HMS Prince of Wales to leave Portsmouth on 22nd April to lead Carrier Strike Group deployment

The MoD officially confirmed today that the long-planned deployment to the Indo-Pacific will begin in two weeks with the departure of the flagship.

The carrier will spearhead operation HIGH MAST, involving around 4,000 UK personnel. (2,500 Royal Navy sailors and marines, together with 592 RAF personnel will be joined by around 900 soldiers from the Army for various exercises). The group will meet up off the coast of Cornwall and embark aircraft before departing for the Mediterranean to participate in the large-scale NATO maritime vigilance exercise Neptune Strike 25-1, which is already underway in the Mediterranean.

In terms of naval assets, the group will comprise of the carrier, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond an Astute-class submarine and RFA Tidespring. It has been confirmed that the Candian frigate, HMCS Ville de Quebec and the Spanish frigate, ESPS Mendez Nunez will also join for most of the deployment. The previously announced Norwegian participants HNoMS Roald Amundsen and HNoMS Maud will be in support for the whole duration. There will likely be an intense shakedown period in the Mediterranean to integrate the non-RN vessels into the group and familiarise themselves with the CSG operating procedures.

ESPS Mendez Nunez (Phot: US Navy).

It does not appear a US warship will be attached to the group, at least for the majority of the deployment, although this may be subject to change, given the current unpredictability of US foreign policy.  The Nunez and Aumundsen have versions of AEGIS and can complement HMS Dauntless in the air defence role, but without a US destroyer, Anti-Ballistic Missile capability is limited. The MoD says “up to” 24 F-35Bs will be embarked on the carrier

The group will pass through the Suez Canal and Red Sea before continuing east through the Indian Ocean for a series of multinational exercises with the US, India, Singapore and Malaysia. There has been no official comment about whether the group will participate in ongoing US-led operations against the Houthis in Yemen.

In July, the group will join 19 partner nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre off Australia. Subsequent visits to Japan and India are also planned.

HMCS Ville de Quebec (Photo: US Navy).
Main image: HMS Prince of Wales leaves Portsmouth, August 2022 (Photo: Andy Amor)