HMS Ark Royal sets sail for Atlantic exercises
8 Apr 10
The Royal Navy's flagship HMS Ark Royal sailed from Portsmouth this week to lead a series of multinational exercises in the North and West Atlantic.
HMS Ark Royal passing the Round Tower at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour where families and friends gathered to see off their loved ones
[Picture: LA(Phot) Kaz Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
The deployment, called AURIGA 2010, will see Ark Royal head an international task group for a string of exercises between May and August.
Joining Ark Royal in the task group are Devonport-based Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Fort George, French submarine FS Perle and US destroyer USS Barry.
Portsmouth-based Type 42 destroyer HMS Liverpool will leave on 10 May to join the task group.
They will be supported by an amphibious force comprising Devonport-based HMS Ocean and RFA Largs Bay, together with Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade and Royal Navy helicopters.
Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, Commodore Simon Ancona, said:
HMS Ark Royal on her way to take part in AURIGA 2010
[Picture: LA(Phot) Kaz Williams, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]
"AURIGA is going to be of extraordinary training value for the ship's company and it is a great feeling to have the Harriers back on board again.
"This is a mainly aviation and submarine exercise but it will also be an opportunity to test our amphibious capabilities as well.
"We will start off the coast of Scotland with an exercise called Joint Warrior and will then sail to the east coast of America to get back down to the business of training as a task group."
AURIGA 2010 is intended to demonstrate the UK's ability to deploy, operate and sustain a task group out of area for a prolonged period.
The ships will also undertake a series of goodwill port visits in the region to support international security co-operation initiatives.