The Royal Navy’s flagship, HMS Prince of Wales is ready for a multinational deployment to the Indo-Pacific, maintaining that the UK’s navy is still deserving of presence on the global stage.
Prince William, the UK’s Prince of Wales, has increased his formal duties due to King Charles III’s ongoing battle with cancer. That included William’s international trip to visit British soldiers in Estonia, where he even went to the border with Russia last month in a Challenger 2 main battle tank!
It may have served as a fitting portent for HMS Prince of Wales, as the Royal Navy’s current flagship is now preparing for her deployment to the Indo-Pacific. It will be the first visit of a British aircraft carrier since HMS Queen Elizabeth was sent to the Far East in 2021.
“Final preparations are underway for a multinational deployment, led by the Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific while providing an opportunity to promote British trade and industry,” the British government announced.
The carrier will depart the Royal Navy’s facilities at Portsmouth on April 22, beginning Operation Highmast. The conventionally powered flattop will “join a formation of warships, supply ships, and aircraft off the coast of Cornwall before departing for the Mediterranean, where it will conduct exercises to reinforce European security.”
It will embark a complement of up to two dozen Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation multirole stealth fighters.
The HMS Prince of Wales Prepares for the Journey to Asia
Though the Royal Navy once “ruled the waves,” its overseas deployments have recently been vastly scaled back. HMS Prince of Wales’s mission is to signal that, though the sun may have set on the British Empire, the UK maintains a presence on the global stage.
“Trade between the UK and Indo-Pacific accounted for 17% of total trade between the UK and all trading partners,” Naval News accounted.
Security partnerships support that trade, and the warship and its strike group will conduct joint exercises with allies and partners, including the United States, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. In addition to the 2,500 Royal Navy personnel and nearly 600 from the RAF, who will be deployed on the carrier, the exercises will include around 900 British Army soldiers.
However, whether some of those troops will be flown in for specific operations and how many will participate in the more extensive deployment is unclear.
“This is a unique opportunity for the UK to operate in close coordination with our partners and allies in a deployment that not only shows our commitment to security and stability but also provides an opportunity to bolster our economy and boost British trade and exports,” said British Defence Secretary John Healey.
“As one of only a handful of countries in the world able to lead a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating its formidable capability while protecting British values and sending a powerful message of deterrence to any adversary.”
The HMS Prince of Wales Accompanied by Italy and France
The seven-month maiden deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Indo-Pacific saw the carrier strike group (CSG) consist of Royal Navy destroyers, frigates, and a replenishment ship. It also included the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) and the Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805).
The UK’s senior service simply lacks the capabilities for such a deployment, and the same holds for HMS Prince of Wales, which will be supported by a dozen other nations.
The carrier will also begin the planned eight-month deployment under NATO command, participating in Exercise Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with European partners. The drills will test “the Alliance’s ability to use high-end maritime strike capabilities, including multiple aircraft carriers and amphibious strike groups.”
The HMS Prince of Whales and Other NATO Flagships in the Indo-Pacific
HMS Prince of Wales will be just the latest NATO/European aircraft carrier and flagship to travel to the Indo-Pacific, following a deployment of flattops from Italy and France.
The Italian Navy flagship ITS Cavour became the first Italian carrier to visit Japan last year during her eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment, which included joint exercises with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Meanwhile, the French Maritime Nationale flagship, the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, only completed her five-month deployment known as Mission Clemenceau 25 last month. It marked the first time the French Navy had sent an aircraft carrier to the Pacific Ocean in fifty-seven years.
The UK has pledged to increase its regional presence to promote peace and stability.
“Through deploying our Carrier Strike Group and 4,000 Service Personnel, we will stand firm with our allies against those who challenge the international order. Reminding the world that Euro Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are fundamentally indivisible,” UK Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard added.
“This isn’t just about hard power; it’s about building influence and opening new trade opportunities for defense and other sectors of our economy, which will deliver British jobs and growth.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock/ Riverheron Photos.
