Faslane is set to host part of the largest military exercise in Europe from this weekend.
Eleven NATO nations will take part in Joint Warrior 212, with warships departing from ports on Scotland’s West Coast including HM Naval Base Clyde, King George V Docks, Hunterston and Greenock.
The UK, Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Latvia, Germany and USA are expected to take part in exercises testing the UK’s aircraft carrier strike force.
There will be 25 warships, three submarines, over 30 aircraft and around 6,750 military personnel including 500 ground troops.
Joint Warrior 212 is integrated with Exercise Dynamic Mariner 21 – they are both planned and delivered by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff, based at Northwood in London, some of which will move to Faslane to coordinate events during the fortnight.
Exercise activity will include:
- 25 naval units from UK, Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Latvia, Germany and USA in action around the Scottish coast.
- Mine Countermeasure vessels will conduct mine hunting exercises in areas around Campbeltown, Loch Ewe, Gruinard Bay, Loch Broom, Little Loch Broom, Enard Bay and Shiant Bank.
- Amphibious operations will take place in the vicinity of Loch Ewe (on private land), Loch Goil and Kyle of Lochalsh.
- Around 30 aircraft will take part in the exercise with some of them operating from RAF Lossiemouth and Prestwick Airport (previously HMS Gannet).
- Joint Firing Activity will take place at Cape Wrath Weapons Range, Garvie Island and the QinetiQ Hebrides range in the north of Scotland.
- Exercise activity in the North Minch to the west of Ullapool involving fast small boats, both civilian and military.
GPS denial operations off the west coast of Scotland. The operations will be conducted at limited periods each day and the relevant authorities, especially maritime and aviation, have been involved in the planning process and relevant safeguards have been put in place.
A Ministry of Defence statement said: “Participants will practise a wide range of capabilities across land, sea and air in coordinated joint operations with other allied nations with the scenario of the exercise mirroring a broad range of crisis and conflict situations which could realistically be experienced in real-world operations.
“Over the fortnight, participants will be faced with a period of increasing political and military tensions, along with a huge range of realistic military tasks such as intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, anti-smuggling and counter-terrorism operations, humanitarian assistance and evacuation operations.
“All units involved in the exercise will observe the Covid 19 control measures provided by the Scottish Government.”
Further information, including notices to mariners and impact statements, can be found by visiting Queen’s Harbour Master Clyde’s page on the Royal Navy website.
Leave a Reply