Royal Navy and US forces to blow up retired ship USS Klakring as HMS Queen Elizabeth set for firing exercises

Ferocious firepower will be used by the Royal Navy to blow up a decommissioned US warship.

British forces will be involved in a weapons firing exercise alongside American counterparts to destroy the retire vessel USS Klakring. Portsmouth-based aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is also set for further drills in Scotland under Exercise Strike Warrior.

Exercise Atlantic Thunder, where the decommissioned ship will be sunk, will take place west of the Hebrides in Scotland. QinetiQ Hebrides’ South Uist rocket range will be used to deliver the exercise.

A variety of live weapons firing drills will take place throughout. Part of the training will involve participating ships and aircraft, including helicopters and missile systems, to hunt and attack mock enemies.

USS Klakring, a 138-metre long retired warship, will be destroyed and sunk to the bottom of the ocean during the sink at-sea live-firing training exercise (SInkex). The aim is to give personnel more experience in long range missile strikes. Damage will be assessed using hi-tech 3D cameras.

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate served in the US Navy for nearly 30 years. She has been laid up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since 2013. She was towed from the Delaware River four weeks ago and brought to the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s unclear how much of a role HMS Queen Elizabeth will play in the sinking of USS Klakring. The carrier left Portsmouth earlier this month ahead of an intense three-month period of exercises. She has taken on the role of Nato command ship for the Allied Response Force.

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“The training programme will continue into next year, including participation in major NATO exercises, and will prepare HMS Queen Elizabeth to take over from HMS Prince of Wales as the UK’s flagship and high-readiness strike carrier in late 2027,” the Royal Navy previously said.

Commanding Officer Captain Claire Thompson added: “Sailing with an embarked battle staff, integration and training is essential whilst relearning the skills required to conduct safe and effective aviation as we ensure that we are prepared to deliver operational activity at the heart of NATO should it be required.”

Last week, members of the ship’s company paraded through Edinburgh and were greeted by an excited crowd.