656 Squadron, 4 Regiment AAC against the Northern Lights

In Pictures: Running like Clockwork

Exercise Clockwork is part of the UK Armed Forces’ annual Winter Deployment to the Arctic Circle in Norway, preparing all three services for the most unforgiving conditions.

Ex Clockwork is an air exercise between the RAF, Army and Royal Navy, coming together in a joint-exercise.

The UK Armed Forces have had a presence in the area for over 50 years now, resulting in thousands of personnel trained to survive, operate and fight in extreme cold weather environments.

• In Pictures: Royal Marines train in Norway

Exercise Clockwork, lead by a deployed HQ from Joint Helicopter Command about 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, has been key in the delivery of Arctic training to all three services.

656 Squadron, 4 Regiment AAC

Clockwork is a Joint Air Exercise between the RAF, Army and Royal Navy, coming together to find solutions to operating in this harsh climate.

For example, RAF Chinooks are adapted to their environment, note the snow skids.

Joint Helicopter Support Squadron personnel load lifting in Norway with 27 Sqn Chinook Helicopter 2020.

Exercise Clockwork has been responsible for training over 16,000 UK military personnel to survive, operate and fight in extreme cold weather environments.

Apache Hellfire on Exercise Clockwork

Incredible scenery in the Arctic Circle

Training includes:

• Environmental Flying Qualifications
• Cold Weather Survival
• Snow and Ice Driving Courses
• Ice Climbing
• Infantry Skills

656 Squadron, 4 Regiment AAC

Exercise Clockwork, lead by Joint Helicopter Command about 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle, has been key in delivery of Arctic training to all three services for the last 50 years.

656 Squadron, 4 Regiment AAC

Read more about the UK Armed Forces’ presence in the Arctic here: 👇

By sea, by land and ice: Royal Marines in Norway

Here’s why Royal Marines are climbing vertical sheets of ice in the Norwegian mountains

Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here: