The British Royal Navy has placed the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales on high alert. The vessel is to replace the flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was withdrawn from planned exercises due to a propeller shaft coupling failure. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the ship could be deployed to the Red Sea to protect trade routes from Houthi attacks and ensure freedom of navigation in the region.
Flagship failure
HMS Queen Elizabeth was withdrawn from its mission after a propeller shaft coupling fault was detected during routine checks.
HMS Prince of Wales readiness
The sister ship is preparing to take over the tasks and sail to the Middle East region.
Protecting the Red Sea
The mission aims to counter Houthi attacks on merchant ships and support the international coalition.
The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on high alert and is preparing to sail to the Red Sea. This decision was made after a serious technical fault was detected on its sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, which serves as the Royal Navy's flagship. During routine checks ahead of a planned voyage, engineers identified a problem with the right propeller shaft coupling. As a result, HMS Queen Elizabeth will not take part in the largest NATO exercises in decades, and its tasks will be taken over by HMS Prince of Wales.
The situation forced an immediate change to the British navy's operational plans. Defence Secretary „HMS Prince of Wales wyruszy, by zastąpić HMS Queen Elizabeth, zapewniając ciągłość i utrzymując brytyjskie zaangażowanie w obronę wolności żeglugi na jednej z najważniejszych światowych dróg wodnych” — Grant Shapps. Although the ship was originally scheduled to participate in the Steadfast Defender exercises, the government in London is considering its direct deployment to the Middle East. The Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are a key transport route for global trade, especially for oil and gas. Attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have led to the creation of the US-led naval coalition Operation Prosperity Guardian, which the United Kingdom has also joined.
The deployment of such a powerful vessel necessitates the formation of a full carrier strike group. It will include Type 45 destroyers, frigates, and supply ships. A key asset of the carrier is its air component. maximum number of aircraft on board The ship carries modern F-35B fighter jets and helicopters, enabling effective monitoring of air and sea space and potential retaliatory strikes on Houthi land targets in Yemen.
British Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers: Ship: HMS Queen Elizabeth → HMS Prince of Wales; Status: Technical fault → Ready to sail; Potential area of operations: Mission cancelled → Red Sea / Middle East Intensive logistical preparations are currently underway at Portsmouth harbour. The Royal Navy aims to bring HMS Prince of Wales to full operational capability as soon as possible. Carrier strike group composition: Aircraft carrier: 1, Type 45 destroyers: 2, Type 23 frigates: 2, Supply ship: 1, Submarine: 1 The British military presence in the region aims not only to protect merchant ships but also to send a clear deterrent signal to forces destabilising international security.