HMS Prince of Wales - A Fiassco on Steroids

I called out the inappropriateness of these aircraft carriers as part of the UK defense strategy two years ago.

In the 21st century of high-precision self-guided missiles and torpedos, this ship would be a sitting duck without a large support operation to protect it and even then it would remain vulnerable.

If it were sunk, it would result in a tremendous loss of life and a devastating blow to national morale and reputation too. Whilst deployed, it would need only one small armament to put a hole in its deck to render it useless for aircraft takeoff and landing.,

It now turns out that the UK has insufficient resources to provide the support requirements HMS Prince of Wales requires for it to be deployed safely.

Some people have made huge amounts of money off the back of this. I have to wonder if top-brass advisors' palms were greased or perhaps the defense contractors rolled out plush red carpets with juicy incentives.

HMS PoW has spent most of its time lame in port. It has never been usefully deployed.

Of course the the Telegraph reports that "The Navy has denied rumours that HMS Prince of Wales will be sold at a knockdown price to raise cash for defence spending..." It has to maintain that position right up until the time the announcement is made in the same way that the first sign employees get the news that the company they worked for has gone bust is when the receivers walk in.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13138221/Britains-cash-strapped-Navy-forced-sell-aircraft-carrier-HMS-Prince-Wales.html

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/29/hms-prince-of-wales-will-not-be-sold-says-navy/