Stricken £3.2BN Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales reduced to acting as a scrap yard

Britain’s £3.2 billion aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been reduced to acting as a scrap-yard. Essential pieces of equipment are being ripped out of the stricken warship, a move that raises questions over its long-term future.

The UK’s second carrier has been in dry dock since breaking down off Portsmouth in August 2022.

Now Navy top brass have begun stripping the carrier – a process known as ‘cannibalisation’ – which will render HMS Prince of Wales inoperable for much longer. Lift chains, which allow fighter jets to be raised from below deck, electrical systems and sections of the ship’s gas turbines have been taken out.

These parts, without which it cannot function fully, are being fitted to her sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, as replacements for parts that have aged or malfunctioned. HMS Prince of Wales broke down due to issues with her starboard propeller, which is being replaced as part of a £25million refit – the cost has risen by £5million in the past month.

The Mail on Sunday can report for the first time today that the warship’s port propeller also needs to be replaced as it is suffering from the same issues. HMS Prince of Wales – launched in 2017 – is expected to spend at least a year in dock due to the additional workload.

According to insiders, the Navy is also spending millions on replacement fuel pumps for both carriers.

Last night, a Navy source said: ‘It is one disaster after another. To lose both propellers so soon into her lifespan is ridiculous. As she’s out of action, inevitably her good parts are being stripped off to support HMS Queen Elizabeth.

‘Whatever the bosses need to keep the first carrier afloat and operational, they take from the second. HMS Prince of Wales is being mothballed, unofficially at least.’

Both ships cost £6 billion – before a single fighter jet was purchased. The decision to build two carriers is being questioned inside the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence.

An inquiry into issues suffered by HMS Prince of Wales has uncovered evidence the second carrier was rushed into service, seemingly to serve a political agenda.

Last night, the Royal Navy said: ‘We remain committed to ensuring HMS Prince of Wales commences her operational programme, as planned, in August 2023.

‘It is not unusual for equipment to be transferred between ships to ensure operational availability and to avoid delays.’