‘Cannibalised’ parts show UK challenge to keep 2 aircraft carriers in fighting shape
- The Royal Navy is taking parts from one of its aircraft carriers and using them on its other one
- New warships often have problems, especially complicated vessels like aircraft carriers
Britain is having to cannibalise parts from one of its two new aircraft carriers to keep the other one operational.
To add to the indignity, parts from the Prince of Wales are being stripped out for use on HMS Queen Elizabeth, which was commissioned in 2017.
“Oil and fuel filters, used to separate seawater from diesel in the fuel tanks to prevent fouling of the engine, have been taken from” the Prince of Wales, according to The Telegraph last month. “Also removed was the chain from one of the flight desk lifts, used to carry fighter jets from the interior hangars up to the flight deck.”
The Royal Navy maintains that swapping parts is normal procedure. “It is not unusual for equipment to be transferred between ships of the same class to ensure operational availability and avoid delays,” a spokesman told The Telegraph, adding that the Prince of Wales is scheduled to be operational again in autumn.