Tri-Service

UK Defence In 2020: A Year In Pictures

The military has spent a lot of 2020 on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis, but operations have continued at home and overseas.

2020 has been a very busy year for the UK Armed Forces.

Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force personnel have been deployed on operations, exercises, civilian support and training around the world and at home.

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic saw a swift and wide-ranging military response – from building NHS Nightingale hospitals across the UK, to conducting mobile testing and airlifting casualties or supplies.

Ongoing operations and exercises continued, whilst new frontiers were reached.

The Royal Navy’s new Carrier Strike Group assembled for the first time, during NATO’s Exercise Joint Warrior.

The British Army launched its first ever dedicated cyber regiment.

Meanwhile, the largest military exercise run by the Royal Air Force in the UK for more than a decade took place.

Not to forget Captain Sir Tom Moore – the war veteran knighted by the Queen for his efforts in raising more than £32 million for the NHS.

Here is a selection of snapshots which capture the UK military’s major moments of 2020.

Victory Building at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, illuminated with rainbow colours to mark 20 years since lifting of LGB military ban (Picture: MOD).
January 2020: Victory Building at HM Naval Base Portsmouth joins others across the UK in being lit up to mark 20 years since the lifting of LGB military ban (Picture: MOD).
People wearing facemasks disembark from an aircraft repatriating British and other nationalities to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, following its arrival at RAF Brize Norton (Picture: PA).
February 2020: An aircraft repatriating British and other citizens to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton (Picture: PA).
Catterick Barracks Bielefeld closure.
February 2020: The British Forces Germany base at Bielefeld is handed back to Germany.
HMS Prince of Wales arrives in Liverpool (Picture: Royal Navy).
February 2020: HMS Prince of Wales arrives in Liverpool, where it opens its doors for the first time (Picture: Royal Navy).
British troops in Poland clap NHS staff battling coronavirus pandemic (Picture: MOD).
March 2020: British troops in Poland clap NHS staff on the frontline in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic (Picture: MOD).
1 Royal Anglian Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment, excel centre, help build Nightingale Hospital (Picture: MOD).
March 2020: Personnel from 1 Royal Anglian Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment, help to build an NHS Nightingale Hospital at London's Excel Centre (Picture: MOD).
HMS Tamar in Portsmouth for first time (Picture: Royal Navy).
April 2020: HMS Tamar, the Royal Navy's newest and greenest warship, arrives in Portsmouth for the first time (Picture: Royal Navy).
Armed Forces helicopter personnel train with NHS critical care staff for coronavirus medical evacuation (Picture: MOD).
April 2020: Armed Forces helicopter personnel train with NHS critical care staff for coronavirus medical evacuation (Picture: MOD).
Captain Tom Moore (Picture: PA).
April 2020: Army veteran Captain Tom Moore completes 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire in an effort to raise money for the NHS. More than £32m was raised as part of his efforts (Picture: PA).
RAF Puma Western Hebrides evacuation training (Picture: MOD).
April 2020: Personnel on board an RAF Puma helicopter for evacuation training in the Western Hebrides, Scotland (Picture: MOD).
22 Engineer Regiment Engineer 3D Printing PPE Components (Picture: MOD).
April 2020: An engineer from 22 Engineer Regiment prints PPE components as part of the military's coronavirus response (Picture: MOD).
Oxygen Tank being loaded onto RAF aircraft to reach falklands amid coronavirus support (Picture: MOD).
April 2020: An oxygen tank is loaded onto an RAF aircraft to deliver to the Falklands as part of COVID-19 support (Picture: MOD).
Royal Marines from 42 Commando conduct COVID19 Coronavirus testing at mobile testing unit they set up in Salisbury (Picture: MOD).
April 2020: Royal Marines from 42 Commando conduct coronavirus testing at a mobile testing unit in Salisbury (Picture: MOD).
