British ships under ‘missile and torpedo attack’ in Norway

The Royal Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy have launched Exercise Tamber Shield 25, an advanced integration training operation in Norway’s fjords, ahead of HMS Prince of Wales’ landmark 2025 deployment, according to a news release.

For the next three weeks, Royal Navy helicopters and fast attack craft will train alongside the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup and the tanker HNoMS Maud to enhance cooperation between the two allied forces. The exercise will prepare both navies for high-intensity maritime operations, reinforcing their ability to respond to threats at sea.

The UK’s flagship carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is set to embark on an eight-month deployment across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Rim, where it will lead a multinational strike group composed of British and NATO warships, including Norwegian vessels.

Exercise Tamber Shield will ensure both forces can operate seamlessly together when the carrier group deploys. Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Norway’s Chief of the Naval Fleet, described the exercise as:

“An exceptional arena for advanced integration training between the Royal Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy.”

The exercise will simulate torpedo and missile attacks, with British and Norwegian fast boats engaging in high-speed combat drills throughout the fjords near Bergen.

Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron, operating from the Norwegian frigate Roald Amundsen, will play a key role in defending against and coordinating attacks.

Previous Tamber Shield exercises focused on training helicopter crews to counter fast, highly manoeuvrable enemy boats. The Fleet Air Arm’s new anti-ship missile, Martlet, will be tested against small, fast-moving targets like speedboats and jet skis. This year’s drills add new complexity, introducing torpedo attacks and deepening naval integration.