Prince of Wales sails for initial sea trials
The Royal Navy’s second aircraft carrier, Prince of Wales, has sailed from Rosyth Dockyard for initial sea trials.
The carrier will conduct extensive sea trials off the coast of North East Scotland before arriving at her home port of Portsmouth later this year, where the vessel will be commissioned into the Royal Navy.
First in class, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is currently transiting the Atlantic, including visiting Canada. The deployment, known as WESTLANT19 is an operational trial to be conducted with UK F-35Bs off the East Coast of the US.
Prince of Wales Captain Darren Houston said: ‘I am immensely proud of the professionalism and determination that my ship’s company have shown in preparing themselves and their ship for this historic day.
‘Whether through working alongside our industrial partners to support the build and commissioning of key systems or training tirelessly to operate the ship and work as a team, the crew have demonstrated unfaltering dedication and resolve in the face of a multitude of challenges.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Final US Navy Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship concludes acceptance testing
After troubled progress with the Littoral Combat Ship programme, the US Navy plans to commission USS Pierre (LCS 38) this autumn.
-
Indonesia’s PT PAL reveals details about Red White Frigates
The frigates are based on Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design but are substantially changed and include a range of Turkish weapons such as radars, sonar, guns and electronic warfare systems.
-
Japan to nationally assemble ESSM Block 2 missiles
RTX Raytheon will supply missile kits, parts and components to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for the production of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles Block 2.
-
US Coast Guard starts construction of first Waterways Commerce Cutter
By replacing capabilities that are more than 60 years old, the Inland Construction Tenders will support the building, repairing and maintaining of fixed aids to navigation.
-
France and Sweden sign defence roadmap as Naval Group positions FDI frigate for Swedish surface ship programme
A pact signed at the Paris Air Show has seen Sweden turn to the French FDI frigate to lead its next-gen surface combatant fleet amid shifting security dynamics in the Baltic Sea.
-
US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows
The US Navy (USN) is evolving into a hybrid fleet with uncrewed systems supporting crewed vessels and companies working to provide new solutions. In the case of Ocean Aero, its Triton uncrewed surface vessel can also be used underwater.