HMS Prince of Wales sails past music festival on its way to train with F35-B Lightning jets off the US coast
- Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales departed from Portsmouth Naval Base today off to the US
- The 65,000-tonne warship was meant to set off on Friday but was delayed to today after technical issues
- It was sent off sailing past music-lovers the Victorious Festival while pop favourites the Sugarbabes played
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been given a colourful send-off as it sailed past a music festival on its way to exercises off the coast of America.
The departure of the 65,000-tonne warship from Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire, was delayed from Friday, August 26, because of a technical issue.
But the £3 billion carrier was able to sail this afternoon and passed thousands of music-lovers at the Victorious music festival on Southsea Common in Portsmouth.
Pop favourites Sugababes were in the middle of their set when the giant ship sailed past with the crew lining the flight deck to get a view of the festival.
Dancer Sally Turner, of Hoop Shaker which is performing alongside acts on the Beats and Swing stage, waved off the carrier with a display of her hoop skills from next to Southsea Castle in the festival site.
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (pictured) has been given a colourful send-off as it sailed past a music festival on its way to exercises off the coast of America
Dancer Sally Turner, of Hoop Shaker which is performing alongside acts on the Beats and Swing stage, waved off the carrier with a display of her hoop skills from next to Southsea Castle in the festival site
The departure of the 65,000-tonne warship from Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire, was delayed from Friday due to technical problems. Pictured: Family and friends wave to sailors on board HMS Prince of Wales as it set sail
The HMS Prince of Wales had previously returned home to Portsmouth in June after operating alongside Spain ‘s aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Cadiz
Festival goers at the Victorious Festival on Southsea Common give Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales a send-off
The HMS Prince of Wales had previously returned home to Portsmouth in June after operating alongside Spain’s aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Cadiz.
The Nato flagship is sailing to undertake training exercises with the US Navy as well as the Royal Canadian Navy, United States Marine Corps.
The programme is expected to include exercises with the F-35B Lightning jets.
A Royal Navy spokesman declined to comment on the reason for the postponed departure but said: ‘HMS Prince of Wales’ departure has been delayed. This will not affect her onward programme.’
Cost: £3.3 billion. Originally £3billion, various faults and repairs drove up the cost.
Weight: 65,000
Crew: 1,600 when fully functional.
Dimensions: More than 900ft long and 230ft wide, with four-acre decks about the size of three football pitches.
Speed: Top speed of 28 mph. Capable of travelling 500 miles a day.
Fighter jets: Capacity for 36 F35-B Lightning II fighter jets. The jets can be lifted from the below-deck hangar to the deck in just 60 seconds.
Weapons: Weapon system capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute.
Radars: Long-range radars can track up to 1,000 aerial targets from up to 250 nautical miles away.
Type 997 Artisan 3D medium range radars can track a target the size of a ball from a distance of 12 miles.
A graphic shows how the Queen Elizabeth class of carriers – which includes two vessels; the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales – can produce 500 tonnes of fresh water from sea water daily
Pictured: The Queen Elizabeth class features HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales
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