The UK’s premier naval deployment of 2025 is underway as ships departed ports in England and Norway, led by the nation’s flagship.
Royal Navy press release
Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was waved off by thousands of well-wishers and family of the 1,600 souls aboard, who lined Portsmouth’s historic waterfront as friends and loved ones have done for decades.
She was followed out of harbour a few hours later by destroyer HMS Dauntless, beginning an eight-month mission to demonstrate UK and allied collective resolve and determination to maintain security and freedom from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Between now and December, the Carrier Strike Group will conduct a series of exercises and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South-east Asia, Japan and Australia. This is the second deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group. The first, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021, took place against the backdrop of a world in lockdown due to the Covid pandemic. The 2025 mission, known as Operation Highmast and commanded by Commodore James Blackmore and his staff from aboard HMS Prince of Wales, occurs with a changed world order and even more volatile geo-political situation.
“I am delighted to lead the UK Carrier Strike Group encompassing Sailors, Marine, Soldiers and Aviators from across the UK and allied armed forces,” Commodore Blackmore said. “Working closely with partners from across the globe, Operation Highmast will demonstrate credible deterrence and our support to NATO and the rules-based international order.
“This will reaffirm that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad and reinforce the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.”
Commodore James Blackmore
The mission has three aims:
• to declare the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers with all their constituent parts fully operational;
• to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to NATO;
• and maintain international security and prosperity.
The deployment begins with around 2,500 military personnel – roughly 2,100 Britons, 200 Norwegians and a similar number of Canadians, and Spanish – rising to over 4,500 for some of the key exercises as the force reaches the Indo-Pacific.
“International by design”, the task group will be joined in the Channel by two Norwegian vessels – tanker HNoMS Maud and frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen – coming directly from Norway, where Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell wished crews well as they departed Bergen.
Frigate HMS Richmond and Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, sailed from Plymouth, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidespring will complete the strike group in its initial format. In the next few days the group will embark a potent combination of up to 24 F-35B fifth-generation strike fighters and squadrons of attack, troop-carrying and anti-submarine helicopters, plus drones, all supported by around 750 personnel in the air wing alone.
“As one of only a few nations capable of leading a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating that UK defence is strong, modern, and ready to meet the threats of today and tomorrow.”
Defence Secretary John Healey
The ships have undergone extensive training in preparation for the deployment and will now begin to combine their individual skills, systems and weaponry, making the carrier strike group one of the most powerful naval forces on the planet.
For Captain Will Blackett, Commanding Officer of HMS Prince of Wales, the deployment is the culmination of 16 months in charge of the UK’s flagship and the realisation of a boyhood dream.
“I was born in Portsmouth, went to school barely a mile from the dockyard and when I was ten I sat on the harbour walls watching aircraft carriers sail out and said: ‘One day I want to be captain of a ship like that.
“Here I am doing that and this ship is a fantastic machine, but she only works thanks to the magic brought to her by the 1,600 people on board, working hard, a magnificent team.”
The Carrier Strike Group will immediately work for NATO and the first workout for the strike group is an exercise off France testing aerial defences before the force moves into the Mediterranean to work with an Italian-led carrier force, then heads east of Suez via the Red Sea.
“Operation Highmast exemplifies our unwavering commitment to the security and stability of our nation. I want to thank the thousands of our Armed Forces personnel involved in executing the delivery of this complex operation,” said Defence Secretary John Healey.
“As one of only a few nations capable of leading a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating that UK defence is strong, modern, and ready to meet the threats of today and tomorrow.”
Ask most of those deploying what they are looking forward to most and the answer is: Japan.
“I’m 100 per cent excited for Japan – experiencing such a different culture,” enthused 24-year-old John Davis, a weapon engineer from Oxford. “I’ve been West with the Navy. Now for the East. It’s also a good chance for us to see – and learn – from other navies, see what they bring to the table.”
Leading Engineering Technician Josh Thompson, aged 29, from Barnstaple, added: “Something like this doesn’t come along that often, so getting to go to places many people don’t get to see is great.
“But we’re also very aware that we are part of a bigger picture, doing something for the UK.”
Like shipmates, he will be separated from loved ones for months on end. “Leaving people behind is hard, but the support system for families on the ship is fantastic to help us and them.
“And we’ll come back with memories of a lifetime.”
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