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
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush]()
Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush
A cluster of acquisitions by Fincantieri, Thales, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall points to a race to secure underwater warfare, autonomy and sensing capability.
-
![Baltic naval priorities shift towards mine warfare and versatile platforms]()
Baltic naval priorities shift towards mine warfare and versatile platforms
Baltic states are investing in mine warfare, uncrewed systems and multirole platforms as major warship purchases remain scarce, industry sources indicate.
-
![India’s mine countermeasure drive triggers rush of new partnerships]()
India’s mine countermeasure drive triggers rush of new partnerships
Parallel procurement pathways for crewed mine countermeasure vessels and uncrewed systems underline a shift towards next-generation mine warfare for the Indian Navy.
