HMS Prince of Wales – the plane provider that broke down shortly after leaving Portsmouth final weekend – is to get replaced on a visit to the US by its sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Initially described as having an “emerging mechanical issue”, the £3bn NATO flagship floundered off the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight after a starboard propeller shaft coupling failed.
The 65,000-tonne provider limped again to Stokes Bay in Gosport, Hampshire, on Monday at a charge of 4 knots, accompanied by tugs.
It is because of return to Portsmouth on a single propeller, once more with the help of a tug, however that will likely be depending on the climate and the tides.
Once crew and tools have been unloaded, it’s then more likely to journey as much as Rosyth in Scotland to be repaired in a dry dock.
It had been because of undertake coaching workouts with the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps.
The programme was additionally anticipated to incorporate workouts with F-35B Lightning jets.
HMS Queen Elizabeth had been because of go to the Baltic and the Mediterranean.
Navy chiefs are regarded as taking a look at which of the US commitments require the presence of a provider and which will be carried out by different ships from the fleet.
Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse, director of Force Generation, liable for ensuring Royal Navy ships are able to deploy, stated HMS Queen Elizabeth will “depart Portsmouth next week to undertake elements of Prince of Wales’ programme in the United States”.
Regarding HMS Prince of Wales, he stated: “Royal Navy divers have inspected the starboard shaft and the adjacent areas and they have confirmed there is significant damage to the shaft on the propeller and some superficial damage to the rudder but no damage to the rest of the ship.
“Our preliminary evaluation has proven that coupling that joins the ultimate two sections of the shaft has failed.
“This is an extremely unusual fault and we continue to pursue all repair options.”
Source: information.sky.com”