2020: 12 months of Global Britain
On 39 operations in 46 countries, our Armed Forces help to keep the peace, deliver humanitarian aid, prepare our partners for success and above all, keep Britain safe. Here’s a round up of 2020’s operational highlights:
January: F-35Bs head to the USA
F-35B Lightning aircraft from 617 Squadron based at RAF Marham, set off on a transatlantic flight to take part in Exercise RED FLAG at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, USA.
This was the first time that the UK’s F-35Bs took part in Exercise RED FLAG, they flew alongside a variety of aircraft from other nations maximising combat readiness, capability and interoperability.
February: Royal Navy destroyer makes her second drug bust
Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Defender seized 2,500kg of ‘hash’ worth £1 million in the Indian Ocean. This was the warships second bust after seizing a record haul of crystal meth in December 2019.
The drugs bust unfolded after Defender launched her Wildcat helicopter to begin a search for possible illegal and illegitimate marine traffic in the Indian Ocean.
Before long, a suspicious dhow (a traditional sailing vessel) was identified and HMS Defender sent a boarding team of Royal Marine Commandos to investigate.
March: UN Peacekeeping in South Sudan
After four years, the UK Task Force in South Sudan returned home in March from the British Army’s UN Peacekeeping mission there.
Their mission helped build hospitals, bridges and roads and even combating sexual violence in refugee camps in the north.
- Building hospitals, bridges and roads: The British Army in South Sudan
- I delivered self defence classes aimed to empower over 250 local women in Malakal
April: COVID Support Force
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the UK Armed Forces have been supporting the Government response to COVID-19.
With up to 20,000 troops who were on standby ready to help, military planners from the Royal Navy, British Army and the Royal Air Force were embedded within Government departments offering their expert advice.
The military also assisted with bringing British citizens home from affected areas around the world such as China and Japan as well as supporting the testing effort.
May: Marines support maritime policing in the Caribbean
As part of the UK Governments response to the pandemic, Royal Marines were deployed to the British Overseas Territories of the Turks and Caicos Islands to help minimise the effects of coronavirus.
Royal Marines Troop from 45 Commando, Zulu Company worked alongside the Royal Turks and Caicos Maritime Police Department, with assistance from a Landing Craft specialist from 47 Commando.
- Marines support maritime policing in the Caribbean
- British Forces in the Caribbean: Supporting our Overseas Territories
June: Wargaming in the Baltic Sea
Once a year, navies from allied and international partners descend to the Baltic Sea to take part in Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS). Last year two British warships and their sailors joined up with 3,000 NATO allies.
There were 19 nations, with roughly 30 ships and around 3,000 personnel being tested in live training events focusing on core naval warfare scenarios including air defence, anti-submarine warfare and minehunting.
Every year this exercise demonstrates the importance of the Baltic region and highlights NATO and partner nations working together to protect the freedom of the alliance’s shores, as well as keeping the sea lanes open.
July: Preparing for UN Peacekeeping in Mali
British troops took part in a 14-day long exercise in Salisbury Plain as they prepared for their deployment to the United Nations mission in West Africa.
“This exercise is part of an intensive training package. Over recent months we have been honing our specialist skills and now we have brought all aspects of the Task Group together to operate as a highly professional and effective peacekeeping force.”
— Commanding Officer of The Light Dragoons, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson
The men and women of the Task Group were put through their paces at engaging with locals and navigating the cultural challenges that they may face in-country.
August: Joining an alliance at sea
The Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, HMS Mersey joined one of NATO’s high readiness maritime task forces, where she worked to provide security in the North Sea and the Atlantic.
The group is known as the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1), and is made up of vessels from across the allied nations. Together this task force provides NATO with maritime security on operations, both in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict.
September: Wake Island Avengers arrive in the UK
Known as the ‘Wake Island Avengers’, the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 arrived in the UK for the very first time. The US aircraft flew from their home in Arizona, United States and arrived at RAF Marham.
The Americans took part in artificial training in the purpose-built simulators at RAF Marham, to help familiarise themselves with the local airspace and procedures before they took to the skies over Norfolk.
They flew training missions alongside 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force as they prepared to embark on board HMS Queen Elizabeth later in the month.
October: Royal Marines in Cyprus
Royal Marines Commandos added drones to their kit list in a hi-tech Cyprus workout as the Corps evolves into the Future Commando Force. They conducted two weeks of trials with drones of all sizes and abilities built into the battlefield.
Robot systems were used to provide commandos on the ground with ammunition, fuel, medical supplies, food and water, as well as monitoring ‘enemy’ movements and activity.
The two-week workout in and off Cyprus’ coast — dubbed Exercise Autonomous Advance Force 3.0 — was one of the key set-piece events on last autumn’s amphibious deployment by the Royal Navy.
November: Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft close to UK airspace
Two Russian Maritime Patrol aircraft were intercepted whilst they were flying near UK airspace.
Typhoons launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and were joined by a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, which provided air to air refuelling for the Typhoons.
To deter this kind of activity and mitigate the risks associated with Russian military aircraft, RAF Typhoons shadowed the two Russian Bears and closely monitored their movements.
December: The British Army arrived in Mali
The 300-strong task group of British soldiers arrived in Mali as part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission there, known as MINUSMA.
“The 300-strong Light Dragoon task group is joining over 14,000 peacekeepers from 59 Nations as part of this challenging UN mission in Mali to help protect the people from violence and support political dialogue. We bring years of experience on operations, first class equipment and exceptional people.
“We’ve trained hard for the last year to make sure that we are ready for this challenging mission. We’re proud to be the first British soldiers to join in this team effort to help combat instability in the Sahel.”
— Commanding Officer of The Light Dragoons, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson
The United Nations is at the forefront of helping to build peace and stability in some of the world’s most dangerous places and to function effectively, the UN needs strong contributions from its members. The deployment of a highly capable and versatile British Army Task Group to Mali strengthens the UN mission’s ability to help the people of Mali and implement its mandate.
