HMS Prince of Wales sails on exercise Steadfast Defender

[@NoName-ds5uq]

I got out of the RAN quite a while ago. Fair winds to all our Pommy comrades! I had a drink or twenty with a few Jacks from HMS Ark Royal in Sydney back in 1988…

[@Fester_]

That is a lovely looking chunk of steel. Stay safe and for heavens sake enjoy yourselves.

[@Live18912]

Super impressive the RN got this out to sea. The jets will land soon enough. The one thing that keeps amazing me, is the (lack of) self-defence. I know PoW normally has 3 Phalanx, but compared to other carriers (let's say Italian) it really lacks in the space. It kinda makes up for it with a (potentially) massive fleet of F35's of course...

[@davidrobertsemail]

There will never be enough planes for two carriers.

[@peterdavis7579]

Just pray the Russkies don't start anything while she is in northern waters

[@dbyers3897]

She will never be alone at sea. A modern task force's self-defense capabilities are enormous. The carriers bring a fixed-wing air complement combined with the various defense systems on the escorts to provide a long range screen. Rotor-wing aircraft can provide a medium range screen against certain adversaries such as subs & speedboats. All escort's, plus the dozen various gun systems aboard the QE-class carriers, provide close-in defense. The CIWS is the least likely system which would ever be employed. We hope.

[@dbyers3897]

@@davidrobertsemail Never is a long time, even in the UK.

[@davidrobertsemail]

@@dbyers3897you are right. Even if they don’t cut the already cut order of f35s they will never have enough planes for two carriers.

[@j.m.youngquist419]

I would really love to see that ship.

[@gembayo6222]

Be safe everyone ❤ our boys on ship xxx

[@Aeronaut1975]

Cracking job in getting the scaffolding down and getting her out of port at such short notice! great job by everyone involved!

[@NOWThatsRichy]

Just hope they get a bit further than the Isle Of Wight this time!! At least it was a nice sunny day, been a bit dull if it was delayed until today.

[@1chish]

Why make such an arse of a comment? She has been across the Atlantic twice since her refit ages ago. Change the CD ffs ....

[@Regan-d2t]

@@1chish i agree with you. what a stupid comment.he made.

[@spudgun4286]

@@Regan-d2tperfectly reasonable comment given the horrendous track record of both of these ships. Spanner bags and then some!

[@ds1868]

​@@1chishyou keep on saying the same thing. Face up to the facts if you can. That is one of the defining differences between a mature adult and an adolescent.

[@1chish]

@@spudgun4286 What "horrendous track record" is that? One failure to complete a tasking in the combined 10 years of their service lives? Sailed the Atlantic a combined 10 times, one has been round the world and many major NATO exercises completed. QE could have sailed it the situation had deemed it necessary as the FSL confirmed last weekend. She had not 'broken down' as so many of you people keep saying but PoW was prepped is sharp order and sent instead. Its why we have two carriers.

[@Drum2]

Beautiful ship

[@chrislye8912]

Good luck PoW and her company!

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

The QE class carriers will one day be something to be proud of but at the moment they are a joke due to unreliability. Must be very frustrating for the Admiralty. We also need more F35’s to be able to fill both ships with our own aircraft. Instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on foreign aid we should be spending on our own defence. I think a good idea would be to purchase a couple of smaller multi purpose carriers like the French Mistrals which would spread the load somewhat and they could step in in cases of breakdown or refits to fill our capability gap. At about £1 billion each they would offer good value.

[@1chish]

"I think a good idea would be to purchase a couple of smaller multi purpose carriers like the French Mistrals" Says the expert who wrote: "Instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on foreign aid we should be spending on our own defence" Oh the irony ...... 😏 yes I agree we need more F-35s but go shout at Biden. Its HIS Government that decides who gets what slots in the LRIP at LM. We have paid for 48 and got just 32. But even so that keeps 3 in California testing weapons, 2 Squadrons of 12 each and the rest for OCU needs. These ships are not a 'joke' at all except in the minds of nuggets like you who look for any excuse (true or false) to try and look clever. . They are totally reliable as a two carrier asset. QE could and would have sailed if the situation was urgent or an emergency. Who says so? The First Sea Lord that's who. But as we have two carriers the other one was deployed. Very sensible and normal Navy tactics. And you cannot see that spending money abroad is a total loss to the economy whereas building here keeps that taxpayer re-circulating. Another example of your ignorance.

[@Then.72]

Because of our government being the problem with the carriers they are also the problem with the lack of aircraft because they sold off the Harrier to the USA and never made a new STOVL aircraft so we now rely on the USA ! STOVL was another British carrier invention

[@tombrydson781]

Fair winds

[@roadrunner2930]

Any other ships from the Royal Navy joining her on this exercise?

