Amphibious assault ship HMS Albion led a NATO task force in the latest Joint Maritime Course off the north-west coast of Scotland.

The Devonport-based ship – technically a Landing Platform Dock or LPD – achieved operational status this summer.

She acted as flagship of the ‘Mustardian’ Naval forces as a fictitious scenario was played out by Allied units.

The rest of the task group consisted of helicopter carrier HMS Ocean and three American destroyers, all operating under the overall command of Commander Amphibious Task Group (COMATG) Commodore Chris Parry.

“The Mustardia part was imaginary, but the embarkation of the commander of the US Second Destroyer Squadron, more than 100 Norwegian commandos and six of their combat boats was most certainly for real,” said Albion’s logistics officer Cdr Jim Lines.

American warships USS Arleigh Burke, Porter and Anzio, with their powerful radars, and the insertion of the Norwegian commandos allowed the flagship’s staff to build a comprehensive picture of the ‘enemy’ forces and direct the battle in the confined waters of the Hebrides.

“It’s been a fascinating period in which to work closely with our US and Norwegian allies, and experiment with the latest marine technology,” said Albion’s Commanding Officer, Capt Keith Winstanley.

“These are just the sort of training opportunities we need to ensure success in future coalition operations.”

At 18,500 tons and 176 metres in length, Albion and her sister Bulwark are half as big again as HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, the veteran assault ships which they replaced.

Commodore Parry said: “We have learned a lot from recent operations and we want to develop and practise new tactics and techniques for dealing with likely operational scenarios and unexpected situations.

“At any one time these could involve high-intensity war-fighting, anti-terrorist operations or the provision of humanitarian relief.

“Bringing it all together, especially with our allies and partners, is a hugely complex task and the more practice we can get, the better it is when we have to do it for real.”

The two-week course involved more than 30 ships and submarines, 100 aircraft and some 14,000 personnel from the seven nations involved – the UK, United States, Denmark, Norway, France, Germany and Belgium.

Pictures: Fleet Photographic Unit North, Clyde Naval Base