Joint Warrior 2013 - One of the largest military exercises in Europe is underway off the coast of Scotland involving more than 40 warships, 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters from the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, France, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Germany, over 12,000 personnel are taking part in Exercise Joint Warrior.   Getting the twice yearly exercise underway, were seven warships from the UK, the Netherlands and Canada sailed in formation yesterday from the east coast of Scotland round to the west where they will join up with the rest of the Task Group today.

Events began on Barry Buddon beach in Barry, Carnoustie, where Royal Marines from 42 Commando RM launched an the first ever parachute as part of Exercise Joint Warrior as the Marines regenerate their amphibious skills drawing on their Afghanistan experience,       The SRS Troop of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group whose role is to collect and understand information on an area prior to the arrival of the main 3 Commando Brigade force and maintains a parachute capability in order to be as flexible as possible across a broad range of potential reconnaissance tasks.    VIKING vehicles were also brought ashore by landing craft from the Assault Ship BULWARK

The Royal Navy has more than a dozen warships and submarines taking part, including the Fleet Flagship, the Assault Ship BULWARK, the Helicopter Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, the Type 45 Destroyer DIAMOND, four Type 23 Frigates MONTROSE, RICHMOND, SUTHERLAND and WESTMINSTER, the Survey Ship ECHO with the Fleet Submarine TALENT also present.  These were supported by the Hunt Class Minecountermeasure Vessels BROCKLESBY and HURWORTH and the Sandown Class Minecountermeasure Vessels GRIMSBY and PEMBROKE.

Rotary transport is being provided by CHINOOKs of the RAF and SEA KING HC.4 of the Commando Helicopter Force, plus some Fleet Air Arm Airborne Surveillance and Control SEA KING ASaC.7 helicopters plus assorts LYNX HMA.8 and MERLIN HM.1 from the shipboard flights of the destroyer and frigates taking part.   The main media interest however seems at this stage to revolve around the tale of the seal.   As well as items such as newspapers, the bulk of the resupply was a consignment of 1,813 litres of fresh and UHT milk – brought over from Carnoustie to the BULWARK by Royal Marine Landing Craft prior to going on exercise.   When the Landing Craft was launched a seal joined the exercises by swimming into the loading dock of the BULWARK and stayed aboard for about half an hour.