The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is visiting Oslo, Norway, following a period of exercises together with Norwegian and other allied forces. During the port visit, the ship is hosting two international conferences on security in the North Atlantic and northern Europe.
HMS Prince of Wales has taken part in the British operation Firecrest and NATO's exercise Neptune Strike 26-4. According to the Royal Navy, the latter exercise involved 17 countries, 20 warships and 40 aircraft, divided between three naval task groups in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Norway.
During the exercise period, British F-35B and Norwegian F-35A aircraft carried out joint flying operations with a US B-52 bomber. British F-35B aircraft also carried out a mission to identify and track a Russian long-range bomber.
The Royal Navy also states that HMS Prince of Wales replenished ammunition in a foreign port for the first time. The replenishment took place at Hammernesodden near Namsos (central Norway) and formed part of efforts to develop the carrier strike group's ability to operate without dedicated support vessels for ammunition supply.
During the visit to Oslo, the aircraft carrier is being escorted by the British destroyer HMS Dauntless, the Norwegian frigate KNM Fridtjof Nansen and the coast guard vessel KV Nornen. The Norwegian Armed Forces announced that the originally planned arrival on 6 November was postponed to the following day due to poor visibility.
Aboard HMS Prince of Wales, the Atlantic Future Forum and the International Sea Power Conference are being held, at which military and political representatives will discuss security in northern Europe. The Norwegian Home Guard (Heimevernet) and Navy are responsible for parts of the security arrangements during the port visit.
