PARATROOPERS faced extreme cold weather conditions during a demanding operation in Norway’s High North.

The Parachute Regiment, based in Colchester’s Merville Barracks, worked in deep snow where temperatures were dipping below minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Their training began with a three week extensive cold weather training course, ensuring they were at their highest state of preparedness for the challenges ahead.

Alongside Joint Expeditionary Force and partners and NATO allies, troops learned how to hunt, take shelter and to navigate across treacherous and dangerous environments.

Gazette: Camouflage - soldiers in the snowCamouflage - soldiers in the snow (Image: British Army)

Gazette: Quiet moment - the soldiers take a moment to break amid the extreme conditionsQuiet moment - the soldiers take a moment to break amid the extreme conditions (Image: British Army)

Although the lessons may have appeared straightforward on paper, when adding in the arduous elements of Norway officers said it was a whole new challenge.

The demanding operation, dubbed Exercise Joint Viking, saw the British Army act as the enemy for the first time in more than 25 years.

They joined the Norwegian Army and US Marine Corps to delay the Dutch Marines and German forces making their way south.

A key mission saw Colchester-based 2 PARA launch an air assault mission in Commando Helicopter Force Merlin helicopters to successfully block the advance of their enemy.

Gazette: Instructions - soldiers joined troops from other nationsInstructions - soldiers joined troops from other nations (Image: British Army)

Lieutenant Colonel David Middleton, and 2 PARA Commanding Officer, said: “Exercise Joint Viking presents a positive experience to learn from our JEF partners and other allies and to share the British Army’s own unique skill sets.

“We pride ourselves on good soldiering and this is a great environment to truly test our training and capabilities.”

2 PARA itself is part of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, the British Army’s global response force.

Troops are held at very high readiness in order to respond to international crises with break out.

Gazette: Speedy - all kinds of transport were used during the drillsSpeedy - all kinds of transport were used during the drills (Image: British Army)

They thanked the Norwegian Army for sharing its expertise in cold weather combat during the drills.

Commander Field Army, Lieutenant General Ralph Wooddisse visited the troops on the ground.

He said: “16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, and 2 PARA specifically, are demonstrating the global response force’s capability to deploy at reach in adverse conditions, such as the extreme cold weather.”