A decommissioned US warship, USS Klakring, was sunk last Monday during a training exercise off Scotland's west coast. The vessel was hit by a missile and a torpedo before sinking in the North Atlantic, approximately 170 miles (274km) off the Outer Hebrides.
The sinking occurred during Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026, which involved both US and UK armed forces. The former guided missile frigate was targeted by a missile from USS Paul Ignatius and a torpedo from USS Massachusetts. The UK's Royal Navy also tested "ship-busting" weapons during the exercise.
The US Navy stated that USS Klakring, which entered service in 1983 and was decommissioned in 2013, underwent a "rigorous" cleaning process to remove contaminants and old equipment. Personnel also checked for the presence of whales and dolphins before the live-firing exercise commenced, in compliance with environmental regulations.