Britain’s Commandos are heading to northern Norway ahead of NATO’s biggest Arctic exercise in a generation, as according to a Ministry of Defence news release, the UK underscores its commitment to security in the High North.
Elements of the UK Commando Force, including Royal Marines, Army Commandos and the Commando Helicopter Force are bound for the the northern borders of NATO to deter Russia.
“Three months of rigorous preparations have led to this point as more than a thousand Commandos begin operating in one of the world’s most inhospitable environments, where temperatures are known to plummet to -50c and where polar nights mean the sun doesn’t ‘rise’ until the end of January. Royal Marines established an encampment in Skjold (40 miles south of Tromsø) – known as Camp Viking – which is to be their operations hub for the next ten years as they continue to be at the tip of the Arctic spear.
The Royal Marines have a long tradition of cold weather and mountain warfare dating back to the 1940s, and continue to build on the strong bond between Norway and the UK. The Commandos will be sharpening their ability to survive, move and fight across the tough Arctic terrain as they build up to an exercise which will test Allies’ collective ability, for the first time, to defend the Nordic regions – including Norway, Sweden and Finland – from invasion.”
More than 20,000 NATO troops, 50 warships, submarines and other vessels and more than 110 fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft will take part in the exercise, with the Norwegian hosts expecting participants from 14 nations.
“The opening of Arctic trade routes and the constant threats, requires the UK to support NATO and our Scandinavian allies more than ever,” said Major Ric Cole, spokesperson for the Commando Force.
“Since World War 2 and the first use of Commandos, we have trained and operated from the fjords and inlets, pushing deep into the frozen interior. The UK Commando Force remains the partner of choice for our Norwegian counterparts, and increasingly to new NATO member Finland along with Sweden, whose Special Operations Forces and Coastal Rangers will be working with the Royal Marines. Together, and with US and Dutch involvement, we seek to develop a potent force capable of Defending NATO’s Arctic flank.”
Usually Norway hosts the bi-annual exercise. However, since Finland joined and Sweden’s expected membership to NATO, the exercise – previously called Cold Response – now encompasses the wider region and has been renamed Nordic Response.
Great training opportunities now Sweden and Finland have joined.
Of the elephant in room is how they would get their kit there if we lose the Albions.
By Army commandos, I take it they mean the gunners for example.
Q. Is there a dedicated Field Ambulance for Arctic operations? Setting up a mobile hospital in those climes must be arduous to say the least.
Q. I know 253 had both CP and Arctic warfare trained MP, but, with regard to the Geneva Convention, handling p.o.w must be difficult. Any thoughts?
“ Of the elephant in room is how they would get their kit there if we lose the Albions.”
Back to the bad old days of exercises with cross Chanel ferries? That was the norm before the Bays, Albions and Ocean were ordered.
Or the Gosport ferry 🙂
We were put on RFA Sir Bedivere(iirc) from Kent to Zeebrugge, getting on was interesting, adjusting your eyes to the even darker interior of the hull just to sleep a landi and trailer sliding down the 45° ramp, towards me did not make me a happy ‘shipmate.’ Gunning our landi and trailer up said ramp, like a V1 rocket, just to emerge onto a crowded deck with an emergency brake meant volunteering for the advance party would have been the sensible option – they went Dover crossing. The exercise was named Ex. Plain Sailing, the Company t-shirts were renamed Ex… Read more »
Does that mean if the Gosport Ferry were too leave British waters Duty free would be available . In memory of Docker Hughes and his manifesto when standing as an MP ” Duty free on the Gosport Ferry “
That made me chuckle.
Had too mention the late Docker Hughes when you mentioned the Gosport Ferry still chuckling
Is there a shop on the Gosport ferry? You wouldn’t have much of a queue, it only takes a couple of minutes to cross. I’ve taken the ferry a few times but not recently, I last crossed on the Harbour Tour from the sub museum to the Historic Dockyard
Alas no shop not even a stall , the Gentleman Docker Hughes was a character who allegedly stood for Parliament with the pledge of All Judges too have a Criminal record and Duty frees on the Gosport Ferry .Could be just an urban myth but iwe did chuckle at the time
Hilarious and sad at the same time
Don’t forget the Mersey ferries as seconded by the Navy to ferry the marines along with Vindictive to sort the Germans out Zeebrugge
It would just leave the ‘Points’ and ‘Bays’ other than Stuff. Not an ideal situation to say the least.
