Approximately 1400 British army soldiers, including the Desert Rats brigade, departed from the UK on a passenger ferry for a major military exercise in Europe. The troops, part of the 7th Light Mechanised Brigade and the Scots Guards, previously deployed in Oman, boarded a DFDS vessel from North Tyneside.
Dubbed the Desert Rats, the brigade, equipped with entertainment options like karaoke and bingo but without alcohol, were en route to Sennelager, Germany, for a NATO exercise alongside French forces. The Ministry of Defence clarified that utilizing a civilian vessel was unrelated to any navy ship shortages, emphasizing the exercise’s purpose to test the UK’s capability to utilize civilian transport infrastructure under NATO’s Article Five.
The agreement affirms that an attack on one ally is an attack on all members, invoked once in NATO history post the 9/11 attacks. This marked the troops’ first employment of a passenger ferry since the Gulf War, led by Charlie Gilmore, company commander of Right Flank, Scots Guards, overseeing around 100 troops onboard.
Gilmore highlighted the exercise’s objective to demonstrate NATO’s ability to swiftly deploy a significant force to Eastern Europe, citing historical instances like the Falklands War and the Gulf conflict where civilian transport was used. The strategic flexibility showcased by employing sea, air, and rail transport was paramount, especially considering the logistical challenges of transporting 1400 personnel by air.
The MoD mentioned that moving such a troop contingent by air would necessitate multiple RAF Voyager aircraft, underscoring the strategic significance of utilizing civilian ferries. The troops, accustomed to air travel in recent missions to various countries, viewed this exercise as an opportunity to assess a different mode of transportation.