According to a tweet published by Barcos por Cadiz on June 9, 2022, the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales makes a port visit in Cadiz, South of Spain.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
The aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (Picture source: Barcos por Cadiz)
HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is the second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. Construction of the ship began in 2011 at Rosyth Dockyard and ended with a launch on 21 December 2017. She was handed over to the Royal Navy in 2019 and will be fully ready for front-line duties around the globe from 2023.
The ship has a displacement of 65,000 tonnes on delivery, but the design allows for this to reach over 70,000 tonnes as the ships are upgraded through their lifetime.
She has an overall length of 280 metres (920 ft), a width at deck level of 70 metres (230 ft), a height of 56 metres (184 ft), a draught of 11 metres (36 ft), and a range of 10,000 nautical miles (12,000 mi; 19,000 km).
Unlike most large aircraft carriers, Prince of Wales is not fitted with catapults and arrestor wires, and is instead designed to operate STOVL aircraft; the ship is currently planned to carry up to 48 F-35B Lightning II stealth multirole fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare, although in surge conditions the class is capable of supporting 70+ F-35B.
The design emphasizes flexibility, with accommodation for 250 Royal Marines and the ability to support them with attack helicopters and troop transports up to and larger than Chinook size.
Defensive weapons include the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System for anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence and Miniguns for use against fast attack craft. The 30mm Automated Small Calibre Guns are fitted for but not with, and not carried as of 2021.