[@common_2]

The carrier itself will need destroyer escorts. I am also guessing RFA ships as well for food and fuel

[@bad_dog4648]

There will be HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the RFA in the strike group, alongside American, Danish, and Spanish ships.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

No, reliant on foreign vessels that belong to the very people the UK govt and 1/3rd of the population of England have been deriding for years.

[@justonecornetto80]

@@VanderlyndenJengold Not reliant. This is a NATO exercise. Perhaps your country should send a ship to the Gulf instead of relying on the UK and US to defend your trade route through the Suez canal.

[@sunset7860]

​@@VanderlyndenJengoldGood to know that the Welsh will be there too.

[@cliveengel5744]

Such a big Carrier for 15 F-35s, the US Marine Assualt Ships are smaller and carry more Planes and with the V-22 Ospreys as Marine Transports. The UKHMS cannot take on Grumman Hawk-Eye Awacs or Grumman Greyhounds for respupply, parts, and Manpower replacement.

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

Our London establishment Civil Service vermin's myopic reluctance to buy enough F35s to equip the QE class carriers with the balanced full airwings of c60 platforms (incl over 40 x F35s) that each could operate, is no reflection on the capabilities of the ships themselves.

[@PaulTerrance-n1o]

🎉🎉🎉 god speed safe seas 🎉

[@snuffle2269]

Good...plenty of tugs. "Don't leave home without them"

[@stephencrowther524]

Strange how the press were all over it when it had problems and barely a peep when it hasn’t !

[@ioanbota9397]

They are powerful

[@sharjeelkhan7437]

Navy is the best.

[@bernardmcmahon351]

It would be nice if our new expensive ships all worked properly

[@peasantpingu6776]

1st of a kind bound to be problems

[@Benjd0]

Just how it is with these things, they're not like cars which you can build multiple prototypes of. They're both the prototype and final products. Look at France and the issues they had with their carrier, or even the US with their latest one.

[@bernardmcmahon351]

@@Benjd0 I know I was being slightly sarcastic but I hope they can be sorted out and then be in service for a long time

[@1chish]

They do all work properly. Change the CD ....

[@1chish]

@@Emergency_system_reboot What part of 'It did not break down' are not quite understanding? QE did NOT 'break down'. They found something and chose to send PoW. The First Sea Lord actually made a deliberate statement that weekend to stop the false stories in the media that if it had been urgent or an emergency QE WOULD have sailed. But it wasn't so they made a choice. Why do you people keep on peddling this nonsense. Read more and write less mate ...

[@monsieurfoupierre]

The stealth of those F35s is incredible

[@admiralmallard7500]

They're in port. They don't land F35s till they leave

[@madsam0320]

@@admiralmallard7500 Why?

[@kino6395]

genuinely made me laugh

[@Benjd0]

​@@madsam0320It'll likely be for safety reasons, better off landing them aboard while out at sea rather than in a built up area in a city.

[@admiralmallard7500]

@@madsam0320 Safer than landing next to the city

[@randlerobbertson8792]

I have reservations about these carriers and their obvious shortcomings, even so - God bless them and all who sail in them.

[@Arrogantorchid]

that's why two aircraft carriers should be built

[@perekman3570]

So, where will it go? Baltic Sea or north Atlantic? Maybe that's still classified.

[@AA-xo9uw]

North for Joint Warrior from 2-24/3-1 prior to Nordic Response but it still needs to visit Glen Mallan in order to fill the magazines.

[@jamjardj1974]

Let’s hope this one manages not to break down again.

[@musa7010]

This super carrier instills fear in the heats of enemies Fear of oil spill 😢

[@andrewhayes7055]

I wonder how far it will get?

[@luciussander8217]

Further than you, that's for sure.

[@raybenstead2548]

Rofl love it@@luciussander8217

[@patlelion]

I am French I saw those HMS aircraft for years now, but I never saw any planes? I saw trucks but never planes 😅

[@madsam0320]

Maybe we should build a third one, just in case..

[@typhoon2827]

No make-up rule on PoW then?

[@1SteveSmith]

The "pride" of the British Navy and it has struggled to get out of harbour........Our enemies must be terrified! We are a laughing stock.

[@1chish]

How did it "struggle to get out of harbour" exactly? It went straight out. The only laughing stock are the nuggets like you writing this sort of shite ...

[@neilsbs8273]

How did it struggle?

[@1SteveSmith]

You're obviously not aware of the last minute struggle that it has taken to even get this thing moving out of dock. Just google it. @@neilsbs8273

[@Emergency_system_reboot]

Ah yes more chinese propoganda

[@FranzWagnerAlmeidaMachado]

Welcome to Brazil?

[@SuperWayneyb]

With Russia currently posturing was it really a good idea to have our 2 most valuable ships in the same place at the same time folks?

