NATO Forces Test Submarine Infiltration in Scotland Exercise

British commandos conducted a submarine insertion operation off Cape Wrath, Scotland, during Exercise Strike Warrior with a German Navy Type 212A submarine, Portuguese frigate and allied forces to test covert reconnaissance and naval strike coordination.

According to the Royal Navy, personnel from 148 Battery left the submarine using inflatable raiding boats, established an observation post on cliffs and directed fire from the Portuguese frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida against simulated targets.

The Royal Navy described Strike Warrior as the largest test of the UK Commando Force's full range of units in 15 years. TWZ reported the exercise involved more than 2,000 personnel from the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Netherlands, Canada and Norway, with eight warships and 19 aircraft.

The unnamed 148 Battery operations officer said the mission demonstrated a level of coordination not achieved by the unit for decades.

"This level of complexity and coordination of live assets has not been achieved by 148 for nearly 30 years." the officer said.

The officer added that the exercise was designed to show allied partners the missions the unit is prepared to conduct with wider UK and NATO forces.

"We wanted to demonstrate to our partners across the United Kingdom Commando Force, wider U.K. Defense and NATO SOF community the type of missions we are prepared to execute against future threats," the officer said.

The German Type 212A submarine was suited for the operation because of its ability to remain submerged for extended periods using air-independent propulsion. The Bundeswehr operates six Type 212A submarines, each with a submerged displacement of 2,017 tons.

The Portuguese frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida provided naval fire support with its 76mm OTO Melara cannon, according to details from the Portuguese Navy and Royal Navy accounts.

Former submarine captain Ryan Ramsay described the Cape Wrath environment and the coordination required for submarine deployments in an interview with BFBS Forces News.

"Everybody knows where they fit in and what part they play in that." Ramsay said.

Ramsay explained that special forces movements require precise coordination between teams before personnel are inserted and recovered.

"So when Special Forces arrive, either by aircraft or by other, you recover those, get those on board, get them to where they need to be and then deploy them effectively." Ramsay said.

"Get in, do what they need to do and get back out," Ramsay said.

Earlier phases of Strike Warrior also saw 148 Battery direct fires from allied frigates including the Dutch Navy's HNLMS Van Amstel and Canada's HMCS St. John's, which were operating with Standing NATO Maritime Group One.