Britain’s biggest warship en route to NATO’s steadfast defender in Norway

The HMS Prince of Wales departing from Portsmouth.

Britain’s biggest warship, the HMS Prince of Wales, has set sail to Norway for NATO’s new resolve called Steadfast defender. 

The ship was readied in just seven days to which Commodore James Blackmore says that he “cannot emphasise how much hard work has been required over the last week to put us in the position we are now”. 

The Steadfast defender resolution by NATO is designed to demonstrate “collective security and deterrence at the head of this multinational strike group.” 

The HMS Prince of Wales will form part of a 40 vessel allied fleet which will take place in Norway’s Arctic coast from the end of February and the start of March.

Preparations for this journey included £400,000 worth of food, 70,000 sailors day rations and 30,000 toilet rolls being brought abroad. 

The HMS Prince of Wales has been deployed due to a fault in the propeller shaft coupling of her sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. 

Retired Rear Admiral, Chris Parry says that the warships were getting a “reputation for not being reliable”

Captain Will Blackett, the Commanding Officer of the HMS Prince of Wales says “I am immensely proud of how my ship’s company and their families have responded to this short-notice tasking.” 

See below my favourite facts about the HMS Prince of Wales.