A flotilla of Royal Navy warships is heading for the Arctic Circle to take part in a major cold weather training exercise in the Narvik region of Norway.

Led by the navy’s new assault ship HMS Albion, the task group will also feature aircraft carrier HMS Invincible in the role of a commando carrier, operating Sea King and Chinook helicopters from the Joint Helicopter Command.

The 18,500-ton Albion is both a command ship and assault vessel, capable of flooding a dock to offload troops, vehicles and supplies – including Challenger 2 battle tanks – by means of four heavy and four light landing craft.

She also has an extensive flight deck for operating helicopters.

Commodore Chris Parry, as Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) in charge of the whole force, will be embarked in Albion, while Brig Jim Dutton, the Commander 3 Commando Brigade, will use the new landing Platform Dock or LPD as his command ship.

The task group will include other amphibious ships, support vessels, escorts, and helicopters of the Joint Helicopter Force and the Fleet Air Arm.

Host country Norway and neighbouring Sweden are also taking part in Exercise Joint Winter 04.

The spearhead of the British land forces will be Royal Marines of 3 Cdo Brigade, who have already been training in Arctic and cold weather techniques in Norway for a month – the first time in more than five years such training has been undertaken.

Among the elements taking part under the HQ 3 Cdo Bde banner will be 42 Commando RM, 29 Regiment Royal Artillery, 539 Assault Squadron and the Commando Logistics Regiment – a total of 1,200 personnel in all.

Commodore Parry said: “Joint Winter will be the first real opportunity for our specialist amphibious platforms and commandos to train in a demanding operational exercise since the operation in Iraq.

“We want to confirm the lessons that we have identified from this and other operations in the past few years and experiment with the new equipment, tactics and ideas.”

Commodore Parry continued: “The arrival of Albion and, later this year, her sister ship Bulwark, will enable us to transform the amphibious scene, especially in conjunction with the four new Bay-class landing ships that will come into service from late 2005.

“In particular, the advanced and integrated command and control facilities in Albion will allow my staff and me to co-ordinate operations and forces alongside my Royal Marines counterpart, Brig Jim Dutton, with a much greater degree of agility, flexibility and effect.”

The Commanding Officer of HMS Albion, Capt Peter Hudson, said: “This deployment is the final element of a complicated eight-month trials and sea training programme which has brought Albion not only into Royal Navy service but also to full operational status.

“This exercise will test every facet of the ship, to reassure us that she can deliver everything that is required.

“From our experiences thus far, we expect her to perform extremely well, in a challenging environment, and that she will be ready to take her place as the Fleet Amphibious Flagship.”

The Commanding Officer of HMS Invincible, Capt Trevor Soar, said: “Joint Winter will represent yet another opportunity for the ship to demonstrate her capabilities; this time it’s her ability to project power ashore using amphibious forces.

“It was only a couple of months ago that we were operating 18 Royal Navy and RAF Harrier aircraft from our deck and, after some leave and a short maintenance period, we’re off to operate with Royal Marines and support helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron and 27 Squadron RAF.”