HMS Prince of Wales is not being "mothballed", the Defence Secretary has said, after reports of so-called "cannibalisation". The £3 billion warship broke down last August after it suffered a broken propeller shaft, and then sailed to Rosyth in Scotland to undergo repairs in dry dock.
Media outlets have reported the ship is undergoing "cannibalisation", a Royal Navy term for when parts or equipment from one ship are taken and used for another. Speaking during a session of questions to defence ministers in the Commons, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace insisted the process was "perfectly normal" and the warship would be back in full service by the autumn.
He was responding to SNP MP Douglas Chapman (Dunfermline and West Fife), who said: "HMS Prince of Wales currently lies in Rosyth for repairs, and I hear it's being cannibalised for spare parts. Will this £3 (billion) asset be back in full operational duties by the end of this year?"
Mr Wallace said: "Yes, by the autumn. And by the way, cannibalisation - it is perfectly normal for ships to take ship's stores from each other.
"This is not being cannibalised because somehow the ship is off to be mothballed. This ship is going to be back in full service in autumn."
Mr Wallace earlier told the Commons that Ministry of Defence is "examining the liabilities and who should cough up" for the "misalignment" issues with the carrier's propeller shaft.
