Royal Marines Involved In Arctic Rescue On Eve of Major Exercise
Members of 30 Commando’s Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) have assisted Norwegian Police search and rescue personnel in rescuing two missing hikers in a remote area in the mountainous Helligskogen region, that borders Finland and Sweden. Four Royal Marines Commandos used snowmobiles to assist in the recovery of the lost hikers along with offering maps and avalanche equipment to the Norwegian authorities. The Squadron’s Operations room at the Hellingskogen military camp became a staging hub for the duration of the rescue, where temperatures had dropped below -20c.
Mountain Leader, Warrant Officer 2 Dave Strickson detailed the team’s efforts:
‘Thankfully, we were stood down when the first Norwegian team to deploy found the hikers in a mountain shelter… Following the incident, all involved came back to Helligskogen to conduct an after-action review and to thank us for our support and hospitality… From a squadron perspective and all parties involved, this was an excellent example of partnering and everyone is looking forward to training together in the future.’
The Royal Marines have long standing experience in working in artic environments from their Second World War and Cold War deployments and continue to conduct training and exercises in Artic regions. They currently have established a encampment in Skjold close to the Norwegian city of Tromso called camp Viking. Which will act as a operations hub for the next decade at the tip of the Arctic spear. Norway hosting a bi-annual exercise called Cold Response, the exercise has since been renamed Nordic Response after Finland joined NATO in May 2022.
The SRS is made up of Royal Marines from 30 Commando’s Information Exploration Group and has been dubbed the eyes and ears of the UK’s Commando element. Their focus being on gathering intelligence and learning about the topography of the area, rather than be drawn into open combat. Their work preceding larger amphibious landings or Commando strike team insertions. Thanks to the efforts of the Norwegian authorities and the Royal Marines both Hikers were found safe.
Elements from the UK’s Commando Brigade, including 30 Commando, will now be taking part in Nordic Response with 20,000 NATO troops, 50 warships, submarines and other vessels and more than 110 aircraft from 14 nations set to take part in the exercise.