The AURIGA deployment is a large-scale joint maritime operational exercise that lasts four months involving the U.K., U.S. and French navies.
A number of Royal Navy vessels are currently deployed to the eastern seaboard of the USA as part of the AURIGA multinational Naval Task Group.
The Task Group is commanded by Commodore Simon Ancona whose aim over the deployment is to ensure the development of a range of maritime capabilities by maximising the value of training opportunities for all joint and coalition partners involved.
Vessels involved in the Task Group include the Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland, the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52) , RFA Fort George, French nuclear submarine FS Perle, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Liverpool.
The Task Force departed Scotland last month and once at sea started conducting routine serials to ensure the Task Group maintained full readiness.
Man-overboard exercises, where a life-sized dummy is thrown overboard and recovered, and response to discovering an exercise fire onboard HMS Sutherland tested whole ship reactions to any eventuality at sea.
Elements of the AURIGA Task Group then concentrated on integrating helicopter flying serials.
The first surface exercise and a boarding exercise were conducted between USS Barry (DDG-52) and HMS Sutherland.
As part of their preparation, the boarding teams' training advanced with rapid roping evolutions being conducted. This allows for a speedy insertion of the boarding team from a helicopter when time is of the essence.
The main drive for elements of the AURIGA Task Group was on honing their submarine-hunting skills during the transit between the UK and Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Working as a combined unit they hunted, avoiding counter-detection, and engaged in simulated underwater battles with FS Perle who proved to be a worthy adversary.
In the two-week period up to arriving in Norfolk, it is estimated 29,100 'pings' of sound were transmitted into the water to enable early detection of the submarine.
Throughout the past two weeks logistics and engineering departments have also been busy ensuring essential stores and equipment are in the correct place by replenishing from RFA Fort George to the other units.
This ensured that the ships could repair defects efficiently and even saw a transfer of crisps when the shop onboard HMS Sutherland unexpectedly ran out - on receipt of the resupply high levels of morale were restored.
On Saturday 8 May USS Barry (DDG-52) and HMS Sutherland conducted a successful exercise with submarine USS Dallas (SSN-700), in conjunction with protecting the high-value unit RFA Fort George.
HMS Sutherland's office was also kept very busy that day exchanging money, with a total of $52,165 exchanged in one day ahead of the ship's first visit to Norfolk.
Commodore Ancona took the opportunity to visit vessels within his Task Group during a photograph exercise, with HMS Sutherland, RFA Fort George, USS Barry (DDG-52) and FS Perle joined by submarine USS Dallas (SSN-700), prior to arriving at the Task Group's destination of Norfolk, Virginia.
Elements of the Task Group will also participate in the International Fleet Review taking place in Halifax to celebrate the Centennial of the Canadian Navy.
Later on in the deployment the Amphibious Task Group consisting of approximately 2,000 personnel and 3 ships will join for the final exercise. HMS Albion, HMS Ocean, RFA Largs Bay.The deployment will focus on a series of US and Canadian exercises with the principal aim of enhancing our Operational Capability by training with our coalition partners in traditional war-fighting areas of Carrier Strike, Amphibious Assault and Anti-Submarine Warfare operations.
Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald comments on his visit to the HMS Ark Royal
and the Royal Navy's work with NATO and the US Navy.
The Task Group is Commanded from HMS ARK ROYAL by Commodore Simon Ancona Royal Navy, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group.
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