FIVE hundred Royal Marines boarded the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean at Marchwood to take part in a major joint military exercise with the US Navy.

A total of 5,900 UK service personnel will be taking part in the operation, which will rehearse the deployment of a medium-sized sea-based task force.

The marines, from 42 Commando, boarded HMS Ocean at the military port at Southampton Water yesterday.

Twenty Royal Navy ships, led by HMS Invincible, are heading off to take part in the exercise called Rapid Alliance, which is taking place off the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Hundreds of armoured vehicles, including Challenger tanks, were also being loaded for the operation, which the Navy has codenamed Aurora 04.

The exercise will help the Royal Navy practise the deployment of a maritime task group at high readiness.