Royal Navy aviators are undergoing intensive training in the Norwegian fjords, preparing for HMS Prince of Wales’ flagship deployment to the Pacific Rim later this year, according to a news update.
Personnel from 815 Naval Air Squadron, normally found aboard Royal Navy frigates and destroyers, are currently embarked on the Norwegian frigate Otto Sverdrup, participating in the Anglo-Norwegian exercise Tamber Shield 2025. Their training is a crucial step before they join the HNoMS Roald Amundsen, which will form part of the UK-led carrier strike group.
Before embarking, the Wildcat helicopter team trained at the Royal Norwegian Navy’s safety centre, where they adapted to Norwegian emergency response procedures. Exercises included crash rescue scenarios—simulated with wrecked vehicles—and live fire drills on a burning helicopter hulk, using Norwegian firefighting equipment, which differs from British kit.
Despite the challenge, Royal Navy sailors impressed their hosts with their speed and effectiveness. Air Engineering Technician Connor Miller praised the hands-on experience:
“My favourite part of the course was getting hands-on with the rescue equipment and using it on the cars. It gave me an appreciation of how difficult it is to gain access to a vehicle but also kept me thoroughly entertained throughout.”
The firefighting and flood response training also mirrored methods used in Royal Navy training facilities in Portsmouth and Plymouth, helping British and Norwegian sailors work seamlessly together.
The HNoMS Roald Amundsen will deploy as an escort vessel for HMS Prince of Wales, carrying two Royal Navy Wildcat flights to bolster its capability. As part of Tamber Shield, British and Norwegian forces are conducting missile drills, countering fast attack craft, and honing torpedo defence tactics—critical skills for defending a carrier strike group in contested waters.
The Norwegian Royal Navy’s professionalism and training approach have made a strong impression on the Royal Navy’s aircrews. Air Engineering Technician Matt ‘Godders’ Godfrey highlighted the hospitality and efficiency of the Norwegian forces in the news release:
“The Norwegian attitude to training and service makes them a formidable ally. Their familiarity with our procedures, built over past Tamber Shield exercises, has meant a quick start to proceedings.”
With hindsight QE class ought to have been 3x America class LHDs and we would have retained a credible amphibious capability and have had more and a much better balanced navy.
Have you any idea how large the crew on one of those is?
We would be much better off using the uplift to build some proper cab friendly flat top hybrids.
The question is what tempo is required? Are you looking for a full cab carrier or is MRSS enough? What are the scenarios it would be useful for?
Fair points on the crew and alternative, but you get my drift. I supported the QE build program – brilliant engineering. In many ways it drove the rebuilding of UK warship building and made a tangible contribution to keeping Scotland in the union. Tempos and scenarios are for the SDR – good luck. What with the changes in Nato and the EU that Ukraine and Trump and causing, its sobering that the French proposal of sharing 2 cats and traps carriers lost out to F-35B and T23 Lifex. MRSS will have to be a miracle worker.
“ ts sobering that the French proposal of sharing 2 cats and traps carriers lost out to F-35B”
That was never an option.
UK was always VSTOL and France was always cats and nuclear.
UK was never interesting in using French fighters which would have been the outcome if we’d gone down the common route.
We were only VSTOL at the end after flip flopping at least twice and even then only once Cameron realised the costs of F35C and retro fitting EMALs and lead times involved , after that ‘pre-requsite’ had been forgotten about .
I think Dr. Alexander Clark talks about having both in his video, but I could be wrong. The video is called “85% is still a First! The Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers…” a good watch.
I took part in Northern Merger a few times. Even the Norwegian Home Guard are amazing people. Anyone wishing to read about Norwegian spirit should read “The Shetland Bus”.
Has anyone heard of a report doing the rounds that says the US want in on the GCAP??
Highly doubt it. They have two fighter programmes underway, and they would only join a multinational coalition if they have majority control. Plus, i doubt Japan, Italy or the UK want the US involved. The entire point of the programme was to get away from US influence on defence.
Apparently the Air Force and Navy versions have been put on hold for budgetary reasons. The Air Force have other projects that take priority like the Raider, similar with the Navy that are focusing more along subs. The estimated cost of an airframe of their versions us $300 million. Taking a share of ours would make sense all round. But as you say they’d want to take the lead and sod everyone else.
Given that public and establishment opinion has recently swung back to favouring the NGAD and F/A-XX heavy approach, I expect they’ll be built eventually, and will likely be superior to the GCAP in terms in initial capability.
Still, I agree – GCAP should firmly be kept out of the hands of the US.
Trump admires QEC and has only commented on their price point.
$300m per frame is quite the sticker price.
I read that that Pentagon have proposed an 8% cut each year for 5 years. Apparently they have identified 17 areas they want to focus on. I’m not sure if their 6th gen fighter is on that list but with those cuts somethings got to give.
hi
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The Wildcats were carrying Sea Venom as well as Martlet, so it’s good to see that the heavy help AShM is once again part of the RN.