British warships gear up for Trident Juncture

Two of the Royal Navy’s largest warships have left port and are sailing to the starting point of the biggest NATO exercise in 20 years.

HMS Ocean sailed from Livorno while HMS Bulwark sailed from Toulon straight into the warm up phase of Exercise Trident Juncture.

Both vessels have spent months preparing for the ambitious exercise which will see around 36,000 personnel from more than 30 nations taking part in locations around Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Ocean visited Livorno to stock up on supplies and embark US Marines in preparation for their role in the “live” phase of NATO’s biggest exercise for 20 years – which will take place in Spain and Portugal at the start on November.

Since leaving the UK last month, Ocean has hosted the UK Maritime Battle Staff as it conducted a major ‘table top’ wargame and tested the communications that will enable it to command NATO’s warships in the forthcoming training scenarios.