Advanced Force Operations on ExJoint Viking

by Lt F Moorhead RM, Z Coy and Lt I Crabb RM, X Coy

45 Commando Group’s mission in the High North requires small teams of Commandos to operate far from command and control and demands a high level of trust at the lowest levels. During this year’s Winter Deployment, Z Coy tested their skills during Exercise Joint Viking (Ex JV). It was a great opportunity for Commando Teams to operate with maximum mission command, for extended periods and over extended distances.

Firing from behind an OSRV

Commando Forces had a vital role in Ex Joint Viking. As the maritime advance force, Z Coy sent three teams to Senja island to conduct coordinated strike operations on enemy A2AD systems denying access to the Norwegian mainland. Success would, crucially, enable the NATO amphibious task group, led by the Dutch HNLMS Johan de Witt to begin operations.

Three Commando Teams deployed via surface and aviation onto Senja at last light to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance. Each team had a FST (fire support team) or JTAC (joint terminal air controller) attached to allow coordinated strikes on targets identified. The climax of this phase saw Z Coy’s JTAC synchronising strikes across three different targets with a Dutch fixed-wing unseen above the clouds. Following the success of this phase 0 operation, the Johan de Witt was able to insert a larger landing force and Z Coy could extract to our HQ at Sørreisa where we would re-cock, ready for redeployment as needed. At the same time, Z Coy was joined by a fourth team that had conducted a long-range OSRV insertion.