February 2012

Clockwork JHC – is located 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, and is where to be found the British Joint Helicopter Command training base at Bardufoss (Norway).    The base, known as Clockwork JHC, provides survival and operational training and support facilities that enable aviation capable units to survive, operate and fight in extreme cold weather environments.    In the inhospitable terrain, with extreme weather conditions and temperatures as low as minus 35 degrees celsius make Bardufoss the ideal location for cold weather warfare training.    Some 200 naval personnel in the Commando Helicopter Force (The 'Jungles') from Yeovilton, are currently deployed to Clockwork to undertake training and make preparations for Exercise Cold Response which takes place in northern Norway in mid-March.    This exercise involves 2,000 Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, with the nation's flagship, the Assault Ship BULWARK in the vanguard among other ships.    Some 13,000 troops of NATO nations will be participating in Exercise Cold Response.