RECAP: Large crowds gather as city bids farewell to HMS Prince of Wales as she heads to Indo-Pacific mission
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HMS Prince of Wales has departed from HMNB Portsmouth and is heading towards the Indo-Pacific, with well-wishers, friends and family members packing Old Portsmouth to give her a great send off. She will be taking charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) - a large military formation of warships, aircraft and assets from British allies.
The £3 billion aircraft carrier will lead the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) made up of UK, Norwegian and Canadian warships for the eight-month deployment to join exercises, operations and visits with 40 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia.
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Hide AdBanners and flags were waved by members of the public from the walls and beach of Portsmouth harbour with sailors aboard the 65,000-tonne warship waving back to cheers from the crowds as they passed.
Also sailing from the Hampshire naval base this afternoon (Tuesday) was the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless with crowds also gathering for her send-off.
They will then be joined by two Norwegian vessels – tanker HNoMS Maud and frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen – as well as the UK and Canadian frigates HMS Richmond and HMCS Ville de Quebec, which are sailing from Plymouth.
The support vessel Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidespring will make up the final ship in the CSG which will involve other ships and nations during the deployment called Operation Highmast.
See below for more details of the deployment and pictures and video from the scene, see our blog below.
Portsmouth bids farewell to HMS Prince of Wales
Key Events
- Operation Highmast will consist of a series of exercises and operations with air, sea and land across the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia
- Large crowds gathered to wave her off
- HMS Prince of Wales is currently the Royal Navy flagship
- HMS Dauntless also due to leave the city today
People at the Hot Walls wait for HMS Dauntless
Crowds gather for HMS Dauntless departure
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HMS Dauntless also sue to leave this afternoon
The Type 45 destroyer, which is joining HMS Prince of Wales on the deployment, is due to leave at 3pm.
Armed forced minister
Minister for the armed forces, Luke Pollard MP, said: “The deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group not only projects UK military power, but it’s also a platform for our exports, for our businesses, for promoting UK jobs and growth, as well as our influence.
“And by having an international-by-design task group with our Norwegian, Canadian and Spanish friends alongside us for this initial phase of the deployment, we’re working with our allies showing strength by coming together in these more uncertain times.”
Defence secretary
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “I want to thank the thousands of our armed forces personnel involved in the delivery of this immensely complex operation, demonstrating the UK’s world-leading capability to deploy a major military force around the world.
“This is a unique opportunity for the UK to operate in close co-ordination with our partners and allies in a deployment that not only shows our commitment to security and stability, but also provides an opportunity to bolster our own economy and boost British trade and exports.
“As one of only a handful of countries in the world able to lead a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating its formidable capability while protecting British values and sending a powerful message of deterrence to any adversary.”
And there she goes
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The waiting goes on....
She is expected to be seen sailing past The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth at roughly 1.50pm.
Family support
Lillian and Jason Jones from Nuneaton waiting to see daughter Chloe Jones (25)
The view from Gosport
Picture by Karen Freeman
MPs join crowds to say farewell
Luke Pollard (MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport) and Amanda Martin (MP for Portsmouth North) waiting for HMS Prince of Wales to leave Portsmouth
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