Royal Navy commando assault ships head for Norway
HM Ships ALBION and BULWARK will take part in international exercise...

The Devonport based commando assault ships HM Ships Albion and Bulwark are preparing to deploy shortly to the seas and fjords around Norway as part of a large, multi national amphibious exercise. 

The ships, some of the biggest warships in the Royal Navy, will be joined by the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and supported by the frigate HMS Cornwall and the Support Ship RFA Mounts Bay.  Warships, aircraft and marines from Holland and Norway are also expected to take part in the exercise.

The ships’ first task will be to transport some of the men and equipment of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines to the area before launching the marines ashore by landing craft and helicopter to conduct a variety of amphibious assaults and raids.  For the duration of the exercise HMS Bulwark will also act as the flagship for the Stonehouse based Commander Amphibious Task Group (Commodore Peter Hudson) and the Commander of HQ 3 Commando Brigade (Brigadier David Capewell).  At the same time HMS Albion will act as command ship for the overall commander of the exercise, Major General Robison.

For many marines and sailors this will be their first taste of conducting amphibious operations in the demanding arctic conditions found in and around Norway, and a great deal of time has been spent training and preparing for the unique challenges that will be faced.

Speaking as the ships prepared themselves to deploy for what will be a 7 week exercise, the Commanding Officer of HMS Bulwark Captain Jeremy Blunden said: “The development and maintenance of the Royal Navy’s ability to conduct this type of amphibious operation in a cold weather environment is absolutely vital, and ensures that we retain the flexibility and capability which allows us to deploy anywhere in the world at any time.  The arctic weather that we will experience in Norway will be extremely demanding but we have all the necessary equipment we need and all the sailors and marines are looking forward to the challenge.”