Several of the Navy’s biggest warships, plus their escorts, are due back in their home ports this week at the end of a series of exercises in the United States.

Returning to Devonport are helicopter carrier HMS Ocean and Type 22 frigate HMS Cornwall, while Portsmouth will welcome back aircraft carrier HMS Invincible and Type 23 frigate HMS Marlborough.

All the ships have been taking part in the Navy’s Aurora 04 deployment, which saw almost 6,000 Service personnel taking part in a series of training scenarios which culminated in the Rapid Alliance amphibious landings, featuring the forces of a dozen nations.

HMS Ocean sailed in May with Royal Marines from 42 Commando embarked, along with Sea King, Gazelle and Lynx helicopters.

During the exercise HMS Ocean worked alongside the Carrier Group of the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy, part of the American Second Fleet, and it was the first opportunity for the largest ship in the Royal Navy to operate with another key player in the British amphibious strike force, new assault ship HMS Albion.

Cornwall supported HMS Invincible during the major exercises, and was also detailed off to provide Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) during the mock landings on the beaches of North Carolina.

Cornwall also led the maritime interdiction efforts – boarding ships from the opposition – as well as enjoying some time alongside in Charleston, Boston and New York for the Fourth of July celebrations (and where the frigate’s Commanding Officer, Capt Simon Charlier was invited to open Wall Street trading for the day by the traditional honour of ringing the bell.

Ocean was able to call in at Mayport in Florida during the series.

HMS Invincible is due back in Portsmouth towards the end of the week following her efforts on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, where she was a temporary home for Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade.

Invincible also called in at the naval ports of Norfolk, Virginia and Mayport, Florida, and a spell in nearby Port Canaveral, allowed many of the crew to travel to Orlando and the various theme park attractions, including Disney World.

While in New York the carrier hosted a reception for United Nations delegates and took part in July 4 Independence Day celebrations, where the Royal Marines Band from Dartmouth found themselves centre of attention – during the deployment the band even found themselves on coast-to-coast television.