Old US warship deliberately sunk during training off Scotland
The decommissioned US warship USS Klakring was deliberately sunk off the coast of Scotland during a joint US-UK military training exercise. The vessel was used as a target for missile and torpedo testing after undergoing rigorous environmental cleaning.
Why it matters
This event highlights international military cooperation and the standard procedures used by navies to dispose of decommissioned vessels while minimizing environmental impact.
Figure caption, The decommissioned USS Klakring was sunk at the Ministry of Defence's Hebrides range
A decommissioned US warship has been sunk off Scotland's west coast during a training exercise.
USS Klakring was hit by a missile and a torpedo before sinking in the North Atlantic about 170 miles (274km) off the Outer Hebrides last Monday.
The US Navy said the ship went a through "rigorous" cleaning process first, and personnel checked for the presence of whales and dolphins before the live-firing exercise started.
Other warships, including an aircraft carrier in 2006, have been deliberately sunk at sea by the US as part of training and to create artificial reefs for marine life.
Image source, US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Image caption, A 43-year-old frigate was used for target practice
USS Klakring was sunk during Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026, which involved US and UK armed forces.
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