Exercise Cold Response Update – The Assault Ship BULWARK landed the embarked Royal Marines from 42 Commando RM onto the snow and shingle near the Norwegian port of Harstad. The BULWARK also landed their counterparts from the Netherlands and the USA, and equipment and vehicles, not least BV tracked vehicles (which are perfectly suited to operations in the Arctic), and the 'Beast' recovery vehicle - the Royal Marines' ultimate 'tractor' capable of shifting anything if it gets stuck on the shoreline. The complement of the BULWARK was boosted having embarked an extra 90 Green Berets from ILLUSTRIOUS who were transferred by SEA KING - never an easy manoeuvre given the amount of equipment the commandos carry in their Bergen packs on their backs, The Arctic weather added to the challenges air and flight deck crews faced (operations were temporarily suspended when a snowstorm swept through the fjords), and the marines had to wear their bright red watertight suits when flying over the ocean to protect them should the SEA KING’s have to ditch. The whole transfer took the three SEA KING helicopters of the Commando Helicopter Force several hours.

Meanwhile the helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS is returning to Portsmouth following her participation in Cold Response – the ship successfully carried out amphibious helicopter operations in extreme conditions. It enabled the completion of vital training for all members of the ship's company and helicopter crews, but ILLUSTRIOUS is returning to complete the repair of two small holes caused when one of four tugs came into contact with the ship's starboard quarter while assisting her to berth at Harstad. The holes are well above the waterline and do not affect the seaworthiness or safety and nobody was injured in the incident. Initial repairs were carried out by the ship's staff and whilst the ship could have continued to participate in Exercise Cold Response, the decision was taken to return her to Portsmouth so that the repairs could be completed to ensure that her future programme is not affected.