Home waters protected as HMS Prince of Wales completes first phase of Steadfast Defender – 12th March 2024 at 2:05pm

The Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, has completed Exercise Joint Warrior, which was one part of Steadfast Defender, Nato’s biggest exercise since the Cold War.

Joint Warrior, the UK-led part of the exercise, involved the simulation of surface, air and land scenarios to evaluate the collaborative capabilities of Nato nations and allied partners when responding to hostilities in home waters.

Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was joined by more than 30 ships, four submarines, multiple aircraft from maritime patrol aircraft to F-35 Lightning jets and more than 20,000 personnel from nations including Canada, Denmark, France and Spain.

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 “Through careful planning, effective orchestrating and detailed evaluation we are able to ensure that the alliance’s most powerful naval assets are consistently challenged against realistic and credible threat scenarios,” said Commodore Andrew Ingham, Commander Fleet Operational Standards and Training.

“Their work supporting the largest Nato exercise in 50 years is absolutely crucial to ensuring that we are prepared for the challenges and threats of the modern era.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth had initially been scheduled to lead the exercise, but she had to withdraw due to an issue with her propeller shaft, leading HMS Prince of Wales to step in.

Despite being given a 30-day notice, HMS Prince of Wales got ready for deployment in just a week.

Before deployment, HMS Prince of Wales was in the early stages of a maintenance period when the decision was made to sail her.

“Scaffolding that took six weeks to erect was taken down in six days, engines that had been readied for planned overhaul were rapidly rebuilt, and many of the ship’s company altered personal plans including leave and holidays,” Admiral Sir Ben Key said in a post on X.

“The entire process was completed in seven days and will ensure we continue to meet our Nato commitments. A phenomenal effort by all,” he added.

The Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed in Norway, continuing its participation in the subsequent phase of Exercise Steadfast Defender.