HMS Prince of Wales headed deep inside the Arctic Circle for a rare visit to the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen as part of efforts by the UK to underline its commitment to security in the high north.

The Royal Navy say here that HMS Prince of Wales and her escort frigate HMS Richmond sailed to the frozen unpopulated outcrop – about 340 miles north of Iceland and roughly 280 miles east of Greenland – as the aircraft carrier goes through intensive exercises in operating in the harsh cold weather of the Arctic.

“Seven sailors landed on Jan Mayen to meet the Norwegian personnel stationed there, in the shadow of the glacier-covered volcano Beerenberg and surrounded by dramatic views, to forge closer bonds between Norway and the UK.Β The aircraft carrier arrived at Jan Mayen – named after Dutch seafarer and explorer Jan Jacobszoon May van Schellinkhout –  Β in the Arctic Ocean soon after a visit to Iceland and the largest military exercises in the Arctic since the Cold War alongside NATO allies and partners.

During the exercises in Norway, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, visited HMS Prince of Wales to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to security in the Arctic and announce regular Royal Navy and Royal Marines deployments to the high north.”Β 

HMS Prince of Wales recently completed a four-day visit to Reykjavik.

British aircraft carrier and frigate arrive in Iceland

“Being the first fifth generation aircraft carrier to visit Iceland has been a proud moment for our ship’s company as we continue our operations, alongside NATO Allies and JEF partners in the Arctic,” said Capt Higham.

The ship will continue north for further cold weather tests in the coming days before returning to the UK.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Watcherzero
Watcherzero
1 year ago

BAE is switching the yard that will perform PIP conversion on HMS Dragon from Cammell Laird to Portsmouth to accelerate the program.

BAE Systems brings HMS Dragon PIP conversion to Portsmouth (janes.com)

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
1 year ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Anything that speeds up the programme is welcome. These are key vessels. Need them active and available.

johan
johan
1 year ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

They have been ramping up Heavy Engineering works down south in an attempt to move work around the country.

Michael
Michael
1 year ago

If memory serves, the USN only maintain 8 full carrier wings for their 11 fleet carriers and 10 multi role assault ship/ light carriers

if all 11 large carriers went to war at once, they would do so with reduced air wings, although the Pentagon’s calculation was likely that not more than 8 would be disposable at any given time

grizzler
grizzler
1 year ago
Reply to  Michael

Only 8 …I don’t know why they even bother…

Klonkie
Klonkie
1 year ago
Reply to  Michael

Hi Michael, I imagine they can top up those numbers with Marine F18 units.

Ian M
Ian M
1 year ago

Please Jay, change the record. It’s been explained numerous times why there are currently no F35’s available, why the POW deployed on this C&C exercise with helicopters only and why the buy rate of F35’s is what it is.

OkamsRazor
OkamsRazor
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Change the record, it makes you sound less than intelligent, when others have explained, at length, the reasoning for each of these β€œissues”.

David Howard
David Howard
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Typhoons from Lossiemouth; aircraft assigned to the Iceland air policing mission (coverage isn’t all year but wouldn’t be surprised if some land-based fighters were there as part of Cold Warrior); CAMM onboard HMS Richmond and the fact it is likely to be a Bear rather than a Backfire.

No man is an island and in the 21st century, no ship or any other asset is alone. They are all part of an integrated system. A bigger whole.

Plus, we are not actually at war with Russia.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Yep. πŸ‘

Benjamin Rule
Benjamin Rule
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

NATO Article 5?

Martin
Martin
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

HMS defender

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

They came from RAF Marham, not the PoW carrier.

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Jesus man, it doesn’t work like that. It isn’t a Tom Clancy novel.

Deep32
Deep32
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Damm, that’s where we’re all going wrong then mate!!πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ€£πŸ‘

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
1 year ago
Reply to  Deep32

🀣 some of these guys need to lay off playing Call of Duty πŸ˜„

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

CoD = Cash on Delivery?

Jonathan
Jonathan
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Come on fess up I bet you’ve read red storm rising at some point ?

Airborne
Airborne
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

He probably doesn’t read hence his issues understanding the subject matter!

