HMS Albion has left the UK bound for the Norwegian fjords to take part in the largest NATO military exercise in Norway in more than 30 years.
The Royal Navy say here that HMS Albion is heading for the Arctic as the spearhead of amphibious/commando forces taking part in Exercise Cold Response – a month-long test by land, sea and air of allied forces to operate in one of the most challenging environments on the planet.
“Albion prepared for her Arctic mission with intensive operational training in and around Plymouth which culminated earlier this month in a joint disaster relief/civilian evacuation test, working side-by-side with the Dutch Navy’s HNLMS Karel Doorman. Alongside landing support ship RFA Mounts Bay, Albion leads the UK’s amphibious input into Cold Response, with “a significant level” of littoral strike operations – traditional-style commando raids – staged in the fjords, with the British force integrating with numerous allies, including the US, Norwegians, French, Germans and Italians.”
Captain Simon Kelly, HMS Albion’s Commanding Officer, was quoted as saying:
“The UK has long had a very specific roll up in the high north in the Arctic. And it’s all part of our routine development of that capability. Our ability to plug into and integrate into larger task groups is absolutely the core of all our capabilities, and it’s that integration into the bigger piece of NATO, that collective ability which really brings the fighting edge to NATO.”
You can read more from the Royal Navy here.
Safe sailing.
To think we nearly dropped our Amphibious capability. What is the Govt doing to harden the armed forces? Immediately need to fit our warships with (Camm and a ship killing missile). Too much hot air and not enough rearming.
Jono well said mate,after what has kicked off in ukraine ,bozo and Co or the next government better get our forces up gunned ,up manned and a lot of bloody tanks and artillery to buy ,order leopard tanks or abrams or purpose build a new tank factory
And watch them go rusty for the next 50 years. seem to forget we have only just finished Paying for the last world war, more suitable equipment over ones we don’t have the manpower to operate. and Europe was so thankful last time. Ukraine sold weapons to Russia and China. and yet now is suffering at the same hands.
The Germans have announced E100bn extra funding, but I have the feeling our government’s response will be the old “We’re one of the few who meet the 2%….blah” – when in reality us meeting the 2% must be some kind of creative accountancy when you look at the huge gaps in capability we have allowed to develop. We can all create shopping lists but we should have at a minimum 200 fighter aircraft, an additional 4 destroyers – so we can independently deploy our amphibious and/or carrier strike force, at least 200 tanks, and the ability to deploy and support… Read more »
simple question, HOW DO YOU MAN THESE FEW EXTRA ITEMS. ??? dads army
Now, you say ‘simple question’, but then you write a statement in all capital letters, concluded with a full stop, and subsequently add three question marks; your ability to communicate is clearly compromised in some manner. May I ask, is the word ‘simple’ more of a reflection of the enquirer, rather than the enquiry?
The army was 103,000 only a decade ago.
Maybe now will be the time to reactivate Bulwark? If it kicks off we will need ways to transport armour and quickly.
HMS Prince of Wales going to Norway will she actually have any jets?
The answer is yes, Numbers is still not a item that is available from the MOD or the NAO, due to delays in pilot training. Yes we have 23.5 F35s but it was guesstimate we could only put 50% in the air at one time, as pilot numbers is around 12.