Allies join Prince of Wales and Carrier Strike Group as they transit the Atlantic

Royal Navy vessels that form the Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) deployment have been joined by allies' ships as they transit the Atlantic and head for the Nato exercise Neptune Strike.

Spanish Frigate Méndez Núñez and the Republic of Singapore Navy's RSS Formidable joined the Navy ships, although the Singaporean ship is not part of the CSG25 deployment.

RSS Formidable is a sophisticated frigate that was built in France in the early 2000s.

• CSG sends incredible message to our adversaries, says PM as he visits flagship
• PM offers thanks to members of CSG as they depart on eight-month deployment
• Second Sea Lord thanks crew as Norwegian warship with Navy Wildcat joins CSG25

She carries the same Aster air defence missiles carried by the UK's Type 45 frigates, as well as Harpoon missiles for anti-ship defence.

This comes after a photographic exercise to capture the Carrier Strike Group was cancelled due to poor weather.

HMS Prince of Wales is leading the deployment, which involves a dozen nations, on the eight-month mission to take the group to the western Pacific Rim via the Mediterranean and Middle East.

This will be alongside a series of large-scale exercises with Britain's allies and partners, with more than 4,500 British personnel involved.

This includes nearly 600 members of the RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines. 

For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25 click here.