Royal Navy's P2000 boats travel further north than ever before into Arctic Circle Alex Candlin 3rd March 2023 at 11:36am

Four P2000 boats have crossed the Arctic Circle on their way north to join Exercise Joint Warrior (Picture: HMS Puncher Twitter).

Four of the Royal Navy's 14 Archer-Class P2000 patrol boats have reached the Arctic Circle on their way to join the UK-led Exercise Joint Warrior.

HMS Archer, Puncher, Pursuer and Smiter crossed over into the Arctic Circle on their way north to meet their colleagues in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

This is the furthest north the P2000 fast inshore patrol boats – which have the unique ability to operate in ports and confined waters not traditionally accessible to other warships – have ever gone.

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HMS Smiter announced on social media that the four vessels had reached the Arctic Circle, tweeting: "An historic day for Coastal Forces Squadron as we reach the Arctic Circle.

"We've gone further than any P2000 has before. The crew have their blue noses.

"Looking forward to continuing North and meeting up with our @JEFnations allies."

The "blue noses" mention refers to the Navy tradition where sailors get their noses painted blue as their ship or boat enters the polar region. 

Another tweet from HMS Puncher said the four P2000s "crossed a line of latitude 66° 30'N today and we are still going north".

"Time to meet up with our @NATO and @JEFnations allies and deliver in Ex Joint Warrior."

Exercise Joint Warrior is the largest military exercise in Europe, bringing together the Royal Navy, the RAF, the British Army, and forces from around the world. 

It is a UK-led exercise that takes place every year during spring and autumn, when British forces are joined by service personnel from 13 other nations, including Canada, France, Germany, and the US.

The two-week exercise includes airborne assaults, amphibious landings, evacuations and live-fire exercises which will reflect contemporary political tensions – such as the war on terror and the threat posed by ISIS.

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a coalition of like-minded nations which share values and a common focus on security and stability in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region.

TAGS

• SEA VESSELS
• ARCTIC/ANTARCTIC
• EXERCISES
• NAVY