HMS Prince of Wales (R09)
| File:QE class carrier.jpg | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Ordered | 20 May 2008 |
| Builder | list error: <br /> list (help) BAE Systems Surface Ships Thales Group Babcock Marine |
| Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth |
| Identification | IMO number: 4907907 |
| Motto | list error: <br /> list (help) Ich Dien ("I Serve") |
| Status | Expected to enter extended readiness in 2023[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier |
| Displacement | 65,600 metric tons (72,300 short tons) (full load)[3] |
| Length | 284 metres (932 ft)[3] |
| Beam | list error: <br /> list (help) 39 metres (waterline) 73 metres overall[3] |
| Draught | 11 metres[2] |
| Decks | 16,000 square metres[3] |
| Speed | 25+ knots |
| Range | 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 km) |
| Capacity | 1,450 |
| Complement | 600 |
| Armament | Phalanx automated close-in weapons systems, 30mm guns and mini-guns to counter seaborne threats[citation needed] |
| Aircraft carried | Tailored air group of up to 40 aircraft, including 36 F-35 Lightning II plus Merlin and Chinook helicopters |
HMS Prince of Wales will be the second of the Royal Navy's two Queen Elizabeth class supercarriers and is scheduled to enter extended readiness in 2023.[1][4] The ship will be assembled at Rosyth Royal Dockyard using blocks built by participating shipyards. Once in service the ship will be officially affiliated with the city of Liverpool, in the United Kingdom. Construction reportedly began in May 2011.
The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are the largest, most powerful surface ships Britain has ever built. They are unique amongst aircraft carriers of the world in the positioning of the ships flight control, separate (Behind) the ships main bridge.
Name
The second Queen Elizabeth class ship was given the name Prince of Wales at the same time as her sister ship received the name Queen Elizabeth. However, controversy over the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal under the terms of the SDSR in 2011, and the subsequent loss of the name Ark Royal led to a campaign for one of the new aircraft carriers to receive it. In May 2011, reports surfaced that HRH The Prince of Wales had been approached by a senior Royal Navy officer on the subject of changing the name of Prince of Wales to Ark Royal, a matter that the Prince of Wales was reportedly "fairly relaxed" about.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review." HM Government, 19 October 2010. Retrieved: 19 October 2010.
- ^ Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) MOD website. retrieved 21 May 2008
- ^ a b c d Royal Navy: A Global Force 2009 (PDF) p. 70; accessed 14 Feb 2010
- ^ "NAO Defence Major Projects Report 2009". Table 3 page 11 (15 of pdf) gives 2016 for Queen Eliz. so Prince of Wales must be at least 2 years later.
- ^ Harding, T (2 May 2011). "Prince Charles 'saves Ark Royal'". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 May 2011.