On its way back to the United Kingdom, the British aircraft carrier could sail through the waters where the last Prince of Wales met its ignominious end.
The vastness of Russia is hard to overstate, but at least two NATO aircraft carriers have been conducting operations on both of its sides. Last month, the United States Navy’s newest and largest nuclear-powered supercarrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), carried out operations with the Royal Norwegian Navy and Air Force. It was reported to be in the North Sea as of this past weekend.
On the other side of the world, the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, was operating in the Sea of Japan with allies and in support of parts after a visit to Tokyo. Carrier Strike Group 2025 (CSG25) has passed the halfway point of the historic “Operation Highmast” deployment to the Indo-Pacific—only the second time this century that a Royal Navy carrier has operated in the region.
HMS Prince of Wales and several of her escorts spent nearly three weeks at Yokosuka and Tokyo, while the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond (F239) and the Tide-class replenishment tanker RFA Tidespring (A136) made a port call to Busan, South Korea.
“The focus now is on Stage 5 of the Highmast mission – Japan/Republic of Korea to Southeast Asia – picking up the tempo from early August,” the Royal Navy announced on Monday.
“Operation Highmast” Sent a Signal to China—and Russia
HMS Prince of Wales is the first NATO carrier to operate in the Sea of Japan since the US Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered flattop USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) transited the waters between South Korea and the Japanese archipelago, with Russia to the north.
The British warship has been carrying out joint operations with the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF), which included F-35B Lightning short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters from the flattop carrying out sorties with land-based JASDF F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35As, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants of the Joint Strike Fighter.
The transit of the Sea of Japan was uneventful, despite Russia’s increased military presence in the region, which often involves deploying aircraft and warships to assert its presence.
For the Royal Navy, the deployment has seen it participate in numerous drills and exercises, including training with the Indian Navy, before it took part in the Australian-led Talisman Sabre exercises in early August.
Last month, F-35Bs from the HMS Prince of Wales also conducted cross-deck operations with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF’s) JS Kaga, one of the two Izumo-class multipurpose helicopter destroyers being converted to serve with fixed-wing STOVL fighters. The JS Izumo and JS Kaga will serve as de facto carriers, the first such warships Tokyo has operated since World War II.
How Will the Prince of Wales Sail Home?
The Royal Navy has not announced any upcoming port visits or additional joint training exercises for HMS Prince of Wales and CSG25, and it is unclear which route it will take to return to the United Kingdom. As previously reported, speculation remains as to whether the current course will take it through the contested South China Sea or near the Malay Peninsula.
In an interesting twist, the British carrier could sail through the waters where the last Prince of Wales met its ignominious end. In December 1941, the King George V-class battleship HMS Prince of Wales was sunk off the coast of the Malay Peninsula by land-based Japanese aircraft. The aircraft carrier could transit the very waters where the famed battleship now rests.
However, given the recent visit to Japan and the close ties established between London and Tokyo, it is also possible that CSG25 will seek not to reopen old wounds.
Operation Highmast commenced in April with the carrier’s departure from Portsmouth, England, and has highlighted the Royal Navy’s future, including its expanded role in the security of the Indo-Pacific. That mission has largely been accomplished, as it is also the third NATO carrier to make the journey to the region and back, following that of the Italian Navy’s flagship, ITS Cavour, last year and France’s flagship, FS Charles de Gaulle, this past winter.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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