For the second time in a matter of weeks Britain’s most hi-tech warship joined forces with the world’s most potent surface ship: a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft.
In the foreground is USS Abraham Lincoln, her deck crammed with 35 F18 jets of various configurations, three Hawkeye AWACs early warning aircraft, three EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare specialists and six Seahawk helicopters (plus a seventh hovering over the stern).
As well as an impressive demonstration of ‘parking’ by the deck handlers, this only comprises a little over half of Carrier Air Wing Two which are permanently assigned.
In the background, HMS Daring, the Royal Navy’s leading air defence destroyer, and, if they were airborne, capable of tracking every single aircraft in Carrier Air Wing Two simultaneously and then some...and then some more, and a few more again...
Sandwiched between the two in the Arabian Sea is the oiler USNS Guadalupe.
USS Lincoln is carrying out combat flight missions in support of Enduring Freedom, codename for the US mission in Afghanistan, as well as wider maritime security duties.
Daring’s days in the region are drawing to a close; her replacement, HMS Diamond, has sailed from Portsmouth to take over in a few weeks time.
Since departing back in January, Daring has exercised with four US carrier strike groups: the Lincoln (twice) and the Carl Vinson and Enterprise (once a piece).
Tomick attached the following image(s):
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