Why HMS Prince of Wales won’t return to service for months

Having a second carrier in the group was vital as it “allows the UK to maintain an around the clock capability”, Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow for sea power at Rusi, the defence think tank, explained. “Because aircraft carriers need to be refitted, undergo repairs and other work after a period of operations. A country with a one carrier capability, even a very capable carrier – for example the French Charles De Gaulle – has some pretty significant limitations in terms of maintaining a permanent carrier strike capability.”