Marines training off the coast of Carnoustie were joined by a plucky new recruit after a seal boarded the Navy’s flagship vessel.
The slippery customer managed to get on board HMS Bulwark undetected while the ship sat at anchor off the east coast.
Bulwark was taking part in the training operation Joint Warrior, which started last week and will continue for the next fortnight along the coasts of Scotland.
The inquisitive animal sat and watched the bemused crew for around half an hour before making a quick escape when it was approached by an officer.
Air Aviation Officer, Lt Sarah Filshie, said: “It’s rather unusual to have a seal actually come on board, but he seemed very inquisitive and interested in what we were up to.
“He stayed for about half an hour before one of the other officers approached him to see if he needed any help getting back into the water, and then he just turned around and went back out again.”
Joint Warrior kicked off on Friday when 42 Commando Royal Marines launched an aviation assault on Barry Buddon beach to practise landing on the shores of a hostile nation and being ready to fight as the start of operation Joint Warrior.
The exercise involves more than 40 warships, 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters from the UK, Netherlands, Canada, France, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Germany.
Over 12,000 personnel will be putting their war-fighting skills to the test over the next two weeks and by the end of the exercise the RAF, army, and Royal Navy will have more than a dozen warships and submarines, including HMS Montrose and submarine HMS Talent, involved in the operation.