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Say it to an MP then, or demonstrate outside Downing Street. Ranting on a website isn’t going to change anything. Carrier’s deploy on exercises without lots of aircraft sometimes. The French do the same, so do the Italian’s and the Spanish. The Americans have a vastly larger defence budget. And American carrier’s can’t just pop over to Norway for a quick exercise when they are deploying from Virginia. And we are getting more F35s. 48 are on order, more to come after that. Loyal Wingman in the works for strike, AEW, and possibly A2A refueling. It takes time, it costs… Read more Β»

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

True. PoW was not on a carrier strike operation or training evolution (the clue was that there was only 1 escort with her, rather than 7 or 8), so did not need strike aircraft.

Our carriers have many roles/tasks, unlike US carriers, and they do not always need a full air wing of F-35s embarked.

When I was in the army, we deployed on operations or training with what we needed, and left stuff behind that was not. A Warrior battalion would not have served in NI with their full fleet of Warriors!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

Bravo Robert.

Andrew
Andrew
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

What if the sun doesn’t’ take come up Jay? Very easy to come up with what if scenario’s…

grizzler
grizzler
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew

well thats unlikely to happen ..very unlikely , very very unlikely …very very very unlikely …and so on and so forth.

Jonathan
Jonathan
1 year ago
Reply to  grizzler

Never say never…

Jonathan
Jonathan
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew

I would not worry Andrew, if the sun did not come up we would all be dead within a year, the last few may hang on for a bit of time after that in a futile wait for death…some things just are not worth the stress.

James
James
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Copy and paste as usual, yawn.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

What is stopping a Backfire bomber hitting the carrier in the high North today or next week? We are not at war with Russia so that won’t happen. However surely Norway as a NATO ally would provide air cover from land bases if WW3 started as quickly as you think it might. However I agree that as a Tier 1 nation we should probably have more than 23 aircraft in service – I wonder how many other non-US nations have received? Are we being treated unfairly? I agree we have too many capability gaps – it was ever thus. There… Read more Β»

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Wolf,
PoW was not on a Carrier Strike operation or training evolution so why would it embark strike aircraft – and it is the reason it had no more than one escort.
Our carriers have roles and tasks other than Carrier Strike. We did not need F-35s on the carrier for the job it was doing.

I do agree we should not have any gaps in capability but the reality is that the international, US-led F-35B programme lags behind our national carrier programme. Nothing we can do about that.

johan
johan
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

OK before moaning about only having 23 aircraft, you are aware they are only 13 Active F35 pilots in the UK service. UK has never over purchased, and the QE Class is a 50 years scheme. BUT IS THE ONLY 5TH GEN CARRIER @ SEA, and the UK HAS 2, name one other. Ford Class is in for re-fit and still cannot launch its 5th gen fighters. IF is a big word, and Russia cannot destroy anything that can fire back,

johan
johan
1 year ago
Reply to  Ian M

Ok ignore cost for one little minute, NAO report into Fast Jet Pilot training was very damming on the training program. 1/ The new Aircraft for the flight school were delayed. 2/ Civilian Training was used for Multi Engine training 3/ F35s training was taking 2.5 years to complete. 4/ Tonka step over only produced one F35 Pilot. 5/ Pandemic stopped all pilot training for 18 months. 6/ Hawk T1s are 4 decades from a F35s so while we have 23 serviceable aircraft the UK has only 13 F35s pilots. due to the above. UK Now trains 10s of fast… Read more Β»

ExcalibursTemplar
ExcalibursTemplar
1 year ago

Cool as fuck, that picture is spot on.

Ian M
Ian M
1 year ago

ο»ΏπŸ‘ο»Ώ

Jonathan
Jonathan
1 year ago

Cold, you meant cold.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago

Talking of Arctic, still waiting for MoD to release their strategy paper on the subject.

DMJ
DMJ
1 year ago

Wasn’t it published on 29th March 2022?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  DMJ

If it was I missed it!

