Arbroath-based 45 Commando Royal Marines have deployed to the ice of the Arctic following a rigorous quarantine period. The deployed marines - primarily from Arbroath-based 45 Commando - are to begin their 2021 winter deployment being put through their paces in one of the world s most extreme environments. With barely four hours of daylight and temperatures well into the minus numbers of the host nation, Norway, hundreds of green berets will conduct their training in bubbles and in line with Covid-19 guidelines.
The insertion yomp of Commando Forces during their Cold Weather Survival Course near Bardufoss Exercises with Norway, the United States, the Netherlands and Germany have been cancelled by the Norwegians due to Covid-19, but crucial training has resumed in the short-term for those who have been through quarantine.
Winter warfare training in Norway for the Royals Marines
- Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
There has been an outbreak of Covid-19 among British armed forces including Royal Marines from Chivenor currently in Norway on the annual winter warfare training exercise.
The
Gazette was contacted anonymously by someone close to one of the hundreds of UK armed forces personnel on the Arctic training to say they understood several had tested positive within two weeks.
They alleged no information had been passed back to the families at home and asked why the deployment had taken place during a national lockdown.
It was announced today (January 26) that the NATO Joint Viking winter warfare exercise with more than 3,000 troops scheduled for February 8 had been cancelled due to rising coronavirus infections.