HMS Prince of Wales has led a carrier task group of British, French and Norwegian warships in close formation during Exercise Neptune Strike 26-4, as the UK Carrier Strike Group operates under NATO command, according to the Ministry of Defence.
A stunning image captured on 3 November by photographer AS1 Liam Ramsden shows the carrier at the centre of the formation, flanked by HMS St Albans and a French frigate on one side and the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen and HMS Dauntless on the other, with HNoMS Maud behind. The ministry describes Neptune Strike 26 as “a multi-domain commitment to collective defence and deterrence”.
The carrier left Portsmouth on 18 October for the second phase of Operation Firecrest, accompanied by Dauntless and carrying an air group of F-35 jets, Merlin Mk4 and Mk2 helicopters, Wildcat helicopters and Malloy drones. More than 1,200 British personnel are deployed as part of the group, working with allies including Norway, Denmark and Germany, and the Royal Navy said as she sailed that she would host the Atlantic Future Forum and the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo, I’ll be reporting from those very soon.
Louise Sandher-Jones, Minister for the Armed Forces, said at the time: “The deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales and her air wing to the High North and the North Atlantic, operating under NATO leadership, is a clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to the Alliance and contribution to the enduring security and stability of the North Atlantic.”
Commodore Richard Hewitt, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, said: “I am delighted to return to the Arctic and North Atlantic as we build on the successes of the first phase of Op Firecrest.
“Led by the UK Flagship HMS Prince of Wales, the Strike Group will bring together a range of assets and capabilities, while taking every opportunity to train, operate and integrate with our NATO Allies and Partners.”
Days after sailing, F-35Bs from the carrier escorted a US Air Force B-52 alongside Norwegian F-35As over the High North during Exercise Global Thunder, US Strategic Command’s annual nuclear command and control exercise. Her jets have since conducted a live land strike alongside the Norwegian Army, while a Wildcat from Dauntless carried out a maritime strike with Norwegian forces. Britain’s other carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has been training with RAF Chinook heavy lift helicopters off Gibraltar.
The first phase of Firecrest ended when Prince of Wales returned to Portsmouth in July. During it, the group flew NATO’s Air Policing mission over Iceland and the Arctic, and led the first Neptune Strike iteration to extend into the High North and North Atlantic, with F-35Bs of 809 Naval Air Squadron flying sorties as far as Poland.
Good to see more than 1 RN ship in a task group. The only thing that could make it better would be an SSN. Hopefully, we get 1 or 2 at sea and operational next year.