More than 15,000 troops from a dozen nations – including upwards of 2,000 Royal Navy personnel – will converge on northern Norway at the beginning of next month for demanding winter war games.
It’s the first time in two years Britain’s taken part en masse in Cold Response which tests the abilities of allied nations to fight in a particularly hostile environment (even in March temperatures regularly dip below -30˚C).
The Navy is sending its flagship, HMS Bulwark, plus helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious, escorting destroyer HMS Liverpool, helicopters of Commando Helicopter Force and Culdrose-based Merlins and Royal Marines of Kilo Company, 42 Commando, from Bickleigh, near Plymouth.
In addition the British ships will serve as the springboard for operations by Dutch and US marines, and Norway’s Kystjegerkommandoen – an elite amphibious unit similar to the Royal Marines, but fewer than 100 strong.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/February/16/120216-Cold-Response
It’s the first time in two years Britain’s taken part en masse in Cold Response which tests the abilities of allied nations to fight in a particularly hostile environment (even in March temperatures regularly dip below -30˚C).
The Navy is sending its flagship, HMS Bulwark, plus helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious, escorting destroyer HMS Liverpool, helicopters of Commando Helicopter Force and Culdrose-based Merlins and Royal Marines of Kilo Company, 42 Commando, from Bickleigh, near Plymouth.
In addition the British ships will serve as the springboard for operations by Dutch and US marines, and Norway’s Kystjegerkommandoen – an elite amphibious unit similar to the Royal Marines, but fewer than 100 strong.
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/February/16/120216-Cold-Response