Operation Firecrest, phase two (Carrier Strike Group, Arctic and North Atlantic)
HMS Prince of Wales sailed from Portsmouth on 18 October 2026 to lead the second phase of the Royal Navy's 2026 Carrier Strike Group mission on NATO's northern flank. She is escorted by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, with more than 1,200 UK personnel under NATO command. The air group is reported to include F-35B jets, Merlin Mk2 and Mk4 helicopters, Wildcats and Malloy drones. The group is due to take part in Neptune Strike activity and to visit Oslo for the Atlantic Future Forum and the International Sea Power Conference. Phase one ran from April to late July 2026 and included the NATO anti-submarine exercise Dynamic Mongoose. HMS Duncan and RFA Tidespring took part in phase one.
- Where
- High North and Arctic, High North and North Atlantic
- When
- since 18 Oct 2026
- Units
- HMS Prince of Wales; HMS Dauntless; embarked F-35B, Merlin, Wildcat and Malloy drones (home port HMNB Portsmouth)
- With
- Norway, Denmark, Germany, NATO
- Last checked
- 4 Nov 2026
Sources
