In an unexpected turn of events, HMS Queen Elizabeth, the flagship of the UK Royal Navy, had to withdraw from its role as the leader of the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War. The Royal Navy reported that routine pre-sailing checks revealed a problem with a coupling on the starboard propeller shaft of the 65,000-ton warship, preventing it from setting sail on Sunday.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth was set to participate in the upcoming NATO exercise, known as "Steadfast Defender," but had to be replaced by another UK aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales. This marks yet another setback for the warship, which has experienced a series of embarrassing mishaps since its commissioning in 2017.

One of the notable incidents occurred in 2019 when a mechanical issue left the warship without propulsion for several days, followed by a flooding incident. Repairs had to be conducted, and the ship had to anchor off Britannia Royal Naval College for 24 hours. In 2021, one of the carrier's F-35B fighters crashed in the Mediterranean.

Despite these challenges, the HMS Queen Elizabeth remains an impressive vessel, capable of carrying 60 aircraft, making it the largest ever built in the UK with a cost of £3.1 billion ($3.9 billion).

Set to sail from the Portsmouth naval base, the warship was supposed to serve as the centerpiece of the "Steadfast Defender" exercise, which is touted as the largest military exercise in Europe since the Cold War. It was set to lead a carrier strike group of eight ships, including those from the US, Spain, and Denmark, in Norwegian waters and the High North.

The exercise, which is expected to feature 20,000 UK military personnel deployed across Scandinavia and Northern Europe, includes a total of 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO allies.

HMS Queen Elizabeth's replacement, the HMS Prince of Wales, also faced technical issues with its starboard propeller shaft in 2022, prompting additional checks on the flagship. This last-minute cancellation due to a malfunction adds to a string of mishaps involving Royal Navy ships.

In January, two UK warships, the HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Bangor, collided while docking in a Bahrain port, raising concerns about the state of the UK's naval forces.

The Royal Navy has been struggling with a shrunken and aging fleet, increasing staff shortages, and rising wear and tear, as noted by officials and analysts. The Financial Times reports that the Navy has been lowering entry requirements for recruits in an attempt to address staffing issues.

Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Britain's armed forces, highlighted the dissonance between the UK's military ambitions and its capabilities. He warned that there is a strategic weakness and the risk of being drawn into a conflict without being able to sustain a sufficient presence.

The House of Commons Defence Committee has also expressed concerns about the UK military, labeling it as consistently overstretched and under unrelenting pressure.

The withdrawal of HMS Queen Elizabeth from the NATO exercise serves as a reminder of the challenges facing the UK Royal Navy and raises questions about its ability to maintain an effective and capable maritime force.