<p>The planned departure of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was set to lead the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, has been abruptly cancelled after an issue with a propeller shaft was detected during final checks.</p>

<p>HMS Queen Elizabeth will now be replaced by HMS Prince of Wales in the NATO exercises involving over 40 vessels.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>A routine problem?</strong></h2>

<p>This setback follows a similar incident 18 months ago when the sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, experienced a breakdown off the Isle of Wight due to a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scotland-set-to-increase-minimum-alcohol-price-by-30-to-curb-health-crisis-687169">Scotland set to increase minimum alcohol price by 30% to curb health crisis</a></strong></p>

<p>On X, formerly Twitter, the Royal Navy posted: "Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday."</p>

<p>"HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on <a href="https://twitter.com/HMSQNLZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HMSQNLZ</a> starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.<a href="https://twitter.com/HMSPWLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HMSPWLS</a> will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible. <a href="https://t.co/ImAeTU80vi">pic.twitter.com/ImAeTU80vi</a></p>
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/1753889301157282215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As per the Independent, it is primed to lead a carrier strike involving eight ships, with four British vessels, including the frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. It would be supported by vessels from the US, Spain, and Denmark.</p>

<p>Also joining the strike are F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from the 617 "Dambusters" Squadron at RAF Marham, along with submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose. Battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton are also part of the line-up.</p>

<p>The cancellation comes amid warnings that Britain is ill-prepared for an all-out war due to stockpile shortages and an armed forces recruitment crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lufthansa-faces-turbulence-airlines-groundstaff-to-stage-one-day-strike-over-pay-dispute-687189">Lufthansa faces turbulence: Airlines groundstaff to stage one-day strike over pay dispute</a></strong></p>

<p>As per the House of Commons defense committee, the military is "consistently overstretched", exacerbated by recruitment and retention challenges that have seen more people leaving than joining the armed forces, reports the Independent.</p>

<p>The cross-party group of MPs also said that the nation's military has been "hollowed out", leaving the UK unprepared for war amid increasing global instability.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The planned departure of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was set to lead the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, has been abruptly cancelled after an issue with a propeller shaft was detected during final checks.

The planned departure of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was set to lead the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, has been abruptly cancelled after an issue with a propeller shaft was detected during final checks. HMS Queen Elizabeth will now be replaced by HMS Prince of Wales in the NATO exercises involving over 40 vessels. A routine problem? This setback follows a similar incident 18 months ago when the sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, experienced a breakdown off the Isle of Wight due to a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller. Also read | Scotland set to increase minimum alcohol price by 30% to curb health crisis On X, formerly Twitter, the Royal Navy posted: "Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday." "HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible." Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on @HMSQNLZ starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday.@HMSPWLS will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/ImAeTU80vi — Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) February 3, 2024 × As per the Independent, it is primed to lead a carrier strike involving eight ships, with four British vessels, including the frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. It would be supported by vessels from the US, Spain, and Denmark. Also joining the strike are F-35B Lightning stealth fighters from the 617 "Dambusters" Squadron at RAF Marham, along with submarine hunting and airborne early warning Merlin Mk2 helicopters from RNAS Culdrose. Battlefield Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton are also part of the line-up. The cancellation comes amid warnings that Britain is ill-prepared for an all-out war due to stockpile shortages and an armed forces recruitment crisis. Also read | Lufthansa faces turbulence: Airlines groundstaff to stage one-day strike over pay dispute As per the House of Commons defense committee, the military is "consistently overstretched", exacerbated by recruitment and retention challenges that have seen more people leaving than joining the armed forces, reports the Independent. The cross-party group of MPs also said that the nation's military has been "hollowed out", leaving the UK unprepared for war amid increasing global instability. (With inputs from agencies)

Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth pulls out of NATO exercise after propeller shaft snag

The war continues unabated in Ukraine, NATO is looking very keenly at its Eastern Flank as part of the Baltic Tiger exercises. Nearly about 250 German and Estonian soldiers run a joint NATO exercise in Estonia.

250 German & Estonian soldiers run joint NATO drills in Estonia

nato-drills

Nato Drills, News on Nato Drills, stories on Nato Drills, articles on Nato Drills, Nato Drills stories at Wion, Nato Drills news, Nato Drills latest news

nato drills

Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth pulls out of NATO exercise after propeller shaft snag

250 German & Estonian soldiers run joint NATO drills in Estonia