Think it’s high time we had some adult joined up thinking wrt defence, not just our commitments to the High North, but defence matters in general. It seems to be a bit fractured at the moment, whether that’s true or not!
Well, Scrapps is living up to his name, although in fairness, I think wasting money on T23s is nonsensical – as long as more 31s were ordered and at a faster build rate. As to a debate, neither main party is interested – the NHS seems to be gripping the national psyche and it is the NHS which needs a scalpel taking to it. Defence at 3% could spend the money wisely? The Army have shown that they can’t, the RAF are doing better and the Navy want, seemingly, rid of the ROYALs. Total shoite show and it will take… Read more »
My biggest issue is essentially writing off the two Albions at a time when we are short of hulls and getting close to a luke warm war. Grey war canoes are in very short supply and these need to be made more fightable. The way I look at it the Albions need to be fixed up pronto and kept ready to roll and the training pipeline needs to be fixed. In an emergency there will be plenty crewing desks or reserves who used to carry out the roles on Albions and can be used. This is one of the problems… Read more »
from mates’ chatter the main objection amongst the hoi polloi to a Forces or even MoD career seems to be pay, I strongly feel that if Treasury could be made to stop being a bunch of mincing flower children about funding horrible, horrible war the recruitment crisis could be cleared up shortly.
All public sector waste needs highlighting. Unions and Labour have for years conditioned the public. Maybe Tories can be radical with the MOD if that is what the public care about least? Though doubt they have time now…
Fortunately, the UK is leading a Nordic NATO block re the High North/Arctic security perimeter and trade route/maritime choke corridor. This will become increasingly important in the future w/ projected climate change. Unfortunately, a significant portion of this route is straddled by an implacable foe. Do hope the Canadians and US are similarly planning/practicing. 🤔😳🤞
They have an Op Base now…something they never had before to keep the kit in country.
Can’t help thinking it would be unwise to rely on that kit not being taken out rapidly if any shooting war were to start.
The “Army Commando’s” means 29RA and 24 RE. I’d read some of the CLR is also Army but unsure on that.
The CLR – Commando Logistics Regiment, has a Medical Squadron. “Field Ambulances” are an old term no longer used, we have Multi Role Medical Regiments and before that, Medical Regiments and Field Hospitals. And no, none dedicated to Arctic role AFAIK.
Both men will be cold but the MOD stated they are FFBNW cold weather training and the warm kit is a “well sourced UOR, on time and on budget from Millets” and both blokes are fully supported by the Cdo log using the new PFI Amazon drone delivery service! Sigh……….
Apparently, the warm weather kit is UOR and very Gucci and ally. Expect it on Ebay next month as you apparently dont need to sign for it when its issued.
I served on Bulwark for 3 years including some trips up North. I also did a far east trip where RM did their thing well outside of their High North speciality. With the recent changes in NATO membership the need for LPDs is diminished. No one is going to do Brigade sized landings against opposition. So that requirement is off the table. They were brought in for Norway RM deployments as the primary tasking. That has gone. Norway, Finland, Sweden, RM ashore OP Base Viking, Dutch Marines and JEF nations are all High North specialists. Does anyone honestly expect the… Read more »
Mate do you think these LPDs are still needed? Different role maybe? What’s their material state, could they become hoofing big missile carriers? Deffo not my area of knowledge this mate, cheers.
Is the mast high enough to parachute off? Would be a pretty spectacular BASE jump
Who knows but the advantage of having LPDs is that they give you the capability to be useful pretty much anywhere. The Falklands wasn’t seen coming, who knows where we might need to land troops. And truth be told amphibious landings tend to be a bit of a shitshow anyway unless you’re very practiced at it (and even then…)
How long before they also deploy to the southern flank. In the 80’s, the RM deployed to either Norway or Turkey.
We used to do this every year. Alongside RM commando. The unit ? AMF Based in Bulford
Not special forces. But artic trained. Huge logistical and support element. No idea if it will be reintroduced in 2024