HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain's two flagship aircraft carriers, has suffered a 'minor technical issue' while docked in Stavanger, Norway, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The carrier set sail earlier this month from Loch Long, Scotland, to provide security in the Atlantic and High North, and had been working with Nato and the Joint Expeditionary Force. The MoD said the vessel is expected to sail 'in the coming days'. A senior naval source told the Daily Mail the breakdown was 'devastating for morale'. The carrier was due to take part in celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
“HMS Prince of Wales has a minor technical issue while docked in Norway, MoD says.”
The incident comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces pressure to publish a long-delayed Defence Investment Plan. Starmer said British intelligence believes Russia could attack a Nato country by 2030. The Treasury has been warned of a £28bn black hole in defence spending plans, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves trying to reduce a compromise figure of £18bn to £15bn. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said Russia was 'probing, challenging, testing our defences'.