[DM] Britain's biggest and most expensive warship has been held up on its latest mission – by fog.
The captain of HMS Prince of Wales, a state-of-the-art £3.5billion aircraft carrier, refused to sail the 65,000-ton giant into a narrow fjord in Norway because he said it was too risky.
The 920ft warship, which has been beset with problems since it was brought into service nine years ago, was on its way to a major security conference in the capital, Oslo, set to be attended by naval top brass this week.
The decision to avoid sailing in the heavy fog delayed the carrier's arrival by about 24 hours over the weekend, with the Norwegian armed forces' operational HQ in Bodø confirming: 'The captain thought there was too much fog.'
A defence source told the Daily Mail the setback was an example of 'good seamanship' and that there was no 'operational imperative' to risk the British flagship.
However, naval observers mocked the move, with one saying: 'We will go anywhere, except if it is a little misty.' Another added: 'Bloody Russians with their fog machines.'
The warship, built specifically to carry the new F-35B stealth jet, was taking time out of her deployment to the Arctic and High North to attend the security event.
She was escorted into the port city by HMS Dauntless, a £1billion missile defence destroyer, and Norwegian coastguards and police.
|