Gibraltar welcomes the aircraft carrier ‘HMS Prince of Wales’ on her first port visit outside the UK

((We ask our customers to replace the previous one with this ticker on the same topic))

Madrid, 6 July. (Europa Press) –

Gibraltar on Tuesday welcomed the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, its first visit to a port outside the United Kingdom, for a brief logistical stopover in its operations, which will continue until 10 July.

As reported by the Royal Navy, HMS Prince of Wales, based at Portsmouth, completed an “intensive” testing process and training period off the south coast of England, following some of the updates and improvements the ship received during the year is. 2020.

In addition, the ship is at sea for the first time with its twin aircraft carrier, ‘HMS Queen Elizabeth’, and is capable of operating with the latest generation F35 Lightning 2 fighter aircraft.

In this way, these aircraft carriers manage to make a “significant” contribution to NATO’s defense together with the United Kingdom’s warships, submarines, helicopters and F-35 aircraft.

Regarding the period in which the ‘HMS Prince of Wales’ underwent various tests, he refers to the many milestones that have enabled it to “move towards full operation” as an aircraft carrier. . Among them, they have included the “long boarding” of various aircraft squadrons, such as the 656 Squadron of the Army Air Corps and the ‘Wildcat of the Naval Air Squadron 825’ maritime attack helicopters.

Similarly, the Royal Navy has assured that they “work” to train new personnel in air operations in the same way they “update” veterans.

In this sense, Captain Darren Houston, the commander of the ‘HMS Prince of Wales’, has said that the voyage to Gibraltar is “a special run”, as this is where he will hand over command of the ship to a “new commander”. Captain Stephen Higham.