Royal Marines ramp up Arctic training as new kit is bedded in

Nearly 2,000 personnel from across the UK Commando Force are operating in Northern Norway's harsh mountainous terrain during Winter Deployment 25, as they underscore the UK's commitment to the defence of the High North.

New equipment – such as the L403 rifle and snowmobiles – is being rolled out as Commandos undertake intensive extreme cold weather training, learning to survive, move, and fight across the unforgiving environment.

To highlight their continued development, innovation, and dedication to Arctic warfare, the Royal Marines hosted a number of high-profile visitors – from NATO, the Joint Expeditionary Force, the Ministry of Defence in the UK, and representatives from allies Norway and Sweden.

The Royal Navy’s Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Martin Connell, was also in attendance as the Commandos laid on demonstrations and held discussions on their vital role in Northern Norway at Camp Viking in Skjold (74 miles south of Tromsø).

VAdm Connell said: “It’s been a fascinating 24 hours inside the Arctic Circle with the UK Commando Force as they hone their winter warfighting skills, working alongside our Norwegian allies as we sharpen our commitment to NATO.

“Not many people can operate in this unforgiving environment.”

The guests experienced first-hand the harsh conditions in which the Royal Marines, Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), and Army Commandos train for operations in the High North. Temperatures are known to plummet to -35°C, and polar nights mean the sun doesn’t ‘rise’ until the end of January.

The visitors travelled in Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and in the Commando Force’s Viking-protected all-terrain vehicles of the Armoured Support Group (ASG), and were treated to an explosive demonstration of how the Commando Force would enable the precision targeting of high-value enemy targets.

They were able to get hands-on with the latest equipment and speak to those Commandos currently undergoing training as part of Winter Deployment 25.

The Commandos are currently building up to an exercise that will test allies’ collective ability to defend Norway from invasion. Exercise Joint Viking – the largest military exercise in Norway this year – is about defending the strategically important region.

More than 10,000 troops from seven nations are set to participate in Joint Viking across Norway’s complicated coastline of fjords, inlets, and islands – and inland across the mountainous terrain.

Primarily, Joint Viking will take place in Troms County in the northern reaches of the country, inside the Arctic Circle.

The British element will form the Littoral Response Group (North) for the exercise, bringing together amphibious ships, landing craft, helicopters, and troops under one potent force for raiding operations from the coast.

The Royal Navy task group is brought together to respond to crises and events in Europe’s strategic waterways and chokepoints. Its sister group, Littoral Response Group (South), has the same responsibility for the Mediterranean and regions east of the Suez Canal.