[@admiralmallard7500]

Yes, it's called a naval base

[@SuperWayneyb]

@@admiralmallard7500 So was Pearl Harbour

[@billpugh58]

@@SuperWayneyb Pay more taxes if you want more bases.

[@SuperWayneyb]

@@billpugh58 Or maybe just not have all the eggs in the basket at the same time. We only have 2 and having them so close together just seems a risk 👍

[@admiralmallard7500]

@@SuperWayneyb We don't have another naval base that can support the carriers, like the other comment said. Need more funding if you wanted that.

[@johnholt890]

Lucky we have two and shows need for both for repairs, refit and problems. French really suffer from only having one impacting on their capability.

[@FullPlaythroughs]

Meanwhile theirs is a nuclear powered aircraft carrier with catapult system, I would rather have just one if it meant having those kind of upgrades

[@halimtalafuka9946]

. 0:16

[@richardtodd6559]

lol it was ready for sea last 2 times when it broke down…it’s another U.K. “turkey” sa80 was 1st now the navy ships are 2nd

[@johnmackintosh8113]

A white elephant good for show only needs the American navy to protect it

[@andrewpease3688]

Ready for sea,no where near ready to fight

[@andrewpease3688]

@Britishempirewillneverdiewhere are you getting your information from?

[@musa7010]

Shulda named Prince of Vales 😂

[@SergioLuizCardosodeSouzaJunior]

Compro o porta avião para a marinha do Brasil Rio de Janeiro Brasil

[@charliedrake247]

Don’t worry it be back for repair’s very soon

[@FunnyDodoBird-be5ob]

Great ship but hope she has some deep sea tugs with her while they iron things out being kind of new and that good look everyone and fair seas ❤

[@stevegregory2545]

Great for exercises but 3 billion of a big target in war

[@jimmyrichardson67]

All that for 3 helicopters!!!

[@bytesback.]

You know the planes arrive when at sea ?

[@1chish]

@@bytesback. Clearly the Soft Lad doesn't. But felt like publishing his ignorance.... 🤣

[@MatthewLane-ww4lr]

Bet they’re worried when the tugs leave them, hope they have oars😂

[@Sir.Les.Patterson]

Lets proceed quietly and without fanfare and hope its big end doesn't fall off again............................................

[@ken-u3n]

I hope they all get their pronouns right before the enemy appears on the horizon. Must be careful not to "offend" anyone. 😂

[@Mors_Inimicis]

Fast forward a few years and the MoD policy of relaxing security checks on new recruits takes effect 😅

[@alexverdigris9939]

🥱

[@raybenstead2548]

I can't believe some of the ignorant comments by some subscribers. I'm ex RAF and know that we have the best navy in the world bar non.

[@AA-xo9uw]

The "best navy in the world bar non" should have been able to sortie RFA Fort Victoria which it couldn't.

[@raybenstead2548]

Considering that RFA ships are manned by civilians apart from the weaponry I consider it 1-0 to me. Anyway pointless to argue.@@AA-xo9uw

[@Whaaaaa-r3z]

😢😢😢

[@johngraves1558]

No Merlin's in sight , no Lightnings in sight and where are the three Vulcan Phalanx .

[@luciussander8217]

They join once at sea, why do think they do that? Come one, think... yep,

[@Jon962-h4i]

Someone found 50p for the meter then?

[@1harperaj]

Is it April 1st?

[@philchristmas4071]

🇺🇸🤝🇬🇧

[@luigifantinicoach]

Thank goodness guys. I had been afraid in recent days that she too needed to replace that type of rubber seal and that we were without an aircraft carrier. After that we made Trump angry.

[@raybenstead2548]

Trump ? What the heck has he got to do with the RN ?

[@1SteveSmith]

I hope that those tugs stay close at hand for the duration of the exercise....my gut feeling tells me that they are going to be needed before too long.

[@1chish]

Well don't trust your gut feelings then dude. They are misleading your two brain cells. Both carriers work as they should. PoW has been across the Atlantic twice and QE has been across 6 times PLUS a trip round the world. So a decision was made to use PoW rather than QE? So what? The FSL confirmed QE could have sailed but becasue we have two we can switch assets about. Change this rather boring and stupid CD ....

[@wowmanhaha]

Sorry, you're tugging what, close to your gut?

[@1SteveSmith]

Brill comment 10/10. Gay & funny at the same time..well done!@@wowmanhaha

[@pm-bg9mu]

4 you mean !!

[@ginabrierley9925]

Hehe it’s moving my taxes haven’t been pissed up the wall

[@AndyH2023.]

