Baltops: Royal Marines battle through island network alongside US and Swedish troops

The Royal Marines have shown off their abilities and capabilities during an important Nato exercise in a complex island network leading to Sweden's capital city.

Troops from Arbroath-based 45 Commando and a boat group from Plymouth's 4 Assault Squadron trained closely with the Swedish Coastal Rangers (Kustjägarna) of the 1st Marine Regiment on the islands of Utö and Musko in the Stockholm Archipelago during Baltic Operations, also known as Baltops. 

"For us, this focused specifically on establishing a relationship with the Swedish Kustjägarna Coy, who have similar operational roles to our own," said the officer in command of 45 Commando's X-Ray Company, Major Luke Norkett.

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He said: "This provided a valuable opportunity to integrate with Nato partners in a region of strategic importance. 

"The interoperability training we conducted was highly productive, illustrating where our capabilities could be easily combined during joint actions and where more effort was required for integration. 

"The speed at which the relationship developed over a relatively short timeframe was particularly satisfying and testament to the quality of personnel in both organisations."

The Baltops operation, which is part of a wider Nato operation across the Baltics, is the first time Sweden has participated as a full member of the alliance.

Involving 9,000 personnel from 20 nations, 50 ships and dozens of aircraft, the operation was the perfect opportunity to put the skills and drills of the Royal Marine Commandos on display.

Marines took part in live fire and tactical training exercises on Utö island, trained in fighting in woodland forested areas, operated from fortified defensive positions and time on the ranges, and worked with snipers from the Kustjägarna force.

Lieutenant Tobias Irebro, liaison officer with the Swedish Navy, said: "Since we joined Nato three months ago, it's important for Sweden to show that we, as a nation, contribute to the security and stability in the Baltic Sea region as it is our home turf as well.

"It also lets us show that we are a willing contributor as a newly joined ally.

"It's also very important for the Baltic countries to exercise security and stability in the region as they depend on the sea as a main logistics asset for importing and exporting."