HMS Prince of Wales met up with the USS Mount Whitney on the way to Exercise Cold Response.
The ship tweeted the following.
On our way to #ColdResponse22 we took the opportunity to meet up with the @USSMountWhitney task group.
Proud to host them on board for a quick visit before we went our separate ways. #FeelGoodFriday#IServe @USNavy #WeareNato pic.twitter.com/r7AYBOkHIi
— HMS Prince of Wales (@HMSPWLS) March 11, 2022
HMS Prince of Wales is sailing to take part in a NATO exercise in the Arctic with frigate HMS Richmond, destroyer HMS Defender, a tanker and an Astute-class nuclear submarine.
The Royal Navy say here in a news release that around 35,000 troops from 28 nations are expected to be involved in Cold Response, which will show how a unified multilateral force would defend Norway and Europe’s northern flank from a modern adversary. Roughly 900 Royal Marines will spearhead the UK involvement from HMS Albion which is already in the region, the Royal Navy add.
“Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will deploy to the exercise, with frigate HMS Richmond, Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker and a nuclear-powered attack submarine escorting her. UK Merlin and Wildcat helicopters will patrol the skies, supporting commando operations and hunting submarines alongside a wide range of aircraft from across NATO, including F-35 fighter jets and attack helicopters.”
Brigadier Rich Cantrill, in charge of the UK’s commando forces, was quoted as saying:
“The UK is making a strong contribution to one of the largest Cold Response exercises for years. NATO as an alliance needs to be ready for anything, ready for all environments. It’s essential for us to support Norwegian partners and that’s why we train in the Arctic so often. Cold Response is an amazing opportunity for key NATO allies and partners to come together in the most challenging environment of the High North, prepare for any eventuality and learn to work together. What we’ll see is a strong maritime task force and then land exercises. We will see many nations come together from the UK to Norway, the USA, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy.”
The exercise will run from March 10 to April 10. You can read more on this from the Royal Navy here.
They are also supposed to meeting up with the USS Roosevelt and her support group at some point. Which is also taking part in the exercise.
I think I read that the Roosevelt Group is now staying in the Adriatic due to the situation in Ukraine and the Italians are sending a light carrier up north as a partial replacement.
I know the Cavour has recently been qualified for F35B landings and take-offs. But I don’t believe Italy have enough F35Bs to make up a Squadron yet? So if she does support the exercise, they’ll be using Harriers. Would be a good photo op to see a Harrier or two operating from the Prince’s deck (even though its Italian!).
There are also USMC Harriers in Norway for the exercise, so all in all plenty of opportunities for a photo op
(2) NATO JFC Norfolk on Twitter: “🇳🇴 Exercise #ColdResponse22 preparations are almost complete. Alliance Nations have the capability and capacity to reinforce our defences on #NATO’s eastern flank, whilst simultaneously maintaining readiness by continuing the busy exercise schedule. #WeAreNATO #ArcticReady https://t.co/LALWlL2a79” / Twitter
I believe they’re sending Giuseppe Garibaldi not Cavour anyway.
Think I am correct in saying that Hawker Sidley had to fund the development of the fantastic Harrier, less interest from MoD and later the Yanks got interested in progressing it further.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-35A-Seminar-the-RAF-Harrier-Story.pdf
A fascinating read on the Harrier and lift jets. Can’t say I’ve read it all at 130+ pages. Lots of contributions from people who worked on the jet
Italy has 12 F-35Bs.Don’t forget that Italy has its own production facility that supports Italy and the Netherlands. Italy plans to buy 30 F-35Bs, so far, to be split evenly between the Italian Air Force and Navy.
Cheers. That would be enough for a decent sized deployment. I knew they had a couple.
If they send 8 F35B on either of their carriers that would be close to a full load out, with helps as they are quite small carriers and the F35B is not a small aircraft – compare the footprint to the Harrier. Anyway what is important is that another NATO ally has a functional carrier(s) with aircraft. Which is a lot more than the Russian have. Native European we have 3 proper carriers QEC x 2 + CdG + 2 Italian pocket carriers + Juan Carlos* – not bad at all. Plus of course the welcome visitors from USN +… Read more »
Pretty sure Juan Carlos Primero (don’t forget the I) isn’t F-35 qualified, Spain doesn’t seem in a hurry to adopt the F-35. But even a Harrier is better than the *checks notes* nothing the Russian Navy have.
Yes, I agree.
Hence my comment that I didn’t think JC was qualified?
As you say Harrier is better than the Russian carrier continent of zero active carriers and therefore zero carrier planes!!
In a real life situation the Harriers could be tasked with being a local deterrent presence. I’m not sure what stores the Spanish or Italian ones actually carry?
But the more the merrier and it is a thumping strong task force to have on show ATM.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear, I was just trying to back up what you where saying, not diagreeing.
I’m not sure what GG carries, even in Italian I’ve seen minimal references to it’s combat load, but my suspicion would be mostly Air-to-Air missiles for CAP.
No worries.
Nice to hear from you.
Even some sidewinders would give Ivan indigestion……
Yeah, sorry, I’ve been lurking XD
hey Dern
Are you well? Good to have you back on the site
All well, I’ve not really been gone, just lurking tbh.
👌
The Hms prince of Wales is a small carrier 🤔
I was referring to the Italian locker carrier. Which is still more useful than the Russian carrier!
shame Italy arent buying more. Wallace has said that how many f35Bs we buy could be dependent on how much the unit cost goes down, and numbers bought effect that.
Italian F-35 are still being employed for training, i believe a couple are in US.
They don’t have 8 available except in emergency.