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago

Does the U.K. have a card to play in the artic? Thought it was only Norway, Canada, USA, Denmark and Russia that would have a claim.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

RM have always trained to operate in the high North. It has come recently to me the news that RN does this too – their old Cold War area was Eastern Atlantic (including GRIUK gap, now seemingly called GIUK gap) and English Channel approaches.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

I meant Norway. Much of Norway’s land mass is arctic and the RM have deployed there for decades.

Martin
Martin
1 year ago

Yes they tried operating a CVN as helicopter platform in IO on the 2000’s was a disaster.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

The USN? Do you have a few more details? Why would they do that when they have amphibious assault shipping that can take helos, like USS America-class.

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
1 year ago

Yes. And so do all other nations that operate aircraft carriers.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago

Jay, you sound critical of PoW deploying without F-35s? [I am sure it had some helicopters on it]. BTW, in the army we went on exercise without live rounds, live mines, live GMLRS etc. Our carriers have multiple roles, the lead one being Carrier Strike. The other roles/tasks include: C2, FON, Show of Force, HADR, amphibious ops support. PoW was neither doing Carrier Strike nor training for Carrier Strike, so needed no F35s – in fact they haven’t all been built yet, don’t you know? If I were a Russian I would pick up that the British could easily operate… Read more Β»

Last edited 1 year ago by Graham Moore
Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Well said πŸ‘

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Spot on.

Esteban
Esteban
1 year ago

That is a great photo!

OOA
OOA
1 year ago

Trouble is it’s all about signaling – remember the reaction of Argentina when Endurance was pulled out? Or more recently our turning a blind eye to Crimea.. A carrier with no planes isn’t a good look – and people do look. It’s true that we’re all a bit tired of saying / hearing it on here – but that doesn’t make it any less painful. The fiscal situation ain’t the best – totally get that – but can’t help but think that an investment now would pay significant dividends. Trouble is that the price is easy to tot up but… Read more Β»

James
James
1 year ago
Reply to  OOA

It does however prove to those looking that both carriers can be manned and operated at the same time, which numerous doom monger on here and other places said we didnt even have the crew to manage that.

So yes those looking are taking notice in various ways.

AV
AV
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Exactly πŸ‘πŸ˜ƒ

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Maybe that was part of the point of the deployment?

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago

Yep, and to demonstrate our ability and political intent to send a carrier and escort (and read into that a CSG in future) to the High North.

Crabfat
Crabfat
1 year ago
Reply to  OOA

Going sideways a bit on this – the QE recently did a mamoth deployment with F35s, choppers, other national vessels etc. Didn’t she visit 40 countries or thereabouts. from UK to the Pacific? THAT was showing the flag, all round the world. What still annoys me is that the CSG hardly got more than 10 minutes, total, on the BBC (a few minutes when the Queen went aboard). I emailed one of the BBC’s well known defence correspondents to ask why this was and he said someone (independent) was making a documentary about the deployment and it would be broadcast… Read more Β»

Deep32
Deep32
1 year ago
Reply to  Crabfat

The QE did sail with a journalist/film maker on board, to cover the deployment. Can’t remember what his name is, but believe that he is producing a documentary about it. Absolutely no idea when it’s due out though. So, no help really!!

Esteban
Esteban
1 year ago
Reply to  Crabfat

The entire UK contribution other than the fabulous worship. Was absolutely defective. Couldn’t Even come close to filling the worship with fast jets. And one might want to look at the helicopter inventory for the Royal Navy and their weapons. And let’s just stop with the tape 45 problems… If there’s an actual real war going on anywhere like there is now… There is no way in God’s green earth that the UK is going to be able to deploy these ships with a functional air group or anything resembling a self-defense capability for themselves without massive contributions from their… Read more Β»

simon alexander
simon alexander
1 year ago
Reply to  Esteban

do we need to deploy a UK only carrier fleet, who are we going to attack on our own. we had a world tour last year, willing nations came alongside it was a success in international cooperation probably china got a message.
i can see that countries operating F35B at sea will likely work closer together in the future.
the french have gone for electric catapults , they will have to develop a 5 th gen carrier fighter, a lot to achieve and only one carrier.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago

I can only think of a re-run of the Falklands conflict as an operation requiring a British only carrier fleet.
We have operated STOVL carriers for over 40 years in peace and war successfully – why change a formula that works.

