On duty over Christmas

The UK Armed Forces work 24/7, 365 days a year across the globe to keep our nation safe and the festive period is no exception

Our sailors, soldiers and airmen and women are currently deployed overseas, tackling terrorism, preserving peace and ensuring the safety of the UK.

Despite being in the middle of a pandemic we are deployed on more operations than ever.

With 6,400 sailors, soldiers, airmen and women and Royal Marines deployed over the festive period.

This year they are deployed in multiple continents including on 39 operations in 46 countries across the globe, including in multinational efforts to control COVID-19.

Over the Christmas period, 11 Royal Navy vessels will be deployed overseas.

The crew of HMS Albion had Christmas dinner before disembarking.

This includes providing support to Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and in the Falkland Islands, as well as providing protection to international shipping lanes in the Gulf.

Since 1969 the UK has had a submarine on patrol for every minute of every day, providing the UK’s nuclear deterrent and this Christmas is no different.

A British soldier from the enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup in Estonia during Christmas.

In Europe, 800 British personnel from 5 RIFLES are deployed in Estonia. A further 150 UK personnel from the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and Royal Yeomanry Reservists are deployed in Poland.

Both offer reassurance to our Allies as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (EFP).

• Operation CABRIT explained: Deterring Aggression in Estonia and Poland

Around 100 men and women from 3 RIFLES and 4 SCOTS will be in Ukraine providing training to Ukrainian Forces.

• Operation ORBITAL explained: Training Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Coldstream Guards in Iraq on Operation SHADER during Christmas.

260 personnel will also be working to support the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, which prevents the recurrence of fighting in the region.

• Operation TOSCA: Inside Cyprus’ Buffer Zone

Personnel from all three Services will also be working from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Iraq and across the wider Middle East as part of the fight against Daesh.

• Operation SHADER explained: Daesh’s demise

Senior Aircraftsman (Technician) Huggins, Blade Technician on Op NEWCOMBE shown cleaning a Chinook blade before undertaking essential maintenance.

British Forces will also be deployed on peacekeeping and counter-terror missions across Africa this Christmas.

In Mali, RAF Chinook helicopters from RAF Odiham in Hampshire are supported by around 100 British troops working alongside their French counterparts on counter-terrorism operations.

300 UK military personnel, led by the Light Dragoons, also recently deployed to Mali on a UN peacekeeping mission to help promote peace and counter instability.

• Operation NEWCOMBE Explained: Peacekeeping in Mali

British soldiers deployed to Somalia during Christmas.

In Somalia, there are 65 British Service personnel deployed to support peacekeeping and training missions with Somali Forces.

• Operation TANGHAM explained: Stopping the spread of extremism in Somalia

An RAF Voyager aircraft sits in the harsh winter weather at Mount Pleasant Complex, Falkland Islands while personnel work to ensure the snow is cleared.

In Gibraltar, around 437 military personnel from all three Services, including 280 personnel from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, are based there to provide support to the British Overseas Territory.

In the South Atlantic, around 1,200 personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force are stationed in the Falkland Islands.

RAF Typhoon moves to intercept a Russian military aircraft heading towards British air space off the coast of north-west Scotland.

The Armed Forces will also be busy at home this year. As ever the squadrons of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) will be on standby at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, many of them ready in their green flight suits waiting for the call to scramble and protect UK airspace. Royal Naval ships will also be on call to guard UK waters.

A Grenadier Guards Colour Sergeant holding a pace stick instructs his men in the next activity of the day.

Also on duty at home will be soldiers from Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards who will guard Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle over Christmas.

Thousands of personnel from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, including Regulars and Reservists, will be deployed or held at readiness for UK resilience operations including the response to COVID-19 over the festive period.

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