Get you up to speed: Royal Marines conduct covert raid from German U-boat during NATO exercise
The Royal Marines executed a covert commando raid from the German U-boat U-35 in the Arctic during a major NATO exercise. Commandos used inflatable raiding craft to reconnoitre enemy positions and coordinate naval gunfire before returning to the submarine.
The Royal Marines conducted a covert commando raid from the German U-boat U-35 during the Cold Response 26 military exercise, which involved 14 nations and over 25,000 personnel, according to reports. The second in command of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron stated that “the ability to covertly insert reconnaissance teams ashore via Inflatable Raiding Craft launched from a submarine is indispensable” in the Arctic’s challenging conditions.
The UK and Norway have committed to stepping up their joint military partnership in the Arctic, as NATO allies aim to strengthen security across the region against threats from Russia. This collaboration forms part of the ongoing Cold Response 26 exercise, which involves more than 25,000 personnel from 14 nations.
Inside the daring Arctic commando raid involving 25,000 Royal Marines | News World
The Royal Marines have carried out a covert commando raid launched from a German U-boat during the largest military exercise held in the Arctic so far this year.
Commandos surfaced aboard the submarine U-35 in a remote fjord roughly 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
The troops – part of specialist units designed to carry out reconnaissance and direct naval gunfire from behind enemy lines – slipped silently away on inflatable raiding craft.
Once their mission was completed, they returned to the submarine and disappeared beneath the waves.
Royal Marine Commando boat operators on the harsh Arctic waters of Norway (Picture: LPhot Hutchins/UK MOD©/Cover Media)
British troops on a inflatable raiding craft perched on a German submarine (Picture: LPhot Hutchins/UK MOD©/Cover Media)
The exercise was part of Cold Response 26 (CORE 26), a major Nato drill involving 14 nations and more than 25,000 personnel.
Led by Norwegian forces, the aim is to conduct cold-weather training and test defence concepts and the integration of Allied Forces while showing presence in the region.
As well as the UK, personnel taking part include troops from America, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
The shore reconnaissance team approach a rising submarine as part of the huge Nato exercise taking place in the Arctic this week (Picture: LPhot Hutchins/UK MOD©/Cover Media)
Around 1,500 Royal Marine commandos have been operating in northern Norway since January, building up to CORE 26.
The aim of the mission carried out on March 3 was to slip in unseen and remain hidden while reconnoitering ‘enemy’ positions. Commandos then called in naval gunfire from allied warships before making their getaway.
Specialist elements of the UK’s highly skilled Commando Force: The Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS), Shore Reconnaissance Troop (SRT) and 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery all took part.
Commandos prepare to swim from the submarine before it dives below the depths (Picture: LPhot Hutchins/UK MOD©/Cover Media)
SRS boarded the German U-boat using an Inflatable Raiding Craft and stowing all their kit before diving below the surface.
Once in position, they disembarked the boat under the guise of night to establish an observation post to allow 148 Battery to confirm a target to a partner force ship to execute naval fires.
The second in command of SRS, whose identity cannot be revealed for operational reasons, said: ‘In the High North’s harsh and unforgiving domain, where extreme climatic conditions and adversary vigilance dominate, the ability to covertly insert reconnaissance teams ashore via Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC) launched from a submarine is indispensable.
British troops aboard the inflatable craft and the submarine crew worked closely together to enable the precision needed for the operation to succeed (Picture: LPhot Hutchins/UK MOD©/Cover Media)
Members of Britain’s Commando Force onboard an inflatable landing craft take the brunt of a wave in Norway (Picture: LPhot Hutchins/UK MOD©/Cover Media)
‘It delivers the stealthy edge needed to penetrate denied areas, deny the enemy sanctuary, collect vital intelligence on subsurface and littoral threats and shape the operational environment before any escalation.
‘This insertion capability from below the waves provides critical initiative to Nato in one of the planet’s most strategically contested regions.
The UK and Norway have committed to stepping up their joint military partnership in the Arctic, as Nato allies look to strengthen security across the region against threats from Russia.
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