HMS Prince of Wales re-supllied at Glen Mallan jetty on Loch Long Scotland — The 65,000‑tonne warship left Portsmouth last week with more than 900 crew on board (Picture: BFBS)

Navy

HMS Prince of Wales stops in Scotland for ammo loading ahead of Arctic deployment

The Royal Navy's flagship HMS Prince of Wales has stopped off in Scotland for ammunition as she prepares for an Arctic deployment.

She is being supplied at the Glen Mallan jetty on Loch Long ahead of Operation Firecrest.

Bright skies and smooth waters welcomed the aircraft carrier as she made this stop on her way to the High North.

The 65,000-tonne vessel is an imposing sight in this remote part of Scotland.

She is picking up ammunition ahead of her major Nato deployment after leaving Portsmouth on Friday.

HMS Prince of Wales re-supllied at Glenn Mallan jetty on Loch Long Scotland — HMS Prince of Wales will deploy to the High North and North Atlantic later this year (Picture: BFBS)

There the ship will be leading the UK carrier strike group and working alongside allies such as the US and Canada, as well as members of the Joint Expeditionary Force, to help secure the increasingly important area.

When deployed, HMS Prince of Wales will be equipped with Merlin helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron, maritime Wildcats of 815 Naval Air Squadron and battlefield Wildcats from 847 Naval Air Squadron, as well as the 900 crew on board.

HMS Prince of Wales re-supllied at Glenn Mallan jetty on Loch Long Scotlan — HMS Prince of Wales had been in Portsmouth since the end of November after completing an eight-month mission to the western Indo-Pacific region (Picture: BFBS)

After her stop in the west of Scotland, it will be back out to the open sea for HMS Prince of Wales on her way to what will surely be a very busy deployment.