Royal Navy: Major Portsmouth warships, minehunters and carriers, where are they and what are they doing?
Freddie Webb
·4-min read
HMS Prince of Wales is back in Portsmouth following months of repairs. She is scheduled to be deployed to the United States in the Autumn of this year. (Photo: LPhot Edward Jones/Royal Navy)
Portsmouth-based vessels of different capabilities – aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, minehunters, patrol vessels and other ships – will be sent out on operations for months on end. They will be sent to different corners of the globe or on missions closer to home.
Some of these operations include routine patrols in waters and trade routes close by, monitoring other vessels which enter the English Channel, deployments to disrupt drug trafficking and missions of international security. Many sailors are also given different tasks than you might expect – anything from seizing narcotics, protecting endangered sea turtles, restoring war memorials and other missions.
The Royal Navy aims to project and protect the UK’s interests across the globe. The force does this by deploying their warships in a variety of ways and enhancing them with the latest technology and weapons systems. Some new ships will be entering the fleet, including the new Type 31 frigates, while older ones are either being decommissioned, retired or undergoing major refits.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently in Portsmouth. She is being put through her paces ahead of a deployment in the autumn. His Majesty King Charles III has been named as the carrier's new sponsor. (Photo: Alison Treacher)
The force continues to work with the UK’s Nato and Commonwealth allies to protect their interests. Here is the state of play for some of the warships based in Portsmouth as of August 23, 2023.
Some are right here at HMB Portsmouth, while others are deployed further afield or in other parts of the UK. Ships can also be tracked via the Marine Vessel Traffic website.
HMS Dragon is currently in Portsmouth and not on active deployment. (Photo: LPhot Daniel Shepherd)
HMS Dauntless is currently in the Caribbean. Most recently, sailors worked alongside a charity to save endangered sea turtles in Curacao. (Photo: LA(PHOT) Guy Pool/Royal Navy)
HMS Duncan is currently deployed in the Mediterranean and has fully assumed her role as a Nato flagship once again. She is leading Standing Maritime Group 2, and has undergone gruelling training exercises involving simulated minefields. (Photo: Jake Corben - JC Maritime Photos)
HMS Defender is currently alongside the English Channel. (Photo: LPhot Matt Bradley/Royal Navy)
HMS Iron Duke has recently undergone a major refit. She was being repaired in Devonport, Plymouth, and is now back in Portsmouth. (Photo: PO Phot Owen Cooban:Royal Navy)
HMS Daring is currently in Portsmouth being refurbished as part of a regeneration programme. The Duchess of Edinburgh visited the vessel earlier this year. Picture: LPhot Gareth Smith/Royal Navy.
HMS Kent is currently alongside Portsmouth following previous Nato exercises and deployments. She took part in a task group of more than 20 ships and 35 aircraft from 13 Nato allies and partners - Exercise Formidable Shield. (Photo: Jake Corben - JC Maritime Photos)
HMS Lancaster is currently alongside the English Channel following deployment in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf region. She has been involved in major drug busts - protecting the waters and cutting off a vital economic supply chain for drug gangs. (Photo: Royal Navy)
HMS Trent is going to be forward deployed to Africa, to conduct security missions, following an extended preparation period in the Mediterranean. Here she is off the coast of Portugal. (Photo: Royal Navy)
HMS Tamar is currently alongside Australia. She was recently seen off the coast of the Solomon Islands, where sailors restored a war memorial which honoured British prisoners of war who were executed by the Japanese. (Photo: Royal Navy)
HMS Mersey is currently alongside South Shields near Newcastle. She recently stalked the Russian warship Perekop as she travelled through the English Channel. Pictured is HMS Mersey arriving into Portsmouth Harbour in 2022.
HMS Argyll is the longest-serving Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy, having been commissioned in 1991. The last post from the ship's Twitter account said she was at the Babcock frigate support centre. (Photo: IAN McCLELLAND)
HMS Chiddingfold joined forces with the US Navy and Air Force in the gulf - carrying out large scale mine counter measures. She is currently alongside Bahrain. (Photo: Tom Cotterill)
HMS Middleton is currently deployed in the Gulf alongside HMS Chiddingfold, taking part in the same exercises. (Photo: LPhot Ben Corbett)
A new crew have recently been drafted in to sail on HMS Brocklesby. She was previously involved in exercise Joint Warrior in the North Sea in March. She is currently alongside Portsmouth. (Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
HMS Cattistock is currently alongside Portsmouth. (Photo: LPhot Luke:Royal Navy)
HMS Hurworth was most recently involved in a navigation exercise off the coast of Scotland. She is currently moored in the area. (Photo: POA(Phot) Paul A'Barrow:Royal Navy)
HMS Tyne has recently been in the North Sea, near the area which shares its name. She is currently alongside Portsmouth. (Photo: Alison Treacher)
HMS Severn is currently off the coast of the Isle of Wight. (Photo: GLYN KIRK/Getty Images)
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