Britain’s premier naval deployment of 2025 draws to a proud close this weekend as the ships, jets and helicopters of the UK Carrier Strike Group return home, marking the end of an eight-month mission that spanned the globe and strengthened the nation’s defence ties from the Mediterranean to Japan and Australia.
Families and well-wishers are expected to line airfields and dockyards from the Lizard Peninsula to Norfolk as more than 2,000 personnel – sailors, soldiers, aviators, Royal Marines and civilians – reunite with loved ones on Sunday after their worldwide deployment.
HMS Prince of Wales, the nation’s flagship, leads the homecoming as she sails into Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by two escorts: destroyer HMS Dauntless and Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen. Frigate HMS Richmond returns to Plymouth, completing her role as one of the strike group’s core guardians. Meanwhile, the group’s aircraft have begun arriving at their home bases: F-35B Lightning jets to RAF Marham in Norfolk, Merlin helicopters to RNAS Culdrose near Helston and RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, and Wildcat helicopters to Yeovilton.
Tanker RFA Tideforce, which sustained the final month of the operation, heads for Portland. Sister ship RFA Tidespring, which spent three-quarters of the deployment fuelling the task group, remains at sea. Norway’s HNoMS Maud also played a key role in the early weeks of the mission.
The returns mark the end of Operation Highmast, the UK Carrier Strike Group’s 2025 Indo-Pacific deployment that carried British naval power as far east as Australia and Japan. The strike group comes home having been formally declared fully operational, ready to assume NATO duties without caveat.
“It has been a privilege to lead the nearly 4,000 soldiers, sailors, aviators, and marines who have sailed over 40,000 nautical miles as part of the Strike Group, working with over 30 nations en route,” said Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group.
“Last week the Defence Secretary announced that the UK Carrier Strike Group had reached full operating capability. That is a testament to the hard work both on Operation Highmast and of those who have served before us to reach this milestone.
“The Strike Group has come home stronger for NATO than it departed and I am incredibly proud of all those who have taken part in Operation Highmast.”
The Carrier Strike Group sailed with a formidable ring of protection: HMS Dauntless providing air defence, HMS Richmond and HNoMS Roald Amundsen delivering anti-submarine and surface warfare capabilities. HMS Richmond’sExecutive Officer, Lieutenant Commander James Callender, praised his team, saying he “could not be prouder” of their achievements.
“Whether it be supporting UN Security Council resolutions in the Yellow Sea or hosting dignitaries and VIPs for high level engagement, Richmond has continued to deliver in spades.
“We are now looking forward to the joy of homecoming and being reunited with the family and friends whose support has helped make this deployment possible.”
Ten allied nations – Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the USA – integrated ships and support vessels with the task group during the mission, reinforcing shared security and naval cooperation across three oceans.
Fast-jet power came from the fifth-generation F-35B Lightning strike fighters of RAF 617 Squadron, The Dambusters, and the Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron. At peak, up to 26 jets were embarked. They were joined by Merlin and Wildcat helicopters from 814, 815, 820 and 845 Naval Air Squadrons, plus advanced drones from 700X Naval Air Squadron, which pushed new boundaries in uncrewed logistics between ships.
Since departing the UK in April, the task group sailed more than 40,000 nautical miles, spending half the deployment east of Suez. Aircraft and uncrewed systems completed more than 2,500 sorties, demonstrating Britain’s commitment to global security and freedom of navigation.
Operation Highmast saw the strike group join Australia’s largest military exercise, Talisman Sabre, before integrating with US and Japanese maritime forces in another major multinational workout. Over the course of the mission, the group operated with nine different carrier groups, and its jets landed on four allied aircraft carriers.
Commander Nick Smith, who led 809 Naval Air Squadron on its first deployment, hailed the squadron’s achievements. “The range and breadth of the activity the squadron have been part of is truly amazing,” he said.
“I am incredibly proud of the Immortal Team who have done such a fantastic job in delivering everything asked of them throughout the year, but most importantly full operating capability of Carrier Strike.
“We have operated day and night, in fair weather and torrential downpours, from HMS Prince of Wales as well as the Japanese and Italian ships Kaga and Cavour.
“Our highlights include the many amazing places we have been lucky enough to visit, specifically Singapore, Australia, and Japan as well as participating in numerous large force exercises such as Talisman Sabre and Falcon Strike.
“Having successfully completed eight months away, we are all very much looking forward to getting home to our loved ones, families and friends. We are all incredibly excited to be home for Christmas and to take some well-earned leave, before regrouping in 2026 for another year of adventures.”
Throughout the deployment, UK ships enforced UN sanctions against North Korea, supported NATO security operations in the Mediterranean and showcased British industry and diplomacy across the Indo-Pacific.
At its height, more than 4,000 UK personnel were deployed with or supporting the strike group. Beyond operations, sailors and aviators enjoyed extraordinary experiences, from climbing Mount Fuji to encountering wildlife in northern Australia, competing in international sports and cookery contests, and visiting global cities such as Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai and Manila.
The deployment also carried solemn moments, including commemorations at military cemeteries and a poignant remembrance service above the wreck site of the previous HMS Prince of Wales in the South China Sea – the first time the current flagship has visited.
For many, the mission proved professionally and personally rewarding. Petty Officer James Smith of HMS Richmondsummed it up: “Professionally, Highmast has been fantastic and full of opportunity to test our skills in real life scenarios. Personally, the chance to play golf all over the world has been a real highlight! I’m now very excited to get home and have a family holiday, and a proper Cornish pasty.”
As the Carrier Strike Group returns to British shores, it does so as a strengthened example of national resolve, operational excellence and the United Kingdom’s commitment to global security alongside its allies.
