Royal Navy warship HMS Forth leads mock invasion of remote island in the Falklands with RAF and army

ROYAL Navy sailors helped to spearhead the mock invasion of one of the most remote – and less populated – islands in the Falklands.
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Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Forth joined comrades from the army and RAF in the drill on Weddell, the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.

The British territory sits off about 130 miles west of the islands’ capital of Stanley and is about three times the size of Brighton - but it home to just 43 people.

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Troops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles on Weddell,  the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.Photo: MoDTroops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles on Weddell,  the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.Photo: MoD
Troops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles on Weddell, the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.Photo: MoD
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It’s also in private hands – so the military received permission from owners Lewis and Stephen Clifton before embarking on the exercise.

Permission received, Forth embarked troops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles – the latest army unit to deploy to the Falklands as the ‘Roulemont Infantry Company’.

Forth, along with her four sister ships, has a dedicated mess space for more than 50 troops, which can include soldiers, special forces operators or Royal Marines.

As the warship made her way towards Weddell, the RAF’s A400M provided reconnaissance, confirming the route was clear for the ship to dispatch her Pacific 24 sea boats to put the riflemen ashore.

HMS Forth in the distance. Photo: MoDHMS Forth in the distance. Photo: MoD
HMS Forth in the distance. Photo: MoD
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‘The remote location of the island provided an excellent training area for a joint land, air, sea exercise,’ said Lieutenant Commander Sam Fields, Forth’s executive officer and second in command.

Soldiers used the undulating landscape of the island to carry our section manoeuvres and battle drills.

Towards the end of the exercise RAF Typhoons could be seen overhead, working with the riflemen to practise their communication and signalling skills with the jets.

Troops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles on Weddell,  the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.Photo: MoDTroops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles on Weddell,  the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.Photo: MoD
Troops from A Company, 1st Battalion The Rifles on Weddell, the third largest of the 778 islands that make up the Falklands.Photo: MoD

Throughout the exercise the soldiers made use of Forth’s embarked forces accommodation for eat and sleep.

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