All hands on deck, and another in the sky as HMS Duncan gets a resupply from HMS Prince of Wales

As Nato's premier anti-submarine exercise in Northern Europe continues to gain momentum, attention briefly shifted from hunting submarines to sustaining the fleet as stores were transferred from HMS Prince of Wales to HMS Duncan.

While at sea, vertical replenishment (VERTREP) – demonstrated in the video above by a Merlin Mk2 and Wildcat helicopter – is a highly effective form of logistics, allowing cargo, weapons and provisions to be transferred without the need for ships to sail side by side. 

Both the Royal Navy's flagship and the Type 45 destroyer are currently halfway through their deployment in the North Atlantic as part of Nato's Arctic Sentry and the UK's Operation Firecrest, designed to bolster regional security and deter Russian aggression. 

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• Exercise Dynamic Mongoose: Nato's submarine hunting skills put to the test

Prior to the resupply, while HMS Prince of Wales continued to brave the bitter winds during an exercise which saw F-35-B Lightning jets launching from her flight deck, HMS Duncan made a fleeting visit home. 

During her weekend visit in her affiliated city of Dundee, crew members took part in remembrance events and spent time with a number of visitors, including Police Scotland, Sea and Air Cadets, and the wider community.