The crew of Plymouth-based warship HMS Sutherland were transfixed by the natural lightshow the Northern Lights.
The encounter in the skies overhead came as the ship was on her way home to Devonport Naval Base after a major multi-national military cold weather exercise in northern European waters and Norway.
Cold Response rehearses high-intensity operations in winter conditions. The exercise involves more than 16,000 troops from 13 countries: More than 3,000 U.S. service members; approximately 6,500 members of the Norwegian Armed Forces; and nearly 4,000 troops from 11 allied and partner nations including the Royal Navy, Army and RAF from the UK and forces from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, France and Latvia, supported by 300 NATO personnel. The training underscores NATO’s ability to defend against any threat in any environment.
