploy on a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier, marking a milestone for the squadron, which formed at RAF Marham last year. The deployment will see the jets carry out day and night operations as part of a multinational task force of warships, working alongside partner nations.
The exercise will allow pilots to achieve their carrier qualifications, while engineers and technicians will learn to maintain and support the UK’s most advanced fighter jets in the challenging conditions aboard a warship at sea. Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron will also participate, further developing their air-to-air capability by using Martlet missiles to defend the ship.
HMS Prince of Wales has undergone extensive preparations over the summer, including Operational Sea Training, where it was ensured the carrier is ready to handle emergencies such as fires and floods. After completing Exercise Strike Warrior, the ship will enter a final support period in Portsmouth before its global deployment next year.
The Carrier Strike Group staff and aircraft will disembark following the exercise, with HMS Prince of Wales continuing its winter programme before preparing for the 2025 deployment.
The Queen Elizabeth class carriers are the most powerful warships ever built for the Royal Navy, displacing approximately 65,000 tonnes and measuring 280 metres in length. The carriers are capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft, including the advanced F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters and a variety of helicopters.
Commissioned in December 2017, HMS Queen Elizabeth has already undertaken significant operational duties, including a global deployment in 2021. HMS Prince of Wales, commissioned in 2019, has also deployed operationally to the United States as well as around Europe and the Arctic.
I assume mainly foreign support vessels and on defence…….we look light
Carrier Strike Group? How many F35’s? Wildcats? Crows Nest deployed? Any Merlins?.Do WE have any escorts involved?
It’s an exercise in the North Sea Geoff. Not a 6 month deployment.
It’s can’t be a carrier strike group unless it’s bobbing around Singapore with 50 jets onboard and a fleet of frigates guarding the empire.
What’s possible threat to NATO could their be in the high north that might require a large number of anti submarine helicopters and only a smaller number of fixed wing jets 😀
Don’t forget to line up all those jets on the deck.
I loved your understatement, perfectly timed delivery too. 😂
It was quite good wasn’t it?😉
True, but hopefully RN is both focused on and preparing for contingencies during CSG-25 ops in restrictive littoral areas (e.g., transit of Red Sea, etc.) 🤞 The maritime threat situation has markedly deteriorated since CSG-21. 🤔
😏
Merely asking questions. Two F35’s? Twenty? Are we practising squadron size sorties? Is Crows Nest integrated? Are the Merlins clear to operate after their grounding? Do we have our escorts involved? Don’t read too much in to it Robert.🙂
Merlins have been grounded due to recent incident – hopefully they’ll be ready soon for the main exercise and certainly for next year since they’re crucial.
Otherwise it should be a decent number of F35Bs – elements from both squadrons.
This is primarily a workup for CSG25 so bear that in mind.
I 🐻all in mind as best I can. I just like to know what is going on.
O/T but some sort of relation to this. It’s nice to see that the Dutch have taken up a similar idea that the US Navy has been looking at. Granted, the US Navy has focused on these smaller hulls to be used as ghost fleets, but the Dutch using smaller hulls to provide a flexible platform that can not only boost hull numbers but additional defensive/offensive ability for something like a CSG. I think the hull that has been conceptualised is slightly longer and is similar to the ship that is the RN testbed ‘Patrick Blackett’. We should buy smaller… Read more »
I’m sure we will find out what the CSG will consist of “escorts, air assets ect” in the next couple of days?