Full Breakdown
British Commandos Conduct Submarine Insertion in NATO Exercise Strike Warrior
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Operation: Submarine Insertion at Cape Wrath
On September 29, a team from 148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery of the Royal Marines boarded an unnamed German Type 212A diesel-electric attack submarine off Scotland’s north coast. After surfacing in heavy swell, the commandos transferred to inflatable raiding craft, rode over the submarine’s propeller and aft-deck rudders, and climbed onto the deck before proceeding to the cliffs at Cape Wrath. From an improvised observation post they directed live fire from the Portuguese frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida’s 76 mm deck gun onto a simulated inland target, then were extracted.
Background & Context
The maneuver was part of Exercise Strike Warrior, the largest U.K. Commando Force exercise in 15 years, designed to rehearse allied crisis-response and high-end warfighting across the North Atlantic and High North. The exercise tests integration with NATO assets—including submarines, surface combatants, aircraft, drones and long-range weapons—reflecting a shift from the Afghanistan-era focus toward maritime operations.
Earlier this year, British commandos performed a similar insertion during Exercise Cold Response in Norway, also using a German Type 212A (U-35), highlighting limited availability of Royal Navy attack submarines.
Timeline of Key Events
- September 28 – Exercise Strike Warrior began, involving more than 2,000 personnel from six NATO nations, eight warships and 19 aircraft.
- September 29 – The German Type 212A submarine insertion at Cape Wrath was executed by 148 Battery.
- October 2 – The newest Astute-class nuclear attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, was delivered to Naval Base Clyde.
- October 9 (scheduled) – Exercise Strike Warrior set to conclude.
Data & Statistics
- Participation: >2,000 personnel from six NATO nations.
- Naval assets: eight warships, including NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida, HNLMS Van Amstel, and HMCS St. John’s, operating under Standing NATO Maritime Group One.
- Air assets: 19 aircraft supporting the exercise across Scotland, the Western Isles, the North-West Approaches, Galloway, the Borders and the North Sea.
- The Type 212A’s air-independent propulsion provides extended submerged endurance and low acoustic signatures, suited for covert littoral insertions.
Official Statements & Responses
The operations officer of 148 Battery said the Cape Wrath insertion demonstrated capabilities not achieved by the unit in nearly three decades, aiming to show NATO partners the missions the British Commando Force can execute.
A maritime-executive outlet noted the use of a German submarine underscores the Royal Navy’s reliance on allied platforms, as the Astute-class fleet has been largely unavailable for operational deployment.
On-the-Ground Reports
Video released by the Royal Marines captured the “float-on/float-off” maneuver, showing commandos driving inflatable boats over the submerged propeller and between the submarine’s X-rudders before climbing onto the deck. Crewmembers tethered to the deck assisted in pulling the boats aboard, illustrating the coordination required in rough seas.
What’s Next
Exercise Strike Warrior will continue through October 9, concluding with amphibious landings, boarding operations, drone strikes and anti-submarine warfare drills, testing maritime special-operations integration across NATO.