Waters off Scotland will play host to one of the largest military exercises of its kind in Europe from the 8th to 20th of May.

Exercise Strike Warrior 21 will run from May 8th-20th as part of the final preparations for the first deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) next month, you can read more about that deployment here.

10 countries are taking part in the exercise with with 31 warships, 3 submarines, 150 aircraft and around 13,400 military personnel involved.

Notably, Australia will join the UK, the US, Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland in taking part with 34 naval units.

According to local media:

“Exercise activity will also be held in the North Minch to the west of Ullapool involving fast small boats, both civilian and military, with GPS denial operations off the west coast. Mine counter measures operations will take place in areas around Campbeltown and Loch Ewe, while joint firing activity will take place at Cape Wrath weapons range, Garvie Island and the QinetiQ Hebrides range.

The 150 aircraft involved will operate from RAF Lossiemouth, Prestwick Airport and Stornoway Airport. The exercises will mirror a broad range of crisis and conflict situations which could happen in real-world operations.”

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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20 COMMENTS

    • At least they’ll find it difficult to complain about there being no warships protecting the strategic waters of Scotland…

      • Nah they’ll complain about English imperialism and “suspicious troop movements” implying that we are repressing them instead XD.
        Honestly you can’t win with them.

  5. Do we know what contribution Australia is making to this exercise and whether they would like some company on their way back home?

  6. Wouldn’t it be great if the BBC took this opportunity to make a documentary about the Strike Warrior, in general, and QE in particular?

    Nah.. all to right-wing for Auntie.

  7. Great Pic…and great to see. One comment…about to go from this exercise to the far side of the planet till the end of the year waving the Flag for all things British etc etc and she has already got the start of significant rusty streaks coming down her sides. Hate to think what she may look like by the time she rocks into Tokyo harbour,

    A stop off in one of the Marine maintenance yards in Singapore for a brush up would pay dividends in image before heading North East

    • RN ships have the best paint specs, better than most comercial shipping. Rust will happen, butonly after extensive operations. I don’t see the rust streaks in the picture. Some general discolouring below the forward aircraft lift, but that could be something else.

      • Yes.. that’s the area I was looking at. Looking at it again it could be a filter effect caused by column of emissions coming from the funnel of the 45 in foreground. ..cheers P

        • Or chain lube/hydraulic oil from the lift mechanism?

          The oil or grease might simply be holding dirt to the hull surface?

          The days of a bloke with a roller hanging over the side with a can of stores, no hazard marking that I can remember, Grey that looked like it had been made of god knows what are thankfully consigned to the dustbin of history.

    • Should have the dazzle cammo like on the rivers. Then the rust will not show as much and also I quite like the look. 😀 rivers do look a bit meaner with dazzle paint job then the standard gray. Anyone good with paint shop to mock it up?

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