# HMS Prince of Wales breakdown **URL:** \ **Category:** Marine Incidents\ **Created:** [August 29, 2022, 1:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996 "2022-08-29T01:36:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeadShip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeadShip](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeadShip)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 1:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/1 "2022-08-29T01:36:42Z")
Interesting that gCaptain is slow to report on the abbreviated cruise by HMS Prince of Wales from the UK to the US. One would expect that the much-heralded departure of HMS Prince of Wales being put on hold because of a mechanical issue would warrant an update on the website. ---
**Author:** ![BlueScouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BlueScouse](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/BlueScouse)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/2 "2022-08-29T04:16:12Z")
Reported in British newspapers. > **[Aircraft carrier breaks down off south coast ahead of key trip to US](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11155345/Aircraft-carrier-HMS-Prince-Wales-breaks-south-coast-England-ahead-key-trip-US.html)** > > The 65,000-tonne warship has suffered an 'emerging mechanical issue' near the Isle of Wight, according to a Royal Navy spokesperson, and is reportedly now at anchor amid investigations. > **[HMS Prince of Wales breaks down day after leaving Portsmouth](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/28/hms-prince-of-wales-breaks-down-day-after-leaving-portsmouth)** > > UK’s biggest warship suffers propeller shaft damage off south coast after setting sail for US ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/3 "2022-08-29T06:25:37Z")
> [@DeadShip](#): > > Interesting that gCaptain is slow to report on the abbreviated cruise by HMS Prince of Wales from the UK to the US. Hence the reason I come straight to the forum for the news that is fit to print. This is slightly embarrassing for the Royal Navy… ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 11:37am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/4 "2022-08-29T11:37:58Z")
It hasn’t broken down; it has deployed to a static position off the Pile of Shite to undergo anchoring trials. ---
**Author:** ![Lew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lew](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lew)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 9:03am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/5 "2022-08-30T09:03:09Z")
Shouldn’t have got rid of sails Chinese parts ? ---
**Author:** ![squidly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@squidly](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/squidly)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/6 "2022-08-30T15:28:28Z")
I haven’t seen anything on USNI News yet. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/7 "2022-08-30T15:44:48Z")
But gcaptain is always on the ball: > **[UK Carrier HMS Prince Of Wales Hits Bottom En Route To America](https://gcaptain.com/uk-carrier-hms-prince-of-wales-hits-bottom-en-route-to-america/)** > > Britain’s newest aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales suffered a serious mechanical issue that will require drydocking. The problem – which the UK Defense Journal reports was propeller damage after “hitting... ---
**Author:** ![Truckie1794](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@Truckie1794](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Truckie1794)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/8 "2022-08-30T17:29:49Z")
Maybe they ran over a Russian submarine! ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/9 "2022-08-30T21:10:42Z")
Should have employed a donkey greaser. [HMS Prince of Wales, the £3bn pride of the Navy, grinds to halt over ‘failure to grease propeller shaft’ (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/hms-prince-of-wales-the-3bn-pride-of-the-navy-grinds-to-halt-over-failure-to-grease-propeller-shaft/ar-AA11hvXx?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=8c452e51d41849fae3eace536fefe749) ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 6:11am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/10 "2022-08-31T06:11:44Z")
That is, in my opinion, more embarrassing for the royal navy than a grounding. Having made that transit out from The Solent many times myself, I have to say I was confused how they hit anything once they were down to the south of the Isle of Wight. This makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 10:54am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/11 "2022-08-31T10:54:17Z")
QHM (Queen’s Harbour Master) has ordered survey work around the area where the carriers berth and turn so contact damage is still a possibility. The whole area was dredged flat prior the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth and all sorts of stuff was dragged up; cannons, anchors, unexploded bombs, etc. Portsmouth received its first Royal Charter in the year 1194 so it has been around a while, plenty of rubbish dumped in there in the intervening centuries. ---
**Author:** ![New3M](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/new3m/32/394_2.png) [@New3M](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/New3M)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/12 "2022-08-31T12:12:43Z")
“We think there is significant damage to the starboard shaft. It’s not working." Some high end investigating going on there. ---
**Author:** ![Bayrunner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/bayrunner/32/966_2.png) [@Bayrunner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bayrunner)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/13 "2022-08-31T19:14:54Z")
Is the damage from running aground or from not greasing the shaft? Or both? ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/14 "2022-08-31T19:25:27Z")
Or having been aground while alongside damaging the shaft causing overheating while under way? No alarm warning for overheating? ---
**Author:** ![Binbag\_the\_Saylore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Binbag\_the\_Saylore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Binbag_the_Saylore)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/16 "2022-09-03T12:30:11Z")
“not greasing the shaft” was a b.s. line put out by a children’s comic - the Daily Mail. The official version says SKF coupling failure, damage to last section of stbd shaft, prop, rudder. > **[HMS Prince of Wales to be dry-docked while HMS Queen Elizabeth takes on some...](https://www.navylookout.com/hms-prince-of-wales-to-be-dry-docked-while-hms-queen-elizabeth-takes-on-some-of-her-tasking/)** ---
**Author:** ![DeadShip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeadShip](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DeadShip)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/17 "2022-09-05T02:44:52Z")
Coverage by gCaptain of the inability of the Royal Navy’s newest aircraft carrier to fulfill its mission and obligations continue to be vague and lacking concise, leading-edge journalism many expect to find at this site. Correct me if I’m wrong readers but the Prince of Wales story is and should be a big deal, yet where is the in-depth reporting of this story? If a similar fate befell a country’s major warship, would we be also reading only tidbits or hearing only…crickets? ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 5:46am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/18 "2022-09-05T05:46:18Z")
To be fair there isn’t a lot to report; the wavy navy isn’t saying a lot. Whether it was a coupling failure that caused the prop to get damaged and possibly hit the rudder or whether the prop hit something that caused the coupling failure has yet to be determined. If that is what the issue is in the first place. It is back in Portsmouth now; I’ll see what I can see when we trundle past it today. Anyway, the Queen Elizabeth with will picking up some of the slack soon. ---
**Author:** ![Ausmariner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Ausmariner](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Ausmariner)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/19 "2022-09-05T08:52:03Z")
Agreed Hornblower. A great deal of galley talk out there. I thought the Navy Lookout link had some excellent information particularly regarding the stbd shaft overrun when trialling alongside. Ordering AH30 and seeing AH60………… ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/9/6/96f9f8faac465817e14eb0992e11a0ab8c13d3aa.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/20 "2022-09-06T12:46:05Z")
It’s not only the HMS Prince of Wales that is out of service: > **[Most of UK's warships ‘out of use’ as Navy chiefs struggle](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1664316/royal-navy-warships-out-of-use-HMS-Prince-of-Wales)** > > MORE than half of Britain's warships are stuck in maintenance or in need of long and complex refits, leaving Navy chiefs struggling to meet operational commitments. ---
**Author:** ![squidly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@squidly](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/squidly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 12:37pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996/21 "2022-09-07T12:37:14Z")
This almost makes the LCS debacle look good. [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/hms-prince-of-wales-breakdown/63996.md?page=2)