British and American forces are preparing to blast a retired US Navy frigate with missiles and live weapons before sending the 138-metre warship to the bottom of the Atlantic.

A retired US warship is set to be blown apart and sent to the bottom of the Atlantic as British and American forces unleash missiles and other live weapons in a major military exercise.

The 138-metre USS Klakring will become the target in a dramatic live-fire drill west of the Hebrides, giving Royal Navy and US personnel the chance to practise attacking a full-size warship at sea.

Ships, aircraft, helicopters and missile systems will all be involved in Exercise Atlantic Thunder, with crews tasked with hunting down and striking mock enemy targets.

The operation will culminate in a so-called SINKEX, or sinking exercise, in which the decommissioned USS Klakring will be deliberately destroyed.

HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside Glen Mallan before heading to Edinburgh. | LPhot Mikey Allen

placeholder image — HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside Glen Mallan before heading to Edinburgh. | LPhot Mikey Allen

The exercise will be supported by the QinetiQ Hebrides range on South Uist, which is used for testing and firing advanced weapons.

Military teams will closely study how the former US Navy frigate reacts to the attacks, using high-tech 3D cameras to assess the damage.

USS Klakring served with the US Navy for almost 30 years before being decommissioned. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate had been laid up in Philadelphia since 2013 before being towed out of the Delaware River and into the Atlantic around four weeks ago.

The exercise is designed to give British and American forces valuable experience in long-range missile strikes against warships and other major maritime targets.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is also taking part in a busy programme of military exercises after leaving Portsmouth earlier this month.

USS Klakring frigate pictured in 2009 in the port city of Batumi, Georgia. | SEIRON BAROIAN/AFP via Getty Images

The giant aircraft carrier is currently serving as a NATO command ship for the Allied Response Force and is due to take part in further training around Scotland under Exercise Strike Warrior.

It is not yet clear how directly HMS Queen Elizabeth will be involved in the attack on USS Klakring.

The carrier is in the middle of an intensive three-month training period as the Royal Navy prepares it to return to a high-readiness role.

The Royal Navy has said the training will continue into 2027 and include major NATO exercises, ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth taking over from HMS Prince of Wales as the UK’s flagship and high-readiness strike carrier later that year.

Commanding Officer Captain Claire Thompson said the exercises were helping the crew rebuild the skills needed to carry out aviation operations safely and effectively and ensure the ship was ready to support NATO missions if required.

The latest drills come after members of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s crew marched through Edinburgh last week, where they were greeted by crowds during a ceremonial parade.