LONDON: HMS Prince of Wales, Britain’s largest warship, has warmly welcomed its new commanding officer, Captain Will Blackett. This transition signifies a fresh chapter for the aircraft carrier, which recently completed a significant deployment along the east coast of the United States.
Captain Blackett assumes command during an exciting yet challenging period for the warship, which returned to its Portsmouth base last month. His appointment coincides with the departure of the previous commanding officer, Captain Hewitt OBE.
“Today, we bid farewell to our Commanding Officer, Captain Hewitt OBE RN, who has overseen a successful 2023. And we extend a very warm welcome to Captain Will Blackett Royal Navy, who has assumed Command of HMS Prince of Wales.” – HMS Prince of Wales official statement, January 3, 2024.
Under Captain Hewitt’s leadership, 2023 was a year of remarkable accomplishments for the carrier, a sentiment echoed in a recent post on X, the platform that has replaced Twitter.
The carrier’s return to Portsmouth was a momentous occasion, with crowds gathering along the city walls in December to welcome the sailors. However, the journey to this point has not been without its challenges. HMS Prince of Wales faced a significant setback when it encountered mechanical issues during its initial sail-out for trials last year. The incident necessitated extensive repairs, which took nine months to complete and incurred costs of around £25 million.
Captain Blackett’s leadership comes at a time when the carrier is rebounding from these challenges and building on its operational successes.
