Royal Navy sinks old US warship in Scotland live-fire drill
The Royal Navy helped sink the decommissioned USS Klakring off Scotland's west coast during Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026, a joint UK-US live-fire drill. HMS Portland fired a Naval Strike Missile and a Wildcat helicopter launched Sea Venom missiles at the old frigate, which was also hit by US weapons before going down about 170 miles off the Outer Hebrides.
Key Takeaways
- The Royal Navy and US forces sank the ex-frigate USS Klakring at the MOD Hebrides range during Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026.
- HMS Portland fired a Naval Strike Missile (NSM), while a Wildcat from 815 Naval Air Squadron launched Sea Venom missiles.
- US units also struck the target: a missile from USS Paul Ignatius and a torpedo from USS Massachusetts.
- Officials said the hulk was rigorously cleaned and wildlife checks were completed before live firing began.
- Commanders framed the firings as a milestone for modern maritime strike readiness and Nato-relevant training.
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What happened in the Royal Navy live-fire drill?
A decommissioned American warship was sunk off Scotland's west coast in a training exercise involving US forces and the Royal Navy, the BBC reported.
USS Klakring was hit by missiles and a torpedo before sinking in the North Atlantic about 170 miles (274km) off the Outer Hebrides last Monday. The Ministry of Defence's Hebrides range hosted the sinking of the specially prepared target.
According to Forces News, Type 23 frigate HMS Portland launched the Naval Strike Missile, and her Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron fired Sea Venom missiles at the former US Navy guided-missile frigate.
US participation was concrete as well. The former frigate was struck by a missile from USS Paul Ignatius and a torpedo from USS Massachusetts as part of Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026.
Why does this Royal Navy missile test matter?
The Royal Navy described the firings as a significant milestone for delivering credible, modern maritime strike capability. Lieutenant Commander Louise Kirkaldy, HMS Portland's Principal Warfare Officer, said the successful Naval Strike Missile firing showed the service can deliver that strike power and reflected the teamwork that kept the ship ready for today's challenges.
Petty Officer James Kenyon, an Above Water Warfare specialist on HMS Portland, called the exercise the highlight of his career so far. He said being the first person to fire a war-shot NSM and achieve a hit was a proud moment after more than a year's effort planning and bringing the drills into service.
Forces News reported that the successful tests mark an important step in strengthening combat readiness so the maritime service can respond to emerging threats, support Nato operations, and defend UK interests at home and abroad.
The Wildcat firing also carried a first of its own. The Royal Navy said it was the first live firing of the Sea Venom weapons from a Wildcat helicopter at a realistic target.
What weapons did the Royal Navy and US forces use?
The Naval Strike Missile is an advanced sea-skimming weapon that can travel near-supersonic speeds and hit a target more than 100 miles away. Forces News said the NSM weighs 400kg and is designed to escape detection by skimming the sea.
HMS Somerset fired the NSM for the first time last year at Andoya in Norway's Arctic rocket range alongside Norwegian and Polish allies. Forces News added that the NSM will complement the Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon planned as the fleet's premier long-range, heavy-duty anti-ship missile for next-generation warships fitted with the Mk41 vertical launch system, including Type 26 and Type 31 frigates.
Sea Venom is a smart missile designed to defeat corvette-sized maritime vessels or damage frigates, destroyers, and other larger ships. A Wildcat can hold four of these missiles at once. It can also be used overland against bunkers, buildings, and vehicles if needed.
On the US side, the exercise combined a missile from USS Paul Ignatius and a torpedo from USS Massachusetts with the UK firings, giving crews a large-scale, realistic target engagement.
Was the USS Klakring prepared safely for sinking?
USS Klakring entered service in 1983 and was decommissioned in 2013. It was named after Rear Adm. Thomas B. Klakring, who received three US Navy Crosses as a World War Two submarine commander.
The US Navy said the ship went through a rigorous cleaning process first, and personnel checked for whales and dolphins before live firing started. A US Navy spokesperson said extensive preparations include removing contaminants and old equipment so the environmental impact is minimal, and that sinking specially prepared ex-navy vessels provides a practicable way to train at the high level required by the armed forces.
The US Navy also noted that sinking exercises are prepared in strict compliance with environmental regulations. Other warships, including an aircraft carrier in 2006, have been deliberately sunk at sea by the US as part of training and to create artificial reefs for marine life.
Taken together, the Royal Navy's newest anti-ship firings against a real hull, paired with US missile and torpedo strikes, turned a retired frigate into a high-end training asset and a clear signal of allied readiness off Scotland's coast.