Royal Navy and Norwegian forces are set to continue their exercises against submarine threats through ‘Green Eel’, following its success in June.

This joint effort aims to protect essential underwater infrastructure and will now become a yearly event.

Royal Navy Merlin helicopters from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall were initially invited to match their expertise against Norwegian and German submarines within the fjords and inlets surrounding Bergen on Norway’s western coast.

For the 100 personnel of 814 and 824 Squadrons, this posed a unique opportunity to train in a distinct environment and against varied ‘adversaries’ compared to their home waters.

As a testimony to the exercise’s significance, Captain Stuart Irwin, the Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, remarked, “Exercise Green Eel provided a successful opportunity this year for the Merlin helicopter force to refine its anti-submarine warfare tactics against live submarines. Critically it provided the final stages of tactical training for our newly qualified aviators.” He further stressed the strengthening ties, saying, “Our anti-submarine warfare partnership with Norway is stronger than ever and Green Eel will now be an annual exercise. This is part of wider engagement between the UK and Norway and comes following the recent Statement of Intent between our governments to work together in our national defence.”

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George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

15 COMMENTS

  1. The Merlin HM2 is undoubtedly a fine ASW platform but the decision to only convert 30 of the original 42 HM1s (two of the 44 delivered were lost in early crashes) was ridiculous. Converting the entire fleet to be Crowsnest capable was another strange decision as some of the aircraft will never fly as a Crowsnest platform before the system’s out of service date of 2030. No Merlin replacement helicopter design has yet been publicised as the expectation is that drones will likely assume this role in 2040?

      • That will probably end up being a ‘reassuringly expensive’, late, pile of crap that falls apart like the Sea Lion…..

        I hope we get out of that impending Euro mess…..

    • Unfortunately, the apparently ‘simple’ decision to move the searchwater Crows Nest system to Merlin has proved to be a disastrous route to go….

      Over budget and underperforming on so many levels..

      Apparently creating apertures in composite structures that were never designed to take loads, causes significant issues, who could have possibly known that, Leonardo and LM perhaps??

      Probably better off sending the Sea Kink AEW7’s to the type specialists, Carson Helicopters in the US and having them completely rebuilt and updated.

      Together with updating the radar system, it would created a capable interim system for 10-15 years of service and one hell of a lot cheaper too….

    • Agree where ASW comes, more training the better. Be in no doubt Russia’s submarine fleet is probably their best conventional weapons threat to western Europe- their army and air force have already proven themselves to be frankly rubbish.

  2. Interesting to see the Poles acquiring an ASM capability.

    Poland signs for AW101 helicoptersby Gareth Jennings

    “Poland has signed for AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters to satisfy its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) requirements.”

    LINK

    • Yep and all 4 have been delivered. They are also in negotiations to buy 22 AW101 for use as troop transports. Maybe they should have asked the U.K how we got on with ours before they were transferred to the RN.

  3. It’s truly the greatest benefit of NATO is the ability to constantly compete against numerous and capable high end opponents to sharpen skills, the ability to practice hunting American and French nuclear submarines as well as SSK’s from nearly a dozen nations allows you to hone your skills in ways that nations like China could not dream of.

  4. Off-Topic, but excellent news for Ukraine!

    Updated 11:37 AM EDT, Sun August 20, 2023Zelensky hails ‘historic’ supply of F-16s as Ukraine seeks to counter Russian air supremacy
    “At this moment, the Netherlands still owns 42 F-16s. Out of these 42, we need planes to help training in Denmark and later on in Romania,” Rutte said. He added that the Netherlands would look into whether all of the remaining planes could be supplied but stated that he could not yet give a definitive number.

    LINK

    • I have said this many times we should be building 40+ new ones for the ASW role. When the carriers have their full complement there aren’t enough left to go round.

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