Daily Express (UK): Putin is on guard — the largest warship of the Royal Navy joins a flotilla of 25 NATO ships in the Arctic
Britain will take part in the exercise "Cold Response" - joint maneuvers of NATO member countries, which will take place just a few hundred kilometers from the borders of Russia, writes the Daily Express. The tabloid calls it a signal to the Russian forces that are participating in a special operation in Ukraine.
The British Navy has sent its largest warship to join 25 NATO ships in the Arctic, sending a clear signal to Russian forces participating in a special operation in Ukraine.
The exercises, called "Cold Response", for which more than 30 thousand military personnel and a large number of pieces of equipment were sent to the northern regions of Europe with subzero temperatures, are held every two years, and the time of their holding this year is significant. British forces and assets will join the exercises with the participation of 27 countries, held just a few hundred kilometers from the Russian border against the background of a special operation in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost three weeks. After completing training together with British F-35B Lightning fighters, the British aircraft carrier Prince of Wales (HMS Prince of Wales) headed north to participate in the Cold Response maneuvers, a month-long exercise to practice joint actions of the land, sea and air forces of the allies.
A task force of troops from 11 countries landed near the coast of Norway at the beginning of exercises that will demonstrate how the combined forces will defend Norway and the northern flank of Europe from the enemy.
The participants of the exercises will simulate NATO's response actions in the event of an attack on an alliance partner, demonstrating "collective defense" in accordance with article 5 of the agreement between the member states of the alliance.
Speaking on behalf of the Royal Navy about the deployment of forces, as well as the prospect of cooperation with partners, Lieutenant Si Clark (Si Clark) said: "This is a very interesting opportunity to be a link between planes and a ship.
Although they are not currently accepted on board, the ability to fly aircraft during exercises is really a useful role for the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales."
The Royal Navy said on its website: "F-35B fighters were fielded against eight aggressor aircraft, which allowed them to hone the tactics of interaction between the ship and the fighters.
"In addition, Typhoon multi-purpose fighters (Typhoon), as well as Hawk aircraft from the 100th Squadron of the Royal Air Force, located at the Leeming base, were involved.
When the Prince of Wales headed north to the Arctic, two F-35B aircraft of the 207th Squadron of the Royal Air Force flew over the aircraft carrier, which was traveling next to the American ships "Mount Whitney" (USS Mount Whitney) and "Sullivan's" (USS The Sullivans)."
Royal Navy Commander Mark Sparrow, Officer Commanding 617 Squadron, said: "Today was a fantastic opportunity to train together with the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales, testing our tactics of interaction of air and naval forces, as well as the joint use of 5th and 4th generation Lightning and Typhoon fighters.
The 617 Squadron, which spent seven months aboard the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth (HMS Queen Elizabeth) as part of the 21st Carrier Strike Group, had a great opportunity to interact with the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales for the first time, as it fulfills its actions as a NATO headquarters ship.
The air defense exercises were held with great success, proving the ability to ensure interaction between air and naval forces."
The Prince of Wales aircraft carrier is responsible for the leadership of the NATO High-Readiness Naval Forces (an international operational and tactical group created to respond to major global events) and is involved in this role for the first time during the Cold Response exercises.
On board the aircraft carrier is the most senior staff of the Royal Navy involved in operations on the high seas, led by the commander of the strike forces of Great Britain, Rear Admiral Mike Utley, who will lead a large task force within the framework of NATO's active actions to ensure peace and stability in Europe.
Along with the Mounts Bay amphibious support ship (RFA MountsBay), the British amphibious forces during the Cold Response exercises are led by the Albion amphibious helicopter ship (HMS Albion), providing strike operations of a "significant level" in the coastal zone (traditional raids of commando commando units) during fjords, with British forces joining forces with numerous allies.
Since January, about 900 British Marines have been deployed to the Arctic in preparation for the exercises, who are practicing their skills in low temperatures.
While the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier is participating in the Cold Response exercise, the Queen Elizabeth ship of the same type is participating in important maneuvers in waters near the UK in order to prepare for operations anywhere in the world.
Author: James Lee
