10 man tents Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course Commando Helicopter Force Royal Norwegian Airforce Base (RNoAF) Bardufoss 160124 CREDIT MOD — UK Commando Helicopter Force undertakes its annual Arctic warfare training (Picture: MOD).

Students from Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course Commando Helicopter Force Royal Norwegian Airforce Base (RNoAF) Bardufoss 160124 CREDIT MOD — Students set off from Bardufoss five nights of field training (Picture: MOD).

10 man tents Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course Commando Helicopter Force Royal Norwegian Airforce Base (RNoAF) Bardufoss 2 160124 CREDIT MOD — Operation Clockwork involves learning to live in 10-man and four-man tents in sub-zero temperatures (Picture: MOD).

Commando Wildcat AH1 from 847 Naval Air Squadron on Op Clockwork 110124 CREDIT MOD — A Commando Wildcat AH1 from 847 Naval Air Squadron practices operating in the harsh arctic winter conditions (Picture: MOD).

Viking BVS10 Protected Patrol Vehicle Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course Commando Helicopter Force Royal Norwegian Airforce Base (RNoAF) Bardufoss 160124 CREDIT MOD — A Viking BVS10 Protected Patrol Vehicle at the Royal Norwegian Air Force base Bardufoss (Picture: MOD).

Five nights of field training for the Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course 160124 CREDIT MOD — The course teaches how to trek through deep snow, survive an avalanche and build a makeshift shelter (Picture: MOD).

Commando Wildcat AH1 from 847 Naval Air Squadron, Part of the Commando Helicopter Force base in RNAS Yeovilton arrives at the Royal Norwegian Airforce Base (RNoAF) Bardufoss 110124 CREDIT MOD — Operation Clockwork is a chance for new pilots and crew to learn to live, fly, and maintain their aircraft in extreme temperatures (Pictures: MOD).

The Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course or CWAOC (4) Course start to settle in and warm up in their 10-man tents CREDIT MOD 160124 — During the training, naval personnel sleep in tents and live off the land (Picture: MOD).

Navy

In pictures: Members of the Commando Helicopter Force learn to operate in the Arctic

British soldiers are learning how to survive and operate in the extreme cold as part of Operation Clockwork.

The intensive annual training takes place north of the Arctic circle in Norway, where temperatures can fall to -30°C, and is specifically designed for aircrew, engineers and pilots from the Somerset-based Commando Helicopter Force.

The force is made up of Merlin and Wildcat aircraft, which deploy every winter to the High North to prove they can support the Royal Marines – the UK's cold weather warfare specialists – alongside Norwegian forces and other Nato allies, in the event of an emergency.

Operation Clockwork is a chance for new pilots and crew to learn to live, fly and maintain their aircraft in sub-zero temperatures by day or night.

The week-long training is based at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Base Bardufoss and consists of two days in the classroom followed by five nights of field training.

This involves the students learning to live in 10-man and four-man tents where they have to use their navigation skills and build and defend harbour areas.

Their last night out is a survival night where students are given minimal kit and must build a shelter out of snow or brushwood.

Finally, the students conduct the legendary ice-breaking drills where in the event of falling through ice into a lake or river, they learn to be able to control themselves and get out of the water unaided.

Operation Clockwork runs side-by-side with the Royal Marines' annual winter deployment.