AFAIK Garibaldi is going only with Merlins, no Harriers.
There are also USMC Harriers in Norway for the exercise, so there could be plenty of potential for a photo op.
She isn’t fitted out for Harriers
What isn’t fitted out for Harriers?
POW
Doesn’t matter if the ship carries any logistics for the Harrier. So long as it has a flat deck, tie down points, fuel plus tea and bickies. The Harrier can land in the Prince’s deck. It’s no different to when USMC Huey, Sea Knight, Sea Stallion or Osprey landed on Liz’s deck.
Only the fact she is not certified for Harrier operation. nothing major, could be completed in 6 weeks. you just don’t say hear we go anymore.
I’m not so sure. The deck handlers practice on Sea Harriers. The tie down scheme will be similar to the USMC Harriers if not the same. To do the qualification you still need the aircraft on the deck.
Johan ….. if a harrier lands on POW who’s going to rush out and ask for a certificate……
Of 2 land will they need 2 certificates
Harry Truman was originally supposed to be the flagship for the exercise, PoW is taking over her role.
Harry Truman took part in the 2018 exercise (first time a US ship took part in the Cold Response) though it parked itself in the Adriatic and flew its aircraft to take part in the exercise over Europe.
Isn`t the USS Harry Truman in the Med too ?
Technically in the Aegean.
Mount Whitney is getting a bit long in the tooth now.
So’s the B52…
But Whitney has the ability to soak up Int and the B52 to send the receiving end to hell. Complaints?
Not from me.
Not complaining at all, merely remarking o the age of the Hull. A great asset to have for sure.
The Mount Whitney is currently in one of the US Navy’s multi-year Extended Life Programs to take it to 2039. It’s a $100 million program.
Daniel ….. we just sell good ships to Chile
We sell good ships to Australia
We could use 1 x Bay and 3 x Type 23
Well done Dave & George… hug a hoodie……
Now is a good time to write to your MP’s requesting that there is a real need for an additional increase in defence spending above the last one. Even in these current times, there are those in government arguing against such an increase and quoting that there was an increase during the previous round, which was really introduced to fill the existing funding gaps. The army is being reduced, too little MBT’s being upgraded, ship building at a slow pace, no Harpoon replacement until 2030 at the earliest, too many cases of “fitted for but not with”, the scrapping of… Read more »
We shall see what is in the Chancellors spring statement. Will we be surprised or fobbed off?
Good question. On a Forces Net, there is a good interview with Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General, Rusi on the subject “Will UK defence spending rise as a result of Ukraine conflict?”. His opinion was it was too early to tell if there will be an increase. He added the longer the conflict, the better probability of the increase. Whatever the outcome, defence cuts has gone on for too long and too deep with all of Nato being lulled in to a false sense of security.
My thoughts exactly, HM Government hedging its bets. Not enough pressure is being applied as far as I can see but I do know MOD are in discussions with the treasury. As always it will be a case of this is what we need and the treasury will say this is what you will get. In the longterm the MOD and procurement need to clean house once and for all and get thier priorities correct.
You pretty much summed up all of the areas that now need attention John, maybe a further boost to cyber security also. One decision that I reluctantly agreed to at the time but now needs over-turning is the decision on ISSGW. If we look at the number of outdated items of military hardware Russia is fielding in the Ukraine the need to have the most up-to-date systems isn’t a must right now but an over-the-horizon anti-ship system is. OK, NATO isn’t at war right now but just think how long it would take to spec-out, find the budget, order, build,… Read more »
I don’t believe it will calm down even when Kyiv is taken. Probably not even if the rest of the land east of the Dneiper is “pacified”, along with taking the whole Black Sea coast, making Ukraine a land locked country. As I doubt Ukraine will just roll over, as they are too pi**ed off with Russia for that to happen! More likely a Government will be set up initially in Lviv, which is about 350 miles away from Kyiv. Giving Ukraine time and space to keep on fighting. If the Russian army does encircle Kyiv, Ukraine really must find… Read more »
Yes lets all spend money the country doesnt have, like the last 70 years based on a whim. drawing your pension are we,
Knowing nothing of matters nautical but stand off weapons for the RN and FAA/RAF must be coming at the top of any shopping list.
…and I would add to that that the army/Army Air Corps need some sort of low-cost-missile carrying drone system for tactical air support as well as the big drones already looking at the wider theatre-level. Please can we not buy US or Turkish drones, but have a rolling program that nourishes the development of a UK drone industry for this. I think we are going to need it sooner rather than later…
I always had the view that the reason the west could field less numbers was the equipment was always to be better. This cannot be lost in this day and age.
Sweden or Finland ought to invite this NATO force to do a few days worth of exercises on their territory. Let’s see how the Russians like that.
So what are the other allied ships apart from the RN ones? Role, nationality & designations?
What matters is electronics that are there.
Good to see NATO,Unite at this time, nothing could have put any differences aside like a threat such as RF, Thank you for your service #NATOBROTHERHOOD
I spent a short time on her (alongside) when she was the US 6th Fleets command platform . She ran from Gaeta in Italy at the time which was around about an hour up the Autostrade from where I was based. As I was working in NCSA Naples the chance for a visit was to good top pass up. Fantastic command platform with state of the art electronics and systems …However the propulsion is a steam turbine and at the time (early to mid 2000s) the AirCon systems where struggling to keep up with the wild heat from the electronics.… Read more »
My word the Americans, seem tòo be getting their monies worth with the MT Whitney, in 1983 we carried out the same exercise in the Fjords around Tromso , and entertained their crew with a few tinnies