HMS Prince of Wales leaves Portsmouth for deployment in the North Sea

HMS Prince of Wales has set sail from Portsmouth ahead of a major exercise in the North Sea.

Crowds gathered at the Round Tower in the historic naval city, as well as in the town of Gosport, to wave the carrier off.

The Queen Elizabeth-class carrier will lead the UK Carrier Strike Group taking part in Exercise Strike Warrior.

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It marks the start of critical training for the carrier, a key stepping stone for the ship, her air group and her escorts ahead of a global deployment next year.

The ship will now head to an exercise area off the coast of Scotland after her air wing qualify in Cornwall.

The 65,000-tonne carrier also embarked with F-35s from 809 Naval Air Squadron and 617 Squadron, with HMS Prince of Wales leading a multinational task force of warships.

It marks the first time 809 Naval Air Squadron will deploy with a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier after they formed at RAF Marham, Norfolk, at the end of last year.

They join the 617 'Dambusters' as the second, frontline stealth fighter formation, operating the fifth generation F-35B Lightning jets.

The deployment gives 809 Naval Air Squadron the chance to achieve their carrier qualifications, seeing them operate at day and night.

As well as the pilots, it also gives the engineers, technicians and armourers the chance to learn how to maintain and support the UK’s most advanced fighter jet while at sea.

Joining the jets is a task group of Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton. 

The attack helicopters will take the opportunity to develop their air-air capability using the Martlet missiles to defend the ship.

During the summer, HMS Prince of Wales ensured she was ready to deploy. 

This saw her sail to conduct Operational Sea Training in August, achieving assurance the ship is ready to handle any state 3 (peacetime) emergency from fires to floods. 

After Exercise Strike Warrior, she will be at a higher level of operational readiness.

Once the exercise is complete, the aircraft and Carrier Strike Group staff will disembark and HMS Prince of Wales will continue with her winter programme.

This will include a final support period in Portsmouth ahead of the Carrier Strike Group 2025 deployment.