Red Arrows flypast over London on VE Day 75th anniversary (Picture: MOD).
May 2020: The Red Arrows fly over London as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Many of the celebrations were disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic (Picture: MOD).
New Navy recruits traing during coronavirus pandemic at HMS Raleigh.
May 2020: New Royal Navy recruits train at HMS Raleigh amid the coronavirus pandemic.
2 SCOTS' socially distanced training due to coronavirus pandemic.
May 2020: 2 SCOTS soldiers train in a socially-distanced manner amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
First pass out parade since coronavirus lockdown. Army Training Centre, Pirbright (Picture: British Army).
May 2020: The first group of soldiers to complete basic training since the coronavirus lockdown are welcomed into the British Army at Pirbright (Picture: British Army).
Badges 13th Signal Regiment being handed out on (Picture: MOD).
June 2020: 13th Signal Regiment becomes the Armed Forces' first dedicated cyber regiment (Picture: MOD).
Dame Vera Lynn with life-size cutout of herself after being named personality of the century (Picture: PA).
June 2020: The Forces world waves goodbye to its 'sweetheart' Dame Vera Lynn, who died at the age of 103 (Library Picture: PA).
Royal Marines Commando Uniform Autumn 2020 (Picture: MOD).
June 2020: It is announced the Royal Marines Commandos are to get a brand-new uniform, as part of the 'Future Commando Force' programme (Picture: MOD).
Captain Sir Tom Moore holding medal after he received his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Windsor Castle (Picture: PA).
July 2020: Second World War veteran and NHS fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore is knighted by the Queen in a ceremony at Windsor Castle (Picture: PA).
Civilian contractors are being trained to run coronavirus mobile testing sites.
July 2020: Military personnel in London train civilian contractors to run coronavirus mobile testing sites.
Flying Officer Juliette Abson RAF Regiment officer graduate (Picture: RAF).
August 2020: The first female RAF Regiment officers graduate from RAF Honington after the corps opened up roles to women in September 2017 (Picture: RAF).
RAF personnel in hi vis jackets as they help with Birmingham's Drop and Collect coronavirus testing initiative (Picture: RAF).
September 2020: RAF personnel in hi-vis jackets as they help with Birmingham's Drop and Collect coronavirus testing initiative (Picture: RAF).
HMS Queen Elizabeth during Exercise Joint Warrior with other vessels as Carrier Strike Group forms (Picture: Royal Navy)
October 2020: HMS Queen Elizabeth forms a UK Carrier Strike Group for the first time during NATO's Exercise Joint Warrior in the North Sea (Picture: Royal Navy).
RAF aircraft take part in Ex Crimson Warrior (Picture: RAF).
October 2020: Exercise Crimson Warrior, the largest military exercise run by the Royal Air Force in the UK for more than a decade, gets under way (Picture: RAF).
The Royal British Legion’s London Poppy Day Under coronavirus restrictions personnel at static collection station (Picture: MOD).
October 2020: The Royal British Legion's London Poppy Day is held under coronavirus restrictions (Picture: MOD).
A penguin studies HMS Forth while berthed at wharf King Edward Point on remote UK overseas territory South Georgia (Picture: Royal Navy).
October 2020: Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Forth pays her second visit to the 'Gateway to Antarctica' (Picture: Royal Navy).
Sunset over Houses of Parliament Westminster (Picture: PA).
November 2020: The Overseas Operations Bill is voted through at third reading in the House of Commons (Library Picture: PA).
Members of the public register at Liverpool Football Club Anfield stadium for testing as part of the city's mass testing pilot (Picture: MOD).
November 2020: Members of the public register at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium for testing as part of the city's mass testing pilot (Picture: MOD).
November 2020: A flag bearer at Westminster Abbey in London with Boris Johnson in background, during a socially-distanced service to mark Armistice Day and the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior (Picture: PA).
