Scotland

HMS Bulwark lands French marines on Exercise Joint Warrior

The Royal Navy's amphibious command and control ship HMS Bulwark is in action off the North West of Scotland as part of Exercise Joint Warrior.

She is leading the two-week exercise which involves land, sea and air forces from 10 nations - the largest staged in the UK this autumn.

French marines from HMS Bulwark appoached the Scottish coast on board Zodiac boats in the opening stages of the exercise.

The exercise – ranging from Faslane to the north-west tip of Scotland at Cape Wrath – is intended to test NATO forces across the full spectrum of 21st century conflict, from fending off air attack and hunting mines and submarines to putting troops ashore and providing support for them.

HMS Bulwark is the largest Royal Navy ship in the exercise but the elite infantry punch is provided by French rather than Royal Marines this year.

Forces from the USA, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Turkey and Poland are taking part together with UK forces.

The exercise also includes a cluster of Hunt-class minehunters – Ledbury, Cattistock and Hurworth – from Portsmouth.

As well as transferring French Marines from ship to shore – courtesy of Bulwark’s own Royal Marines unit, 4 Assault Squadron, and their fleet of landing craft and boats – the assault ship’s task on Joint Warrior is commanding the elements of naval warfare to ensure the troops get ashore safely and can push in on land to meet their objectives.

Alex Capt Burton said: “The quality and diverse training that is offered by Joint Warrior is invaluable to the ship and her crew. We’ve had a busy year so far, but Joint Warrior is simply the next step – and the perfect exercise for us before taking over as the Royal Navy’s flagship. It demonstrates that Bulwark and her crew are more than capable of fulfilling the role expected of her.”

That role means being ready to head the new UK Response Force Task Group, the Royal Navy’s new maritime force formed under last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.