BRITAIN HAS PUT THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS PRINCE OF WALES ON STANDBY FOR POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST - Filenews 7/3
The United Kingdom is preparing the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales for possible deployment in the Middle East. This was announced by the British Ministry of Defense, clarifying that no decision has yet been made on his departure but has been put in a state of high readiness.
According to journalistic information, its readiness time has been halved. In practice, this means that once it receives an action order, it will take five days to raise anchors. Its crews have also been alerted to possible immediate mobilization.
As the ministry's spokesman said in a statement, since January, Britain has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East. Among other things, it has sent 400 additional people to Cyprus and Typhoon aircraft, F-35 aircraft to the wider region, while it has also installed air defense systems. "HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high alert. We are now increasing the readiness of the aircraft carrier, reducing the time it takes to sail," said the British Ministry of Defense spokesman.
The Prince of Wales is one of Europe's most modern warships. According to the British Ministry of Defense, along with its sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, they are the main pillar of the United Kingdom's naval power for large-scale operations. It has a displacement of about 65,000 tons and a length of 280 meters. It carries F-35 aircraft and is accompanied by a number of other boats and a submarine. It is stationed at the naval base of Portsmouth in the south of England.