Posse Comitatus
Posse Comitatus
1 year ago
Reply to  Esteban

Get yourself a dictionary. With your grammar and spelling, you’re in no position to lecture anyone about anything being ‘absolutely defective. ‘

Ian M
Ian M
1 year ago

fabulous worship”……cracked me up!ο»ΏπŸ˜‚ο»Ώ

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Esteban

The carrier was not on acarrier strike operation or training evolution so need no F-35s. You equip for the task you have – standard military principle. What is the Navy’s helicopter issue? Type 45s are getting a well-planned technical fix.Complex equipments sometimes need modifications to improve reliability and/or capability – this is happening. HMS Queen Elizabeth deployed a functional Air Group last year and travelled halfway around the world. Many Carrier groups are suppoerted by allied contributions – we had just 2 non-British escorts on that 6-month deployment. Even the Americans have had non-American escorts in their carrier groups –… Read more Β»

Airborne
Airborne
1 year ago
Reply to  Esteban

Are you ok? You get very frothy and excited with your anti Brit posts? Calm yourself down son and maybe do some subject matter research prior to stomping on the key board with your equally angry fingers!

Airborne
Airborne
1 year ago
Reply to  Esteban

What’s a β€œworship” and a β€œtape 45” I have to say your English is certainly not the best……

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago
Reply to  OOA

I don’t think anyone should by more F35 until Lockheed get there fat finger out their bum and get block 4 sorted. Maybe then they would put max resources into it or offer a free upgrade deal. As it stands Lockheed will probably put a huge price on an aircraft needing block 4 upgrade. It either has to be paid or ur stuck with the old tech aircraft. If the U.K. takes more pre block 4 aircraft with non raf weapons integrated then most likely more amraam will need to be bought as well as any other weapons the U.K.… Read more Β»

grizzler
grizzler
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

I suppose thats what happens when you are reliant on one aircraft.

Deep32
Deep32
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

It is a given that the price per airframe will increase when Blk 4 aircraft are built anyway. What is going to hurt even more is when the cost over runs (currently about $2 billion and counting)are factored into the unit costs. Not sure how the cost of upgrading older units will work, might well be on some form of sliding scale as the latest aircraft version is Blk 3F I believe? Blk 4 brings a whole range of new weapons able to be used, unfortunately other than Meteor and Spear, the rest are US weapons which we will need… Read more Β»

RobW
RobW
1 year ago
Reply to  Deep32

Block IV for us is all about Meteor and Spear 3, and that’s all they need apart from perhaps an Ashm. The F35B probably won’t get one but brings Spear 3 to the party with the escorts carrying the future cruise and hypersonic missiles, and subs with Spearfish. That’s a potent combination.

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago

Yes, the aircraft only join the carrier after it has departed and they are needed. For Haiti earthquake a few years ago a big deck carrier served with just helicopters.
The wasp class have often deployed without the harriers if more helicopters were needed for that mission.
We are not at war so will not come under attack.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

Jay,
We have successfully operated STOVL carriers since the early 80s in peace and war – and so have many other nations. We do not have to be a slave to US philosophy and to feel we have to only buy their equipment (what do you mean by that anyway, in this context – to have bought F-35C instead of the B model or to buy US made carriers?? – or do you mean we should buy US AFVs, naval escorts etc??

johan
johan
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

ok i will ask you a simple question

Ford Class over a QE Class, which is more of a success.

considering budget and operation, Currently.

and then ask if we had of had CATOBAR carriers in the Falklands.

UK has no need for a Strike carrier, but a Swiss army pen knife of a carrier.

Frank62
Frank62
1 year ago

Russias cruiser Moskva is reported hit by “rockets” in the Black sea & badly damaged according to BBC Ukraine live feed.

Simon
Simon
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank62

Sky are saying the same

Frank62
Frank62
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank62

BBC say crew taken off but fire spread to magazines.

Frank62
Frank62
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank62

Wiki says Odessas govenor said she was hit by 2 Ukrainian Neptune AShMs.

