'Ship buster' missiles sink old US warship in live fire training off Scotland
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USS Klakring was hit by a missile from USS Paul Ignatius and a torpedo from USS Massachusetts during Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026.
The US Navy stressed that the ship underwent a "rigorous" cleaning process prior to the exercise, and whale and dolphin checks were conducted to minimize environmental impact.
Other warships, including an aircraft carrier, have been deliberately sunk at sea for training and to create artificial reefs.
Image source: US Naval Forces Europe-Africa
The former guided missile frigate, named after Rear Adm Thomas B Klakring, served from 1983 to 2013.
The Royal Navy also tested "ship-busting" weapons, including the Naval Sea Missile (NSM) and Sea Venom missiles fired from a Wildcat helicopter, marking the first live firing of these weapons from a Wildcat at a realistic target.
"Sinking ex-navy vessels... provides a practicable method for conducting large scale exercises," a US Navy spokesperson said. ...assuring that the environmental impact of the exercise is minimal.
Related topics:
- Scotland
- Royal Navy
- British Armed Forces
- US Armed Forces
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