Norwegian Frigate Sets Sail To Join CSG

Royal Norwegian Navy frigate KNM Roald Amundsen will today (Tuesday) set sail to join the U.K.’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on its eight-month deployment to the Far East.

As per a press statement from Forsvaret, the Norwegian Armed Forces, the frigate will depart from Haakonsvern Naval Station at 1pm local time following a ceremony being attended by Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik.

Commander of the Norwegian Navy Rear Admiral Oliver Berdal described deploying with an aircraft carrier as “one of the most advanced things we can do in maritime warfare,” adding: “It places great demands on the crew, and it places great demands on being able to operate lightning-fast together with our closest allies.”

He added: “We will train on the most complex scenarios. This will make us even better equipped to meet our obligations — both nationally and as an important NATO nation  — but not least if something were to happen elsewhere on the globe in the years to come.”

Commander Roger Lervik, Commander of KNM Roald Amundsen, added: “We have spent a lot of time preparing for this mission, and I am confident that the crew of KNM Roald Amundsen is ready to complete the mission when we sail with the British aircraft carrier force.”

In further examples of ever-closer cooperation between the two nations, a British Wildcat helicopter will operate from the Norwegian frigate for the entirety of the eight-month operation, and the logistics vessel KNM Maud will also make up part of the CSG flotilla.

The Forsvaret press statement added: “The mission aims to demonstrate our commitment to maintaining regional and global security, including international law such as the law of the sea. It is also important for us to be able to operate closely with the United Kingdom, which is one of our most important allies.”

Aircraft carrier and current RN flagship HMS Prince of Wales is also scheduled to set sail from Portsmouth today, according to a recent press statement from the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD). 

She will meet up with the rest of the flotilla off the coast of Cornwall. The CSG is also expected to include Type 23 frigates HMS Portland, HMS Richmond and HMS Iron Duke, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and an Astute-class submarine, as well as supply ships for logistical support, among them RFA Tidespring and KNM Maud.

While Norway is the only nation to join the full duration of the CSG deployment, in total 12 other nations, including Canada and Spain, will be supporting with ships or personnel. Around 2,500 personnel from the Royal Navy and 592 from the Royal Air Force will be involved in the mission, as well as about 900 British Army personnel during selected exercises.

En route the CSG will participate in Exercise Neptune Strike under NATO command in the Mediterranean testing high-end maritime strike capabilities. Further exercises and port visits will follow in the Indian Ocean, with partners including the U.S., India, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The CSG will also link up with 19 partner nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre near Australia, train alongside the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, and conduct a port visit to India.

• You can read more details about KNM Roald Amundsen and KNM Maud’s deployment on the Norwegian Armed Forces website