British Army versus Nato war games on Russia's doorstep
British soldiers have been advancing through the forests of Latvia as they take on the role of enemy forces to test Nato's defensive capability during Exercise Titan Shield.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Latvia has bolstered its defences on its eastern flank, and carries out regular drills to test its ability to fight off a hostile force.
Although the friendly forces' aim is to stop the 'invaders', the exercise also shows just how hard British forces can hit when they punch through enemy lines.
The British soldiers, who were involved in this type of exercise for the first time, deployed from their base in Poland to the Adazi training grounds, which are 11.2km long and 6.4km wide.
The UK soldiers playing the red force in Titan Shield, needed to prove they could fight when they were outnumbered, while the blue forces - representing Nato - had to defend their territory, Latvia having joined the alliance in 2004.
Reconnaissance troops from both sides hid in the forest unseen for days, and their job was to call in the coordinates of enemy targets for their side to take out.
Trooper Costel Morun from the Royal Lancers said the red force's role was about causing "as much disruption as possible".
Meanwhile, Corporal Danny Mckenzie, from the same armoured cavalry regiment, said the exercise involved being quiet, identifying targets for artillery and then pushing through the enemy.
Cpl Mckenzie added: "The stuff that feeds the battlegroup soldiers at the front that makes sure they do their job, we want to cut that off as the enemy.
"We want to make sure they’re having the hardest time receiving their orders, rations, all the things that they need to survive and stay in the fight, we wanted to cut them off from."
The coordinates allowed the 155mm SpGH Zuzana guns of the Slovakian artillery, the UK's allies in the exercise, to target the blue forces.
The artillery moved in and out of the forest trying not be spotted by the Nato reconnaissance drones.
Spanish artillery forces were among those on the Nato side in the exercise, waiting for the call to destroy the opposing Zuzana guns, while at the same time having to watch their own backs.
Red forces used close air support and other offensive operations to find their Nato counterparts.
"We're a small collective, cohesive unit. Many of us have known each other for years. We’re vastly outnumbered, vastly outgunned; any opportunities we’ve been able to get, we’ve exploited," said Major Guy Parker, the Officer Commanding of Aliwal Troop, before it went out to find the enemy.
Ultimately, Nato forces won the exercise.
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