Action men! Royal Marine commandos perform daring parachute jump onto a frozen Arctic lake

Royal Marine commandos performed a daring parachute jump onto a frozen lake – as NATO forces sent a warning message to Putin to stay out of Scandinavia. 

Photographs show soldiers from the elite Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group landing on the ice in Norway before tackling the tricky terrain with ice picks.

The daring jump was part of the NATO exercise ‘Joint Viking’, where troops were tasked with attacking behind enemy lines and creating a foothold.

Fully-kitted troops can be seen jumping from the low-flying aircraft in an exercise that intends to mimic combat situations.

Scores of parachutes were pictured lining the sky before soldiers landed on the frozen lake and began travelling through the hilly terrain.

The jump was a part of the NATO exercise ‘Joint Viking’ where troops were tasked with attacking behind enemy lines and creating a foothold. Fully-kitted troops can be seen jumping from the low-flying aircraft

Amazing photographs show the Royal Marine commandos high up in the sky before landing to tackle tricky terrain 

UK commandos were jumping alongside Dutch marines from a Dutch C-130 Hercules to commemorate 50 years of the UK and Netherlands Amphibious Force.

The SRS are a highly trained and elite fighting force that specialise in cold weather combat, leading the UK’s Arctic and cold weather warfare expertise.

Captain Lansley, officer in command of Recce Troop, 24 Commando Royal Engineers, said: ‘As Commando Sappers we bring our specialist engineer capabilities to SRS.

‘There are fewer activities that require more mutual trust than parachuting, so this is a great test of our interoperability with NATO partners.

‘It is a privilege to work with the Dutch, parachuting with them has special significance for me as my grandfather participated in Operation Market Garden during the Second World War.’

Scores of parachutes surrounded by snowy mountains were pictured lining the sky 

The commandos used ice picks to tackle the terrain after the jump 

UK commandos were jumping alongside Dutch marines from a Dutch C-130 Hercules to commemorate 50 years of the UK and Netherlands Amphibious Force

The low-flying aircraft was pictured flying near snowy mountains across the sky 

SRS 1 Troop, Team Leader, said: ‘Ice climbing is a unique capability which is retained by the Royal Marines

SRS undertake intensive ice climbing training in Norway, honing an unorthodox skills to catch the prepared enemy off-guard.

SRS 1 Troop, Team Leader, said: ‘Ice climbing is a unique capability which is retained by the Royal Marines.

‘It allows reconnaissance teams, complete with full operational kit to overcome hazards, for example ascend frozen waterfalls, which they may encounter while transiting to targets, exploiting unpredictable approach routes and maximising surprise.’