Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group gathers momentum ahead of Exercise Steadfast Defender

The UK's Carrier Strike Group is assembling as it gears up for participation in Nato's largest exercise since the Cold War.

HMS Portland and RFA Tidesurge joined HMS Prince of Wales, as she sailed north to take a central role in Exercise Steadfast Defender.

Merlin and Wildcat helicopters also embarked on the 65,000-tonne ship, joining the F-35B fighter jets that landed on the aircraft carrier while she was sailing in the North Sea after leaving her home base at RAF Marham, in Norfolk.  

• Sennelager 'perfect' for pushing rapid response Desert Rats across Europe for start of exercise
• Steadfast Defender 24: Hundreds of British Army vehicles join Nato's biggest exercise
• Royal Navy's smallest ships take on huge challenge as they brave weeks of rough seas

The exercise will see the aircraft carrier embark more jets than ever before.

The F-35 fighter jets of joint RAF and Royal Navy 617 Squadron, 'the Dambusters', comprise just one element of the UK Carrier Strike Group which also includes 11 helicopters, Royal Navy escort ships and support vessels from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, including tanker RFA Tidesurge and frigate HMS Portland.

Accompanied by her escort ships, HMS Prince of Wales will be deployed in the North Atlantic, where temperatures are anticipated to plummet below -10°C, and winds are forecast to exceed 40 knots, presenting a challenge for both equipment and personnel.

The Carrier Strike Group will join up with Nato allies in the North Sea before participating in exercises off the coast of Norway.

Exercise Steadfast Defender will see the UK deploy 20,000 military personnel.

Nato's largest exercise since the Cold War involves 31 Nato nations and Sweden taking part in a series of exercises across Europe to simulate repelling an invasion by Russian forces.