Fitness comes first as the Navy drops in

Feb 11 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

CAUGHT against a crimson sky while moored in Liverpool, staff on board HMS Bulwark are staying in shape ahead of naval exercises in and around Norway later this month.

The assault ship, which has made numerous visits to Merseyside, will swap calm moorings on the River Mersey for Arctic waters, where she will launch marines ashore by landing craft and helicopter to conduct a variety of amphibious assaults and raids.

During these military manoeuvres, HMS Bulwark will also act as the flagship for the Stonehouse-based Commander Amphibious Task Group.

Speaking as the ship prepared for the seven-week programme, Bulwark’s commanding officer Captain Jeremy Blunden said: “The Arctic weather that we will experience in Norway will be extremely demanding, but we have all the necessary equipment we need and all the sailors and marines are looking forward to the challenge.”