HMS Prince of Wales has arrived in Stavanger, Norway, following the completion of Exercise Tamber Shield, the carrier announced via social media.
The port call marks a pause in what has been an active deployment to Nordic waters for the carrier strike group, which departed Scotland earlier this month. The group, which includes Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and tanker RFA Tidespring, is operating under the staff of Commander UK Carrier Strike Group and is expected to continue into the High North for further NATO tasking including Dynamic Mongoose, the alliance’s primary anti-submarine warfare exercise in Northern Europe.
The UK’s Flagship, HMS Prince of Wales has arrived in Stavanger following Exercise TAMBER SHIELD. Working with partners and allies, she remains ready to continue operations in the North Atlantic and High North. @RoyalNavy pic.twitter.com/lw7lF2ekco
— HMS Prince of Wales (@HMSPWLS) May 14, 2026
Exercise Tamber Shield, conducted in the fjords near Bergen, focused on defending high-value assets against swarm attacks from small, fast-manoeuvrable threats in confined waters. The drills involved Wildcat helicopters of 815 Naval Air Squadron, P2000 patrol boats, and Norwegian missile craft operating alongside the carrier group.
The exercise is designed to replicate the kind of threat environment that a carrier strike group could face in the confined and contested waters of the Norwegian fjords, where geography limits manoeuvre and places a premium on layered close-in defence. Developing the tactics, techniques, and procedures to defeat coordinated small-boat and aerial swarm attacks in such terrain is a growing priority for NATO navies, informed in part by the proliferation of cheap uncrewed platforms observed in recent conflicts.
HMS Prince of Wales is the second of the Royal Navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, displacing around 65,000 tonnes and stretching 280 metres in length. The ship can embark up to 36 F-35B Lightning II aircraft alongside a complement of Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.
The carrier is propelled by two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines and four diesel generators feeding an integrated electric propulsion system, giving a top speed of 25 knots. With a ship’s company of around 700 and the ability to accommodate a total complement of up to 1,600 including an embarked air group and staff, the Queen Elizabeth class represents the largest warships ever operated by the Royal Navy.
Stavanger has historical significance for the Royal Navy, having served as a base for allied operations during the Second World War and remaining one of Norway’s principal naval ports.