The carriers are such a laughing stock! I blame the government

[@topgrafter2007]

Absolute joke these ships, over budget when built, we trued to cancel one but couldn't, but we only had one supply vessel and they need one each, hardly any aircraft , they are unserviceable mostly, probably under crewed. Always in dock as they break constantly. Were a joke

[@Emergency_system_reboot]

Its actually overcrewed since the hms queen elizabeth broke down and now the hms prince of wales has to carry out the operation with both crews instead of staying in port like it was supposed too

[@royjennison3916]

nice looking ship , shame we dont have air craft to fill it , and have to use American kit

[@luciussander8217]

We do, check your facts numpty.

[@pm-bg9mu]

You don't know much do you All the F35 s are British on board

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@pm-bg9mu Assumes facts not in evidence which won't become known until UK F-35Bs finally embark aboard her which they have not as of yet.

[@ynwa3476]

We have over 60 on order but the yanks are delayed with building and delivering them ! Not our fault, also, I believe all 15-17 that will join her at sea will be Royal Navy and not USMC. Let's see in a few days. 😊

[@CheersDits2979]

Shame we don’t we have any fighter jets.

[@Benjd0]

The UK has over 30 at the moment, her fixed wing fighters won't join her until she's out at sea.

[@briansilver6196]

Hhhhàaaaaaa its gotto make it back yet without breaking down, most expensive helicopter carrier ever built

[@musa7010]

What ever you do with this you Brits never sell it to Agencia Turistica E Diversões Chong Lot Limitada, a company from Macau 😂

[@simonmountford4291]

Give it a week and it’ll be towed back to the yard.

[@andrewb2475]

Britain can't afford to operate two! Ffs sell one to India please.

[@Benjd0]

Maybe not two at once, but having two is critical in enabling them to deploy a carrier whenever needed. With only one carrier, you're rolling the dice on whether you can actually deploy it when required.

[@craigsimons817]

A carrier is only as good as the aircraft she operates and these vessel’s lack of AWACS or any AEW platform and no in flight refuelling capability means the QE class would be extremely vulnerable in a real shooting war. I have no faith in an incoming Labour government to correct these flaws so these carriers will be well into their service lives before they are truly combat capable and that represents hugely poor value for money for the tax payer.

[@OldskoolCatflap]

Do you really need that much deck space for 3 helicopters?? 🙄

[@luciussander8217]

The F-35s might need it. Join at sea, not in port. Not so clever now are we.

[@OldskoolCatflap]

@@luciussander8217 Clearly the concept of sarcasm is lost on you…

[@ECECECECEC]

A glorified tourist attraction. Can we please not park them right next to each other ffs.

[@Emergency_system_reboot]

Your moms house is a glorified strip club lad

[@siphotheguy1870]

Is it true that they have decided to change the name of HMS Queen Elizabeth to HMV Admiral Kuznetsov II?

[@alexforrest2563]

Pity they have nothing in it. Or to fly offit

[@Benjd0]

They do, over 30 F-35s right now, her air wing will join her at sea.

[@burnabykrompel7072]

P r o m o s m 😒

[@tlyrics7956]

NATO's ugliest ship, ever🙄

[@shaddapushaddap]

Looks like it means business with them helicopters.

[@drksideofthewal]

Just stay home lil bro. One of the 11 US Supercarriers will show up if actual work needs to be done.

[@AAAA88927]

Why doesn't have any weapon systems. How many F35 s are embarked? What is the point?

[@willn1958]

The f35s will join it after it leaves port

[@DanLewis90]

Nothing to put on it? No like actual fighter jets? Cant imagine Russia fear 3 helicopters

[@rishabhyadav7161]

lmao.....and they expect this piece of junk to fight PLA navy in the south china sea

[@Emergency_system_reboot]

Ah yes here we see the chinese propogandist

[@glenwood5718]

Didn't build it to sit in dock

[@ianwarren7438]

A floating car park with no planes

[@hughbarr8408]

Nelson would turn in his grave and a disgraceful episode.

[@brucefraser8583]

English channels are a good place to go, eh!! STOP STOP NOW

[@jamisbillson4872]

That's a lot of ship for a helicopter!!!

[@cuthbertcollingwood6755]

WD40....CHECK

[@michaeloakes2167]

H M S benny hill

[@bertiewooster3326]

Hahahaha empty ship

[@Benjd0]

It hadn't even left port, you're not landing a squadron of fighter jets on her in the middle of Portsmouth.

[@1chish]

Hahahaha empty brain .....

[@bertiewooster3326]

@@Benjd0 why not int that the reason they bought jump jets instead of PROPER catapult fighters that are vastly superior and cheaper!! Another busted flush from the RN.

[@Emergency_system_reboot]

Your a mong plain and simple they load at sea and already have some in the hangar

[@extremathule982]

🤣🤣🤣 This boat is broken and half sunk.

[@ianrichards909]

How long before it breaks down again? The HMS PoW has spent more time in dry docks than the open seas… what a joke…

[@halimtalafuka9946]

. 0:38

[@halimtalafuka9946]

. 0:28