British and Norwegian forces are exercising along the Norwegian coast as part of Tamber Shield. The exercise is conducted off Bergen (western Norway) and forms part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) cooperation.
According to the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret), Norway is participating with the frigate KNM Roald Amundsen and Skjold-class corvettes. The United Kingdom is contributing Wildcat helicopters and four P2000 patrol boats.
The exercise runs from 17 April to 3 May and aims, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces, to practise rapid preparedness along the Norwegian coast. The JEF consists of ten northern European nations and is designed to act swiftly during crises in northern Europe.
"Joint training between naval and air units is part of maintaining readiness along the Norwegian coast. Training together with the British means that the time we spend on taking action is reduced, and that we can therefore deliver faster where it is needed, when it is needed," says Norway's Chief of Navy Trond Gimmingsrud in a press release from the Norwegian Armed Forces.
According to the Royal Navy, British Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron have been exercising alongside P2000 vessels and Norwegian units in a fjord environment. In one scenario, British patrol boats would locate Norwegian Skjold-class corvettes and relay their positions to the helicopters for simulated attacks.
"The Norwegian fjords are a challenging and unforgiving operating environment for aircraft," says Lieutenant Maxwell Randles-Hall, observer with 815 Naval Air Squadron, in the Royal Navy's article.