HMS Prince of Wales departs from Portsmouth on major deployment

The flagship of the Royal Navy, the Prince of Wales, will leave one of his greatest deployments so far.

The £ 3 billion carrier extends later from Portsmouth and will participate in exercises that demonstrate the capacity of the United Kingdom to operate fast airplanes in the sea and carry out large -scale military operations on the other side of the world.

Until 24 of the last F-35B stealth aircraft, they will join the carrier, since it leads to a multinational war fleet to 40 countries around the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Southeast of Asia, Japan and Australia.

The 65,000 tons war ship, which can have up to 1,600 military personnel, will be deployed for eight months.

The HMS Prince of Wales will be part of the Transportist Attack Group (CSG), which includes the Portsmouth HMS Dauntless, Plymouth Fiat HMS Richmond destroyer, as well as Norway War Ships, Canada and other NATO members.

On board will be the 617 squad of the RAF, also known as Dambusters, and 809 Naval Air Squadron of the Immortals.

The officer’s commander Capt Will Black said: “We have been practicing, practicing and practicing.

“What we will do, once we sail and obtain the island of Wight, is to embark on the largest air wing that has embarked on this ship.

“That is a complicated business.”

In addition to the combat aircraft there are 16 Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, and several T-150 Malloy and Puma drones.

With global events of rapid movement and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Comodoro James Blackmore, commander of the strike group, said there was always the possibility that the program could change.

“Agility allows me at any time to undertake other operations if asked,” he explained.

The mission is called Operation Highmast.

The sailor James South, from Brighton, said he was excited and learned.

“It is the first very long deployment away from home to me, so I’m curious to see what that brings,” he said.

The plant capable of Molly, of Cornwall, said: “I think it is most people who have tasks in a deployment.

“It’s a bit tight, but everyone has a bed that is good.”

In total, 2,500 personnel from the Royal Navy, almost 600 of the RAF, and around 900 of the British army will participate in the exercises.

Everyone should be at home in time for Christmas.