Q&A · 2:42:32-2:42:58

Did construction savings cause Prince of Wales's leaks?

Construction savings were an unconfirmed suspicion behind the reported Prince of Wales leaks in January 2021.

Cost Cutting HMS Prince Of Wales R09 Maintenance And Repair Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers Shipbuilding

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Question

Were reported leaks aboard HMS Prince of Wales caused by cost-cutting during construction?

Short answer

Possibly, but construction savings were an unconfirmed suspicion, not an established cause.

Notes

HMS Prince of Wales reportedly had leaks affecting crew spaces and the engine-room area. A working suspicion from the Bilge Pumps discussion was that construction savings had left a defect requiring expensive replacement. Nobody had confirmed that explanation in January 2021.