Two carriers are better than one
HMS Prince of Wales setting sail for Westlant 22. (Photo: UK MoD/ Crown Copyright)
While the recent problems with HMS Prince of Wales are regrettable, the incident has vindicated the UK’s decision to purchase two aircraft carriers.
The UK RN has confirmed that shaft damage to HMS Prince of Wales will likely see the ship need to be dry-docked for repairs, with its sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth set to sail for the US to take on aspects of a planned operations programme.
While the RN does not routinely comment on the status of ships, in a video released on social media on 2 September, RAdm Steve Moorhouse said divers had confirmed significant damage to Prince of Wales’s shaft, propeller and some superficial damage to the rudder.
Moorhouse added: ‘Our initial assessment has shown that a coupling
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