Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal returns to Scottish waters this week to conduct flying operations off the east coast before a visit alongside at Babcock Rosyth Dockyard over the coming weekend.

The carrier sailed from her home port of Portsmouth earlier this week and has been conducting work-up of her embarked Tailored Air Group (TAG), including Sea Harriers from 800 Naval Air Squadron and Mark 7 airborne early warning (AEW) and Mark 6 utility Sea King helicopters from 849A and 771 Naval Air Squadrons respectively.

Four RAF Tornado F3 aircraft have been simulating the enemy and providing a plausible threat to the warship.

HMS Ark Royal is no stranger to Scottish waters and her commanding officer, Capt Adrian Nance, said that he and his ship’s company are delighted to be back in Scotland and are looking forward to their short operational stand-off in Rosyth, on the Firth of Forth.

HMS Ark Royal completed a major refit with Babcock Rosyth and sailed to resume her operational duties in August 2001.

Last year she took part in Operation Telic, sailing first from Portsmouth to the West Coast of Scotland to take on stores at Glen Mallan, on Loch Long near Faslane.

Whilst at sea the RFA Fleet Tanker, RFA Wave Ruler, will be in company with HMS Ark Royal to provide her with constant logistics support.

HMS Ark Royal is one of the Royal Navy's three aircraft carriers. She is 210 metres in length, has a beam of 34.99 metres and displaces 19,869 tonnes. She has a ship's company of 121 officer and 685 ratings.