UK & Norway Navies Build Interoperability Ahead of British HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier Deployment.

As the United Kingdom prepares to deploy its flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, on her first global mission, naval forces from the UK and Norway have launched Exercise Tamber Shield 2025—an essential training operation designed to sharpen joint operational capabilities and ensure seamless integration between the two allied navies.
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On 17th March 2025, Norwegian Navy HNoMS Otto Sverdrup frigate (right) and HNoMs Maud logistics and support vessel conducted a Replenish at Sea whilst also conducting Deck Landing Training with British Navy 815 Naval Air Squadron equipped with Wildcat helicopters.  (Picture source: British MoD)

The exercise, which began on March 17, 2025, in the fjords near Bergen, brings together the British Royal Navy and the Royal Norwegian Navy in a highly coordinated training campaign. At the core of the operation are two key Norwegian warships: the frigate HNoMS Otto Sverdrup and the support vessel HNoMS Maud.

HNoMS Otto Sverdrup is a modern Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate, equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems for anti-submarine, anti-air, and surface warfare. It serves as one of the principal combatants in the Royal Norwegian Navy, offering multi-role capabilities ideal for both national defense and NATO operations. Accompanying it, HNoMS Maud is a logistics and support vessel—the largest ship in the Norwegian fleet—capable of delivering fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and medical services, making it a vital asset for sustaining operations at sea.

These two Norwegian ships are operating alongside patrol vessels from the British Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces Squadron—HMS Express, Exploit, Puncher, Blazer, and Ranger—as well as Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron. The combined force is undertaking complex maritime drills including replenishment at sea (RAS), deck landing operations, and simulated missile and torpedo attacks. Fast patrol boats from both navies are conducting high-speed maneuvers in the narrow fjords, simulating both enemy and protective roles, while Wildcat helicopters offer aerial support for interdiction, surveillance, and force protection.

Crucially, Tamber Shield is not merely a tactical training event—it serves as a strategic rehearsal for the British Royal Navy’s upcoming deployment of HMS Prince of Wales. This deployment will see the aircraft carrier lead a multinational maritime strike group across the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Rim, projecting NATO’s presence and reinforcing maritime stability across key regions. Norwegian warships will integrate with this task force, making pre-deployment training like Tamber Shield essential to operational success.

To ensure full interoperability, British and Norwegian forces are aligning their procedures for joint command, navigation, communications, and threat responses. British Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters have been conducting flight operations aboard HNoMS Otto Sverdrup, building valuable experience with Norwegian naval aviation protocols. This air-maritime cooperation ensures smooth integration during future operations involving both navies.

Commander Steve Hill of the British Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces Squadron underlined the value of the exercise: “This is not just about practicing tactics—it’s about building a warfighting team that can deploy together with confidence and capability.”

From anti-submarine warfare to logistics and helicopter operations, Tamber Shield 2025 underscores the growing synergy between the British Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy. As HMS Prince of Wales prepares to spearhead one of the UK’s most significant peacetime naval deployments, the groundwork laid in Norway’s fjords ensures that both nations are ready to respond—together—to global security challenges.