[Source/Observer Network Mountain Cat]
According to British media reports, the "Prince of Wales", an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class (hull number R09), will set sail today (the 22nd) from Portsmouth Naval Base at local time as the core of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) to embark on a journey to the so-called "Indo-Pacific region" to send a "serious and strong signal" from the UK.
This operation by the Royal Navy is named "Highmast 25" (Operation Highmast 25). It is the first deployment action to the Pacific region since the Royal Navy announced the commissioning of the "Prince of Wales".
The "Prince of Wales" aircraft carrier docked at the Portsmouth base before departure.
According to local media, The Portsmouth News, Commodore James Blackmore will accept media interviews on the flight deck before departure, stating that in terms of the combat capability of the formation, this deployment is already "the largest in scale in this century," with the aim of showcasing globally Britain's support for the "international order," as the strength of the UK Carrier Strike Group is the cornerstone of Britain's "conventional deterrence," which also helps with "domestic security and a strong overseas voice." He mentioned that the F-35 fighters onboard are "very impressive," acting as a "force multiplier" for the Royal Navy. Although the number of these planes "will never be as many as those on historical WWII carriers," in terms of combat power, this is the strongest air strike formation ever deployed by the UK in history. 18 F-35Bs will arrive on the carrier shortly after departure, and this number is expected to rise to 24 during the deployment period. In addition, the formation will carry helicopters such as the "Merlin Mk2" anti-submarine helicopter, the "Merlin Mk4" and "Wildcat" assault helicopter of the Royal Navy Air Force, as well as T-150 and "Jaguar" drones.
(Reference image) On June 9, 2021, the "Prince of Wales" launched its first F-35B fighter jets. Although the UK recently reaffirmed the total order quantity of 138 F-35Bs remains unchanged, as of now, only 37 British F-35Bs have been completed, rolled out, and test flown. After excluding one aircraft lost at sea and another used for training in the United States, the total number of available F-35Bs in the UK is likely less than 30. Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom.
Commodore Blackmore further added that this deployment action to demonstrate the UK's global military presence has been characterized by its "international" nature from the very beginning of planning, with military forces from as many as 13 allied countries participating in this operation. According to the plan, "Highmast 25" will include a series of land, sea, and air exercises and operations in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, and Australia, covering multiple regions along the "Prince of Wales'" path from home to the "Indo-Pacific." Personnel from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will also act alongside more than a dozen allies, with the total deployment duration expected to exceed 220 days, returning to the UK in December. More than 2,500 military personnel will participate in a series of actions. He stated that this operation is to support "key trade routes" from the "Indo-Pacific region" to the UK and "partners and allies in the region," indicating that when necessary, the British military is a "capable and reliable force."
A press conference held on the aircraft carrier deck before departure, from left to right: Colonel Will Blackett, commander of the "Prince of Wales"; Commodore James Lake Moore, commander of the "UKCSG"; and Colonel Colin McGannity, commander of the onboard air wing. Portsmouth News website.
In reporting, The Independent mentioned that on the day the "Prince of Wales" sets sail, the Type 45 destroyer D33 "Dauntless" (HMS Dauntless) will accompany the carrier as it departs. Subsequently, the "Nansen"-class "Aegis" frigate "F311 Amundsen" of the Norwegian Navy and the replenishment ship A530 "Queen Maud" (also known as "Maud Queen," named after the same "Queen Maud" who gave her name to "Queen Maud Land" in Antarctica), as well as the Type 23 frigate F239 "Richmond" of the Royal Navy departing from Plymouth and the Canadian "Halifax"-class frigate FFH-332 "Quebec City" will join the carrier strike group, with the final addition being the oil tanker A136 "Tide Spring" (RFA Tidespring, sometimes also translated as "Spring Tide") of the Royal Auxiliary Fleet.
Previously, the lead ship of the same class, the "Queen Elizabeth" (hull number R09), formed the "UK Carrier Strike Group 21" (CSG21) and set sail for deployment in July 2021. The formation passed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea on July 7, becoming a landmark event marking the first entry into the "Indo-Pacific region" for the UK since reacquiring aircraft carriers. It was also the first return to the Western Pacific by a UK carrier since "Ocean Wave 97" in 1997. During the "Indo-Pacific deployment" in 2021, the "Queen Elizabeth" not only conducted activities in the South China Sea and the Pacific but also exercised with warships from the US, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, and visited and docked in Japan, becoming the first foreign aircraft carrier to dock in Japanese ports in recent years, aside from the US.
On September 4, 2021, the aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" arriving in Japan docked side-by-side with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's helicopter destroyer DDH-184 "Izumo" upon entering Yokosuka Naval Base.
(Reference image) Before the "Queen Elizabeth" deployment to the "Indo-Pacific" in 2021, the last Royal Navy aircraft carrier to visit the Western Pacific was the "Invincible"-class light aircraft carrier "Illustrious" during the "Ocean Wave '97" task force in 1997.
However, behind the high enthusiasm for "heading east" in recent years, the poor state of readiness of the British Navy cannot be concealed. Since their commissioning, both HMS Queen Elizabeth-class carriers have experienced various problems. Particularly, each vessel had a serious malfunction involving the propeller coupling in 2022 and 2024 respectively, resulting in their inability to set sail at the scheduled start of their deployment missions. In 2023, some British media reported that to maintain the HMS Queen Elizabeth under parts supply shortages, the Royal Navy had to dismantle some key equipment from the HMS Prince of Wales for "organ transplant." Although other media outlets also published targeted reports for "rehabilitation-style debunking," the fact remains that the UK's aircraft carriers have had consistently low deployment rates. Additionally, according to photos taken by some users on social media in recent days, it was claimed that around April 16, one of the anchors at the bow of the HMS Queen Elizabeth was reportedly removed and subsequently appeared to be installed on the HMS Prince of Wales about to depart. This information suggests that the UK Navy's "double-carrier lineup" may have fallen into a situation where "whoever goes out wears the pants."
It was claimed that netizens on social media discovered the UK Navy's two carriers were allegedly involved in "removing an eastern anchor to patch up the western one."
In late August 2024, the UK Defense Secretary officially announced the deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales to the Indo-Pacific region in 2025, referring to the "Highmast 25" operation. At the regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense on the afternoon of August 29, 2024, Major General Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, responded to questions from reporters regarding this matter, stating that China firmly opposes any extraterritorial country running thousands of miles to the Asia-Pacific region to show off its military might and meddle in regional affairs. From a strategic perspective, if the UK's actions are implemented, they will be unhelpful to regional peace and stability. From a tactical standpoint, they will also produce no practical effects. China demands that the UK not seek to enhance its "presence" under various pretexts or provoke unnecessary opposition and confrontation.
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