The Portsmouth-based carrier is being accompanied by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan and fleet tanker RFA Tidespring. According to the Royal Navy, the vessels will conduct exercises with NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force during the deployment.
The task group will initially operate in fjords near Bergen, Norway, where it will participate in Exercise Tamber Shield. The drills are intended to improve the tactical agility required to defend high-value naval assets against small, fast and manoeuvrable threats operating in confined waters.
The exercise will involve Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron, P2000 patrol vessels and Norwegian missile craft. According to the Royal Navy, the deployment will later shift focus towards operations in the High North and open waters through participation in NATO’s Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine warfare exercise.
“HMS Prince of Wales stands ready as the nation’s flagship to demonstrate the United Kingdom’s commitment to NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force,” said Ben Power, commanding officer of HMS Prince of Wales. “My thanks go to our families who continue to show unwavering support as we deploy for a period away from home waters.”
James Mitchell, commanding officer of HMS Duncan, said the destroyer would provide air defence protection to the carrier group during the deployment. “As a Type 45 destroyer, HMS Duncan brings world-class air defence capability to the Carrier Strike Group, providing essential protection to HMS Prince of Wales and other high-value units,” he said.
“Training alongside our allies in the North Atlantic and High North strengthens our ability to operate as an integrated and resilient force,” Mitchell added. The Royal Navy said the deployment is intended to improve interoperability and operational readiness with allied naval forces.
A representative of RFA Tidespring said the support ship would play a key role in sustaining Royal Navy and allied operations during the mission. “It is exciting for RFA Tidespring to play another essential role in extending the limits of the Royal Navy and NATO allies, putting training into practice and provide specialist support to the UK’s Carrier Strike Group,” the statement said.
The deployment is being directed by the staff of Commander UK Carrier Strike Group under Rich Hewitt. According to the Royal Navy, the operation is intended to reinforce security cooperation with northern European allies in response to an increasingly unstable security environment.
“This 2026 deployment delivers a clear signal of the UK’s steadfast commitment to working with regional partners and securing Europe’s northern flank,” Hewitt said. “In an increasingly volatile environment, our integration with partner nations is vital to safeguarding our mutual interests.”
The Royal Navy stated that the deployment will help participating ships strengthen warfighting readiness and contribute to North Atlantic and High North security operations. The mission also supports recent commitments by Gwyn Jenkins to develop closer maritime cooperation with northern European navies.
