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Probable HMS Prince of Wales drive failure [Aktualizacja]

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British carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09), which set sail yesterday afternoon from HMNB Portsmouth home base, probably suffered a power train failure. The first reports by the UK Defense Journal say about a failure of one of the two propeller shafts. Importantly, the start of the cruise had to be delayed for one day anyway due to undisclosed technical problems.

The ship is currently at anchor off the Isle of Wight, just twenty-five kilometers from Portsmouth. The UKDJ informs that divers were sent for inspection, who reported visible damage to the shaft. No details are available yet, and it is not known whether it will be necessary to return to the port for repairs. We will update the article as soon as there is new information.

HMS Prince of Wales has embarked on a four-month voyage to North America as part of the Westlant 22 mission. It is expected to call at New York, Halifax, Canada, and at least one port in the Caribbean. The main goal of the expedition, however, is not courtesy visits, but a three-month cycle of exercises with the Americans to improve the use of F-35B combat aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. The Royal Navy emphasized in press releases that it will be a mission that will define the way the Royal Navy’s aviation will function in the future.

“By taking the Prince of Wales task force to the other side of the Atlantic for the rest of the year, it will not only test the limits of British aircraft carriers, but also strengthen our close bond with our closest ally,” said the ship’s commander, Commander Richard Hewitt. – From lightning and drone flight operations to hosting the Atlantic Future Forum [28–29 września w Nowym Jorku]none of this would have been possible without the efforts of the wonderful sailors. For many of them, this is the first operational assignment in the Royal Navy.

The Prince of Wales was fully operational last fall following the international “Joint Warrior” / “Dynamic Mariner” exercise off the coast of Scotland. During them, tests of QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+ flying targets launched into the air from a launcher installed on the aircraft carrier were carried out. They were to be an introduction to the larger-scale integration of UAVs and UCAVs with British aircraft carriers.

Two months ago, the carrier returned to Portsmouth from Spain, where it trained with the local Navy, including the multi-role landing ship Juan Carlos I, in the Atlantic. In January this year, the Prince of Wales became the flagship of the NATO Maritime High Readiness Force.

Let us remind you that this is not the first problem of the “Prince” with the propulsion system. In October 2020, the left engine room of the aircraft carrier was flooded as a result of a failure of the main fire mains. Thousands of liters of water escaping from the pipeline flooded the compartment along with the electrical equipment. The devices were under water for over 24 hours, and this check required several kilometers of electrical cables. The last repairs were completed eight months later.

Update (18.40): The Royal Navy press service confirmed that the Prince of Wales has a technical problem that is currently under investigation, but that the carrier’s participation in the Westlant 22 mission is not to be jeopardized. Navy Lookout, on the other hand, noticed a photo of the ship taken during its departure from Portsmouth (below). It is clearly visible that only one – left – screw is working.

See also: New types, new opportunities – Taigei and Mogami began their service in Kaijō Jieitai

LPhot Bill Spurr / UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022

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