Royal Marines Commandos on Ex Cold Response
The Royal Marines’ elite Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group training alongside NATO forces in Exercise Cold Response. Here, the Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron partnered with US forces to capture positions by air from an adversary, giving allied forces a foothold in enemy territory.
The Royal Marines’ Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron on Ex Cold Response, Norway (Royal Navy, 2020)
Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response saw 15,000 troops from ten nations taking part during February 2020, including more than 2,000 Royal Marines and Royal Navy sailors of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.
The elite SRS Commandos and airmen from the United States Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) boarded an American C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Wing at Bardufoss Air Station in northern Norway.
The crack force were then dropped into Kiruna Airfield in Sweden, where they were tasked with seizing the area from an enemy force.
According to the Royal Navy, “these Arctic exercises are designed to test the ability of allied nations in fighting in one of the most unforgiving regions on earth.”
Military Units Featured
Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron
The Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) is an element of the Royal Marines’ 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group within 3 Commando Brigade’s Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) formation. The Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron includes the Brigade Patrol Troop, an elite cadre of Mountain Leaders and Reconnaissance Operators who deploy ahead of the main brigade force to gather intelligence.
Photographer
PO Phot Si Ethell.
Camera: Fujifilm XT-3