USS Klakring sunk off Scotland during joint UK-US drill

The Royal Navy weapons put to the test

The ship went down roughly 170 miles (273 km) from the Outer Hebrides, according to an Independent report.

American missiles struck first from the USS Paul Ignatius, followed by a torpedo fired from the USS Massachusetts.

The sinking formed the climax of the a joint US-UK naval drill, Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026.

The exercise let the US and Royal Navy test weapons against a real hull rather than a simulation, giving British forces a chance to trial their own long-range strike systems.

USS Klakring's role in Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026

Task Force 65 commander, Captain Kelechi Ndukwe, said the exercise "demonstrates the unmatched lethality and interoperability of the United States and United Kingdom."

He added that the sinking "delivers a clear message to adversaries that the US Navy and Royal Navy remain a ready allied force."

HMS Portland, a Type 23 frigate, fired a Naval Strike Missile during the exercise, with the sea-skimming weapon closing on a target at near-supersonic speed from beyond 100 miles (161 km) out.

A Wildcat helicopter also fired Sea Venom missiles at a genuine target for the first time.

In 2013, USS Klakring left active duty; a guided-missile frigate that was first introduced to service back in 1983.

nevertheless, the ship underwent a "rigorous cleaning process" to meet Ministry of Defence environmental rules prior to the sinking, with personnel also checking nearby waters for whales and dolphins before firing began.

Overall, Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026 centred on the controlled sinking of a retired warship so both allies could test real weapons against a genuine hull.

The drill comes as tensions between the Uk and Russia are rising , with the Kremlin's latest statement indicating a 'nuclear warning' on Britain following a Sky TV miniseries plot line. The warning urges the UK against any attempts onto its Baltic enclave between Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad.