HMS Prince of Wales, one of the UK’s two aircraft carriers, has travelled to Scotland to be “bombed up” at a time of spiking tension between Israel and Hezbollah.
And a UK-based naval expert has said it was possible the 65,000-tonne warship would be deployed to the Middle East – while admitting such a suggestion was nothing more than speculation as things stand.
The aircraft carrier left Portsmouth this week for Glenmallan in Scotland for what was described by the UK Defence Journal as a “routine logistics visit”. Sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth recently visited Glenmallan’s Northern Ammunition Jetty, meaning it is likely Prince of Wales has travelled for the same purpose, enabling it to be deployed operationally.
Mr Ballantyne, the editor of Warships International Fleet Review, told Express.co.uk: “After an intense period of activity with NATO at the beginning of 2024, during which she embarked F-35B strike jets and also helicopters, HMS Prince of Wales as the lead British carrier is now preparing for another hectic time.
“One reason for this is getting ready to spearhead a United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) deployment to the other side of the world next year, with up to 24 UK jets embarked, the most either of the Royal Navy’s carriers has yet operated at any one time.
“Invariably whenever jets are about to be embarked, the carriers visit the ammunitioning facility at Glenmallan in Scotland. When a carrier is at home in Portsmouth, and even on general running off the south coast of England, working up ship’s systems, jets plus their bombs and missiles, do not need to be aboard.
“The F-35Bs, which are jointly operated by the Royal Navy and RAF, have their home at the RAF Marham base in Norfolk so that is where they fly from when not embarked in a carrier. Now jets and their weaponry are about to return to sea.”
Mr Ballantyne continued: “CSG21 deployed in May 2021, and so, perhaps aside from working up her jets for potential combat operations – during CSG21 the F-35Bs flew from Queen Elizabeth to attack terrorist targets in Syria and Libya as the ship passed through the Mediterranean – HMS Prince of Wales will carry out training strikes on ranges.
“Or perhaps the UK Govt is taking the sensible contingency of having the Prince of Wales combat ready to deploy on an earlier mission? This might be to support an evacuation of UK nationals from Lebanon if a full-scale war erupts between Hezbollah and Israel. Or perhaps to stand ready to combat the Houthis to protect merchant shipping from missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea? That could see F-35Bs from the Prince of Wales shooting down those missiles and drones or attacking targets ashore to try and stop them being launched.
“But that is pure speculation, and until the Government confirms such a mission, Prince of Wales will carry on preparing for next year’s global deployment, when she will be escorted by UK and allied nation warships and may even have US Marine Corps F-35Bs embarked. The ship is capable of operating up to 36 of them alongside helicopters. In 2021 HMS Queen Elizabeth had 18 F-35Bs embarked – a mix of British and US Marine Corps aircraft.”
The jetty has been extensively upgraded, with a Mod press release earlier this year stating: “We awarded a £67m contract to VolkerStevin in 2019. Alongside them, we worked with managing agent Jacobs, which provided engineering and professional services, as well as designer Arch Henderson.
“The upgrade work has not only extended the life of the jetty by an estimated fifty years but has also made the site accessible for the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.”
Express.co.uk understands the decision to send HMS Prince of Wales to Glenmallan was a routine one unrelated to recent events – although the Royal Navy may opt to deploy the ship anywhere in the world in the future.
The government has called for British nationals in Lebanon to leave now as it bolsters its support for British nationals still in the Middle East.
The UK continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon and advises British nationals still in the country to leave now while commercial options remain available. British nationals in Lebanon are also advised to sign up to Register their presence to receive the latest information and important updates directly from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly. While we are working round the clock to strengthen our consular presence in Lebanon, my message to British nationals there is clear – leave now.
“A widening of this conflict is in nobody’s interest – the consequences could be catastrophic. That’s why we continue to call for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.”