November 2020: A flag bearer at Westminster Abbey in London with Boris Johnson in background, during a socially-distanced service to mark Armistice Day and the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior (Picture: PA).
CORONAVIRUS A member of the RAF provides assistance to the public in Merthyr Tydfil, the first region in Wales to participate in the UK's mass COVID testing scheme (Picture: MOD).
November 2020: The RAF assists with testing in Merthyr Tydfil – the first region in Wales to participate in the UK's mass COVID testing scheme (MOD).
Socially distanced 2 YORKS promotion parade in Cyprus.
December 2020: The Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment says his unit is the first to move to another country during a global pandemic.
Victory Building at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, illuminated with rainbow colours to mark 20 years since lifting of LGB military ban (Picture: MOD).
People wearing facemasks disembark from an aircraft repatriating British and other nationalities to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, following its arrival at RAF Brize Norton (Picture: PA).
Catterick Barracks Bielefeld closure.
HMS Prince of Wales arrives in Liverpool (Picture: Royal Navy).
British troops in Poland clap NHS staff battling coronavirus pandemic (Picture: MOD).
1 Royal Anglian Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment, excel centre, help build Nightingale Hospital (Picture: MOD).
HMS Tamar in Portsmouth for first time (Picture: Royal Navy).
Armed Forces helicopter personnel train with NHS critical care staff for coronavirus medical evacuation (Picture: MOD).
Captain Tom Moore (Picture: PA).
RAF Puma Western Hebrides evacuation training (Picture: MOD).
22 Engineer Regiment Engineer 3D Printing PPE Components (Picture: MOD).
Oxygen Tank being loaded onto RAF aircraft to reach falklands amid coronavirus support (Picture: MOD).
Royal Marines from 42 Commando conduct COVID19 Coronavirus testing at mobile testing unit they set up in Salisbury (Picture: MOD).
Red Arrows flypast over London on VE Day 75th anniversary (Picture: MOD).
New Navy recruits traing during coronavirus pandemic at HMS Raleigh.
2 SCOTS' socially distanced training due to coronavirus pandemic.
First pass out parade since coronavirus lockdown. Army Training Centre, Pirbright (Picture: British Army).
Badges 13th Signal Regiment being handed out on (Picture: MOD).
Dame Vera Lynn with life-size cutout of herself after being named personality of the century (Picture: PA).
Royal Marines Commando Uniform Autumn 2020 (Picture: MOD).
Captain Sir Tom Moore holding medal after he received his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Windsor Castle (Picture: PA).
Civilian contractors are being trained to run coronavirus mobile testing sites.
Flying Officer Juliette Abson RAF Regiment officer graduate (Picture: RAF).
RAF personnel in hi vis jackets as they help with Birmingham's Drop and Collect coronavirus testing initiative (Picture: RAF).
HMS Queen Elizabeth during Exercise Joint Warrior with other vessels as Carrier Strike Group forms (Picture: Royal Navy)
RAF aircraft take part in Ex Crimson Warrior (Picture: RAF).
The Royal British Legion’s London Poppy Day Under coronavirus restrictions personnel at static collection station (Picture: MOD).
A penguin studies HMS Forth while berthed at wharf King Edward Point on remote UK overseas territory South Georgia (Picture: Royal Navy).
Sunset over Houses of Parliament Westminster (Picture: PA).
Members of the public register at Liverpool Football Club Anfield stadium for testing as part of the city's mass testing pilot (Picture: MOD).
November 2020: A flag bearer at Westminster Abbey in London with Boris Johnson in background, during a socially-distanced service to mark Armistice Day and the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior (Picture: PA).
CORONAVIRUS A member of the RAF provides assistance to the public in Merthyr Tydfil, the first region in Wales to participate in the UK's mass COVID testing scheme (Picture: MOD).
Socially distanced 2 YORKS promotion parade in Cyprus.

Cover image: An F-35B Lightning jet on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s flight deck during her Westlant 19 deployment by Kyle Heller (Picture: Royal Navy).

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