Marines 'drop in' on Nato exercise

LARGE-SCALE TRAINING WITH ALLIES

- MAXINE DENTON

ROYAL Marines parachuted onto a frozen lake as part of large-scale exercises alongside NATO allies in the Arctic Circle.

The elite Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) of Stonehouse Barracks-based 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group has been taking part in intensive allied training involving 20,000 troops in northern Norway.

The SRS commandos - known as the eyes and ears of the UK's commando force - jumped from a Dutch C-130 Hercules alongside Dutch marines to mark the 50th anniversary year of the UK and Netherlands Amphibious Force. The elite force were tasked with 'attacking positions behind enemy lines, providing a foothold for NATO troops involved in Exercise Joint Viking.