Royal Marines Light Up Arctic Circle With Mortars
The live firing exercise was conducted by 40 Commando's Mortar Troop around the mountains of Bardufoss.
40 Commando’s Mortar Troop conduct a live firing exercise (Picture: Royal Navy).
Royal Marines lit up Arctic fjords and valleys as they laid down mortar rounds in the dark during winter training in Norway.
The live firing exercise was conducted by 40 Commando's Mortar Troop around the mountains of Bardufoss.
It is the latest chapter in their winter deployment to the Arctic Circle.
The exercise, named Aquila 19, sees all aspects of the commando’s abilities – in the air, on the water and on the ground – tested so they remain ready to react.
Overseeing one of the shoots was 27-year-old Captain Nate Brown, he said:
“It has been an excellent opportunity to fire the 81mm mortars in the Arctic.
It is a challenging place; one like no other.
"If we can function and excel [in] the harshest places it maintains our ability to operate as specialists anywhere on the planet.”
In mid-February this far north it is only light for eight hours a day.
This means handling and firing mortars is extremely difficult with temperatures and wind chill as low as -35°C.
The sections conducted several co-ordinated illumination fire missions, exercising the tactical ability of both the mortar section and mortar fire controls in the Arctic.
During their time in the Arctic, 40 Commando hosted Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who says the Arctic will assume ever-growing importance in coming years.
The Duke of Sussex also spent part of Valentine’s Day visiting Naval Service personnel in the region.
The Royal Marines have committed to a ten-year training programme with their Norwegian counterparts, which will see around 1,000 Marines travelling each year.
