RFA Mounts Bay, Famouth’s affiliated ship, is in Reisafjorden northern Norway with the Royal Navy’s amphibious flagship HMS Albion as they participate in the largest military exercise in Norway for more than 30 years.

HMS Albion is in the Arctic as the spearhead of amphibious/commando forces taking part in Exercise Cold Response – a month-long test by land, sea and air of allied forces to operate in one of the most challenging environments on the planet.

Albion prepared for her Arctic mission with intensive operational training in and around Plymouth, which culminated in late February in a joint disaster relief/civilian evacuation test, working side-by-side with the Dutch Navy’s HNLMS Karel Doorman.

HMS Albion is embarking a staff to direct amphibious operations, the headquarters of 3 Commando Brigade and Royal Marines packing Albion “absolutely up to the gunnels” from her usual 340 souls to around 1,000 at the height of Cold Response.

Alongside landing support ship RFA Mounts Bay, Albion leads the UK’s amphibious input into Cold Response, with “a significant level” of littoral strike operations – traditional-style commando raids – staged in the fjords, with the British force integrating with numerous allies, including the US, Norwegians, French, Germans and Italians.

For Cold Response, HMS Albion is joined by RFA Mounts Bay at the core of the amphibious force, while HMS Prince of Wales takes part as NATO command ship leading a task group including HMS Richmond, HMS Defender, tanker RFA Tidesurge and US Navy destroyer USS Roosevelt.

HMS Albion will lead the UK's amphibious involvement in the Norwegian-led exercise - through March into April. It involves 35,000 troops from 28 nations, with allied warships and aircraft working closely together as the powerful task force tests its ability to protect Norway from modern threats.