Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is to set sail this weekend a week after its sister ship was forced to cancel its deployment because of an issue with its propeller shaft.The fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth had been expected to depart from Portsmouth Naval Base last Sunday to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War, involving more than 40 vessels.But the sailing of the £3 billion warship was called off at the last minute after the problem was found in final checks wit

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is to set sail this weekend a week after its sister ship was forced to cancel its deployment because of an issue with its propeller shaft.The fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth had been expected to depart from Portsmouth Naval Base last Sunday to lead the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War, involving more than 40 vessels.But the sailing of the £3 billion warship was called off at the last minute after the problem was found in final checks with the starboard propeller coupling.The setback came 18 months after HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight, when it also suffered a malfunction with a coupling on its starboard propeller.Since the cancellation was announced, the crew and base workers have been preparing HMS Prince of Wales to take over its sister ship's role in Exercise Steadfast Defender, which will take place off Norway.