Royal Navy's HMS Sutherland is now heading for high-readiness tasking with NATO.

HMS Sutherland ended up Arctic work ahead of NATO task. Indeed, the Royal Navy's ship has completed her intense winter training in the Arctic Circle and is now heading for high-readiness tasking with NATO.

HMS Sutherland completes Cold Response training before heading to join NATO task group (Picture source: Royal Navy)

The Devonport-based Type 23 Frigate completed her participation in Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response, during which the ‘Fighting Clan’ provided defence against submarines to the multinational task group but also conducted air defence and boarding training.

After a rare pause in Portsmouth, Sutherland is now heading to work with NATO’s Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) – a task group made up of typically frigates and destroyers which patrols northern European waters to provide a reassuring presence.

Sutherland worked closely with allies from Norway and the Netherlands during Cold Response, providing vital protection to amphibious forces landing on Norway’s rugged coastline.

The Type 23 spent the majority of the exercises in a heightened state of readiness (State 2) and focused on her main specialism as an anti-submarine warfare ship.

There was also air defence exercises, during which Sutherland worked closely with HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, a Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy.

The embarked boarding team were tested, too. They were deployed on a mission to the KV Jarl, a Norwegian supply ship, where they proved their ability to board and search a vessel of interest.

Sutherland then sailed south to join the NATO task group, where she will remain on high-readiness to respond to crises in the region.

HMS Sutherland completes Cold Response training before heading to join NATO task group (Picture source: Royal Navy)