A Rigid Inflatable Boat (top) from HMS Illustrious exercises with an Albanian Naval Forces 44' Archangel Patrol Boat in the Adriatic Sea.

HMS Illustrious was operating off the coast of Albania conducting board exercises with fellow NATO member Albania. Members of the ships boarding party boarded the patrol boat from the Albanian Navy which was playing the part of a suspect vessel.

Supporting the exercise was a Merlin helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron which hovered overhead providing top cover to the boarding teams. Boarding operations are regularly practised by Royal Navy ships as they can be called upon to do this at any time, anywhere in the world.

HMS Illustrious is taking part in Cougar, a three month deployment to the Mediterranean as part of the United Kingdom’s Response Force Task Group, exercising with key allies. Exercises will include Corsican Lion, which will test the maritime element of the UK-French Joined Expeditionary Force, and Exercise Albanian Lion which will provide superb faculties for the Lead commando group to train with Albanian forces, consolidating our relationship. This image is available for high resolution download at www.defenceimages.mod.uk subject to the terms and conditions of the Open Government License at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/. Search for image number 45154611.jpg

Photographer: LA(Phot) Dean Nixon Image 45154611.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk

For latest news visit www.mod.uk Follow us: www.facebook.com/defenceimages