Pride of the fleet HMS Prince of Wales limped out of port today after a “minor defect” delayed its planned departure.
The £3.5 billion Royal Navy warship had been set to leave Portsmouth Naval Base yesterday but the sailing was cancelled at the last minute and pushed back 12-hours.
NavyLookout, which provides news on naval events, claimed the postponement was ordered to enable engineers to fix a “minor defect” but the exact reason has not been disclosed.
The Royal Navy declined to comment saying it was only a “minor delay” and the 65,000 tonne warship was “always flexible” with sailing times.
But the delay was the latest embarrassment for the Navy which has struggled with a series of technical problems.
HMS Prince of Wales suffered a propeller shaft problem off the Isle of Wight in August 2022 after it set sail to the United States causing it to be taken out of service for several months to undergo repairs.
Its sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, also suffered a propeller issue this year meaning it also had to undergo repairs.
Next year, HMS Prince of Wales will be taking charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group on a deployment to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. Previous trials were held during Exercise Strike Warrior in the North Sea, where the personnel and their aircraft were pushed to their limits. This included aircraft flying sorties – attacking from defensive positions – bombing tests, replenishment at sea exercises with Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels and other drills.
Earlier this year it was claimed the “cash-strapped” Navy could be forced to sell the HMS Prince of Wales over fears on defence spending, even suggesting it either be mothballed or sold off to a friendly nation at a knockdown price.
Sources said the decision could be forced upon commanders as soon as 2028 if defence finances do not improve.
A source said the “nightmare scenario” of selling a carrier to save cash had been discussed by members of the Maritime Enterprise Planning Group, which looks at future considerations and strategies.
They said: “There’s an awareness in the group that the Navy is struggling to maintain operational commitments and has to expand the fleet as rapidly as possible.”
HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth cost a combined £7 billion.
