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Pictured: Ships company of the Amphibious Assault Ship, HMS Albion in Norway for Exercise Cold Response 2022.

HMS ALBION AND EXERCISE COLD RESPONSE IN NORWAY

Exercise Cold Response 2022 is the winter deployment in Norway directing Commando Forces to establish the cold weather skills, both individual and collective, to deliver success on Cold Response. The conclusion of this shaping activity, force elements will be located in the north of Norway, at multiple locations, and afloat. UK Commando Force (UKCF) will aggregate and rehabilitate all force elements ready to commence Cold Response. The scenario will be used as the geopolitical construct for the exercise, with
UKCF conducting Advance Force Operations to enable NATO partner nations, at Littoral Strike Group scale.

27 March: Embark HMS Albion and experience the landing craft of the Royal Marines

The Royal Navy and the Royal Marines would like to invite media to the HMS Albion on 27 March.

HMS Albion is an amphibious transport dock of the Royal Navy. It is designed as an amphibious warfare ship. Albion carries troops, normally Royal Marines, and vehicles up to the size of the Challenger 2 main battle tank. She can deploy these forces using four Landing Craft Utility (LCUs) and four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs). A flight deck supports helicopter operations up to the size of a CH-47 Chinook.

During the visit, the media can expect to see how the landing craft project Royal Marines and their equipment ashore and recover them. They’ll see the Ops Room, potentially the Command Planning Room, the Vehicle Deck (with a combination of BV206s and engineering support vehicles), the different types of landing craft onboard, the flight deck and the Flight Control room and aircrew briefing room.

Along the way, the media will see the Fire Repair Party Posts, pass by the galley and potentially the chapel. It will be possible to interview Officer Commanding Landing Craft and Amphibious Operations and Captain Simon Kelly (ALBN CO) for a strategic overview of exercise.

Practical information:

Meeting point for media: In the vicinity of Sørreisa (To be confirmed)

When: Approx 08.00–13.00 on 27th of March. (To be confirmed)

Registration: Please register for the event by sending an email to the following address: info@mil.no not later than 15:00 CET 26 March.

Please bring press card and id.

Exact time and place will be updated online and to those who have registered.

PS! We plan to use a Landing Craft Unit. Visitors need to understand that any surface move may result in feeling a little ill. It should be a short transit of around 30 mins though. Please bring suitable clothing if you want to film and photograph from the deck while underway.

About Cold Response 2022

  • Cold Response 2022 is a Norwegian military exercise with invited allies and partner nations. The field exercise started on 14 March and concluded on 31 March 2022.
  • There will be some minor allied training and activity in April, after the field exercise.
  • The first allied troops arrived in Norway last autumn and earlier this winter to train and prepare for the exercise.
  • Over 30,000 soldiers from 27 countries, as well as a number of civilian agencies have taken part in the exercise.