Crowds were cheering off the HMS Prince of Wales as it finally departed for the largest NATO maritime exercise in 40 years after delays.
Just before it was scheduled to depart on Sunday to replace her sister ship, which was forced to cancel its own deployment a week earlier, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier had to postpone its departure at the last minute.
The fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to lead the biggest NATO exercise involving more than 40 warships since the Cold War, leaving Portsmouth Naval Base on January 4.
However, a ‘problem’ with the starboard propeller connection was discovered during final tests, forcing the cancellation of the £3 billion warship’s sailing.
Since the cancellation was announced, the crew and base workers have been preparing HMS Prince of Wales to take over HMS Queen Elizabeth’s role in Exercise Steadfast Defender off Norway.
Parents Julie and Mark Benton were waving off their son Ethan on his first deployment as they saw the HMS Prince of Wales depart Portsmouth.
Mr Benton said: ‘That’s a really proud moment for us. This is his first deployment, he joined when he was 17, and this is what he wanted to do from school. And here he is 19 years old and he’s living his dream, and couldn’t be better.
‘It’s a really big deal for him. A big deal for us as a family, and he’s following in his grandfather’s footsteps as well. We’re really, really proud of him.’
The family had travelled from Wrexham, north Wales, to see off their son,S who was ‘disappointed’ when the departure was delayed from Sunday.
But Mr Benton added: ‘All the crew have worked ever so hard to get the ship ready in such a short space of time; that’s fantastic.’
Also in Portsmouth on Monday was mum-of-two Monika Holton, who, with her eight-week-old baby and toddler, was waving off her husband, who is the second navigator of the warship.
The 31-year-old said: ‘I’m pretty excited, pretty anxious. Life is a little bit stressed and hectic, he’s my lifeline, and he’s going away for some time.
‘I’m also very excited. It’s a big exercise for the ship, for the crew. I’m just excited for him.’
She said the one week’s notice before his deployment was ‘quite a shock to the system’ but added that the delay to the ship’s departure meant the couple could enjoy an early Valentine’s Day dinner.
The sailing has been postponed, a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman announced on Sunday. The spokesperson did not provide an explanation for the last-minute cancellation.
In a genuine battle, this ship would be a sitting duck. Engineering at its finest, with a bit of luck, it might reach Dover to pick up a few thousand illegals, but then they might feel safer in their dingy.
But hey, it’s only an exercise, so perhaps it won’t fall apart midway.
Our once-proud country is, in my opinion, collapsing at an accelerated pace, although even that assessment is problematic given the circumstances.
Before returning to port for tea and scones, it will most likely sail around for a few hours.
In the words of the great Arnie Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back.”. Probably without 24 hours. Sailing towards the scrap yard.
It will return by the time you finish your cup of tea. Go grab one now. A floating failure that highlights the UK’s lack of defence. Positively, though, everyone on board has most likely received the most recent version of their diversity and inclusivity training—no money was spared.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 