Last edited 1 year ago by Frank62
Ian M
Ian M
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank62

Has the library gone up?ο»ΏπŸ˜‚ο»Ώ

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago

I just read that the home office latest plan will be to send asylum seekers to Rwanda while they are processed! At a cost of over Β£2,000,000 each! Β£1.4billion a year based on current numbers and that’s before they have even started it. I’d expect it to triple at a minimum. Offer the asylum seeker half it to go somewhere. Why they can’t get the decision done quickly is beyond me. Over a year it takes. It won’t deter anyone just increase suffering. Rwanda isn’t known for its human rights and understanding. Israel had a deal with Rwanda for this… Read more Β»

Last edited 1 year ago by Monkey spanker
grizzler
grizzler
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

Simply disgraceful.

David Steeper
David Steeper
1 year ago
Reply to  grizzler

If it was true.

grizzler
grizzler
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

is it not then….

David Steeper
David Steeper
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

The Ukrainians would not be young adult men trying to cross illegally having paid thousands to people smugglers. They would be women and children fleeing a war and applying legally. If 1 Ukrainian ends up in Rwanda i’ll eat my hat.

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago

Looks like Ukraine have severely damaged the Russian Black Sea flagship cruiser Moskva with a Neptune missile. Crew have abandoned ship after ammo exploded.

RobW
RobW
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

The Ruskies are saying that the cause of the fire is being investigated 🀣

Well that missile hitting it may have something to do with it. Fingers crossed Ukraine has a few more.

Cymbeline
Cymbeline
1 year ago
Reply to  RobW

Its suggested their military ordered 6 x batteries, but might have only 1 battery up and running with the other 5 due in service over the next 2 years. Hope they can rush out a few more units. On the upside this could have the same effect on the Russian Navy as the Belgrano did on the Argentine Navy.

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago
Reply to  Cymbeline

It’s a big hit for Russia. I was thinking about how antiship missiles would have a hard time hitting Russian ships with the defensive missiles and CIWS systems on board. Then I read thatπŸ˜‚

RobW
RobW
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

It really makes you wonder how good any of their kit really is or perhaps they just didn’t have CIWS switched on. Quite a statement though taking out the Black Sea Fleet flagship.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

Seen the video on twitter. The Moskva was close inshore amongst lots of cargo ships. So great targetting by Ukranian military. The size of the fire was massive and on deck. Making me think the ship is a total loss. Likely with very high casualties.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
1 year ago
Reply to  Monkey spanker

Ammo explosion. Thatll be the huge numbers of weapons the Russian navy covers their decks with. Those massive heavy anti ship missiles Moskva carried were a clear danger of 2nd explosions. Seeing the video on twitter this morning thats what looks like happened. Hit forward and midship by 2 Neptune missiles then huge secondary explosions from deck mounted ?unarmoured cannisters for Vulture heavy anti ship missiles.

James Edward Benedict
James Edward Benedict
1 year ago

That’s a great effort for the UK.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
1 year ago

Very grainy image on twitter of Moskva on fire. The fire is gigantic. Cant see the ship surviving that. I think the fact Russian warships have weapons proliferating all over any available deckspace means they are a 2nd explosion hazard. I think the Moskvas own Vulcan heavy ant ship missiles have probably blown up.
Total write off if not actually sunk. Good job Ukraine. More of the same needed.

Quentin D63
Quentin D63
1 year ago

In the news now. The Moskva warship seems to have been hit and severly damaged and hopefully sunk. Sweet revenge for those Ukrainian’s who lost their lives on Snake Island. Strength to Ukraine πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦, its forces, its people and President!

The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
The Artist Formerly Known As Los Pollos Chicken
1 year ago

discrimination is what it is ……/

Lisa West (Comment Moderator)
Lisa West (Comment Moderator)
1 year ago

Hi, this will have been the reason why your account was restricted… It can take a while to approve/remove all of the pending comments.

David smile
David smile
1 year ago

Why do i get the impression you are the sort of chap we may witness at a B&Q customer services, bemoaning the yard broom you bought yesterday didn’t come with instructions