HMS Prince of Wales departs for Arctic NATO mission

The HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s largest warship, has departed Portsmouth Naval Base to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group on a deployment to the Arctic and North Atlantic. This mission marks the second phase of Operation Firecrest, a NATO operation focused on enhancing operational readiness, training, and interoperability among allies.

The aircraft carrier is accompanied by the Type-45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and carries an air group that includes F-35 stealth fighter jets, Merlin Mk4 Commando and Mk2 anti-submarine helicopters, Wildcat helicopters, and Malloy drones. More than 1,200 British personnel are involved in the deployment.

The mission aims to strengthen the northern flank of NATO through close cooperation with allies, including Norway, Denmark, and Germany. The Royal Navy described the deployment as a “powerful shield for the nation,” intended to secure critical energy, trade, and communication links in the region.