PRIMERA VISITA

El portaaviones británico HMS Prince of Wales hará escala este martes en Gibraltar

CAD 05 julio 2021 20:59 h.

UK's NEWEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER ARRIVES IN PORTSMOUTH

HMS Prince of Wales has sailed into her homeport of Portsmouth for the first time today – marking a significant milestone in the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier history.

There was considerable fanfare as the newest of Britain’s carriers was greeted by thousands of people lining Portsmouth’s seafront.

Sailors lined the flight deck of the enormous carrier – the second of the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy – as she sailed into Portsmouth Harbour with two Hawk jets marking the moment with a flyby overhead.

It is the second time in two years the city has welcomed one of the UK’s new carriers, following HMS Queen Elizabeth’s arrival in August 2017.

“I feel immensely proud to be a member of HMS Prince of Wales’ ship’s company while the ship is heading into its home port for the first time,” said Air Engineering Technician Ben Daniels. “It is a historic moment for the Royal Navy and I am looking forward to many years of service on this incredible ship.”

The carrier sailed from Rosyth, where she was assembled, in late September with a mixed ship’s company of Royal Navy sailors (600-plus) and 320 civilian contractors on board to take her through an autumn of trials in the North Sea.

“It’s been a unique experience watching the ship transition from its initial build to an operational warship,” said Air Engineering Technician Anthony Greatorex.

“It’s a proud moment to be a member of the first ship’s company and an opportunity that I am unlikely to get again.”

HMS Prince of Wales’s arrival means Portsmouth Naval Base is now home to two aircraft carriers. The yard has been modernised to accommodate the two behemoths, with £30 million spent on strengthening and upgrading the base’s Victory Jetty. — Prince of Wales

Además, este lunes está prevista la llegada de un submarino de clase Astute llegará a Gibraltar para una visita rutinaria programada.

Si este martes cruza a Algeciras y asomado por la borda se topa con un gigantesco buque de guerra no se asuste, no ha empezado ningún conflicto bélico. Es el flamante portaaviones británico HMS Prince of Wales llegará a Gibraltar que impondrá su silueta en la Bahía de Algeciras para llevar a cabo una escala logística programada en Gibraltar. Esta visita inaugural a Gibraltar también será su primera escala en un puerto situado fuera del Reino Unido.

Este portaaviones de clase Queen Elizabeth tiene una dotación mínima de unos 700 tripulantes, pero dicha dotación aumenta hasta casi 1.600 cuando transporta aeronaves. El HMS Prince of Wales tiene una tara de 65.000 toneladas, velocidad máxima de 25 nudos y dos hélices de 33 toneladas, diseñadas para impulsar hasta 50.000 caballos cada una. Su cubierta de vuelo de 70 metros de ancho por 280 metros de largo permite la operación de 36 aeronaves F-35B [Lightning] y cuatro helicópteros Merlin. Se trata de la séptima nave en ostentar este nombre, la primera de las cuales fue botada en 1765.

El HMS Prince of Wales ha finalizado recientemente pruebas marítimas en la costa sur de Inglaterra comandado por el Capitán Darren Houston. Durante esta visita a Gibraltar, el Capitán Houston entregará el mando de la nave a un nuevo Oficial al Mando (Commanding Officer), el Capitán Stephen Higham.