Supercarrier the USS George H.W. Bush (Pic: PA)
A giant aircraft carrier which is the world's newest and most powerful surface ship dropped anchor off the UK today in order for its crew to make a port visit.
A total of 5,300 sailors from the US Navy's aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush are expected to visit Portsmouth, Hampshire, following the ship's arrival this morning.
The vessel has to anchor off Stokes Bay because it is too large to fit into Portsmouth Harbour.
The warship completed war games in UK waters with HMS Dauntless and HMS Gloucester from the Royal Navy before its arrival in the Solent.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: "The 97,000-ton Bush carries in excess of 70 aircraft from eight squadrons and 5,300 sailors and aircrew.
"The 1,100ft nuclear-powered supercarrier, commissioned at the beginning of 2009, is too large to enter Portsmouth Harbour so dropped anchor in the sheltered waters of Stokes Bay.
"Two other foreign vessels from the exercise - the destroyer USS Truxtun and the Spanish frigate ESPS Almirante Juan De Borbon - will spend the weekend in Portsmouth Naval Base."
Exercise Saxon Warrior is one of the largest war games hosted by the Royal Navy in UK waters in recent years with other Nato forces, plus RAF and British Army units also taking part.
The USS George HW Bush is set to depart on Tuesday morning.
