
15/08/2025
06 Aug 2025 –RFA Tidespring seen from the inside of a Merlin Mk2 Helicopter from 814 NAS with HMS Prince of Wales and USNS Wally Schirra off her starboard side. In a seamless show of allied logistics and maritime interoperability, The UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales conducted a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tanker RFA Tidespring and the U.S. Navy’s USNS Wally Schirra. The carrier received vital fuel, ammunition, and stores while underway. Led by UK flagship HMS Prince of Wales and involving a dozen nations, the eight-month mission - known as Operation Highmast - has seen the task group pass through the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indian Ocean visiting Singapore and Australia, the Carrier Strike Group now shifts focus to Asia. The goal is to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the security of the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific region, demonstrate collective resolve with our allies and showcase British trade and industry. Over the course of the deployment, upwards of 4,500 British military personnel will be involved, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines. 🚁⚓🇬🇧🔥