HMS Protector prepares for the Antarctic

HMS Protector is preparing for its next mission to the Antarctic after participating in the longest-running military exercise in the world, Unitas, off the coast of Chile, according to a Royal Navy news release.

The Royal Navy’s icebreaker swapped its usual polar scientific operations for high-intensity boarding drills and naval exercises as part of a multi-national task force.

This year’s Unitas, Latin for “unity,” saw participation from 24 nations, with 19 warships, 19 aircraft, and 4,300 personnel conducting traditional warfare operations as well as cyber and information warfare training.

The exercise stretched across 2,000 miles, from the Strait of Magellan and Drake’s Passage near Antarctica to Puerto Aldea further up Chile’s coast. HMS Protector stood out with her striking red and white livery, acting as a key platform for a series of boarding operations, including drills by U.S., Chilean, Mexican, and Colombian troops.

During the exercise, the ship played the role of a civilian vessel suspected of smuggling arms, with one crew member assuming the persona of ‘Pablo the smuggler.’ The task was to locate and capture him, allowing troops to practise ship boarding and clearance procedures. The exercise helped foster cooperation among South American and partner forces, aimed at promoting stability and security across the continent.

Commander Mark Vartan, HMS Protector‘s Executive Officer, reflected on the exercise, saying: “It was a unique opportunity to represent the Royal Navy and Great Britain in the longest-running multinational maritime exercise anywhere in the world. Building new relationships and reinforcing longstanding associations in an area of the globe that the RN rarely now has the opportunity to visit, will have been a first for many of the ship’s company.”

The exercise provided opportunities for HMS Protector‘s crew to engage with navies from across the Americas and Europe. Notably, several decommissioned Royal Navy ships, such as the former HMS Sheffield (now Almirante Williams) and HMS Norfolk (now Almirante Cochrane), were also active participants, serving in the Chilean Navy.

Chief Petty Officer Alex Ferrier commented: “We had unique opportunities to network and collaborate with navies from other nations. The exercise facilitated multinational communications and boarding drills, providing valuable practice for the ship’s aviation capabilities, particularly in setting up the helideck for fast-roping operations.”

The naval task force conducted a variety of operations, including search and rescue, force protection, and boarding exercises with fast-roping drills onto Protector‘s flight deck from helicopters.