CONFIDENTIAL
3RD DRAFT
forces of other NATO countries have participated.
Bilateral
exercises with the forces of individual NATO countries have been
carried out whenever possible. Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Service have provided logistic support for both our own and other
NATO naval forces.
62. The Royal Marines have maintained a full programme of training
and exercises. The Mountain and Arctic Warfare Commando Group has
once again completed a three months' period of winter training in
northern Norway, geared to its role on the northern flank of
NATO. During this training, the Group was accompanied by a company of
the Royal Netherlands Marines. Another Commando Group has carried
out a five-week training period at Suffield in western Canada.
63.
Despite commitments in Northern Ireland, Army units in the
UKLF and PAOR have continued with a full programme of training.
Six full battle groups (out of a planned seven) carried out
successful live firing exercises for armour, artillery, infantry
and engineers at Suffield. This training contributes greatly to
the operational efficiency of the 1 (BR) Corps within NATO: seven
full battle groups, six from BAOR and one from UKLF, are arain
due to exercise in Canada in 1975.
64.
Aircraft of Strike Command, the Near Fast Air Force, RAF
Germany and units of the Royal Air Force Regiment have continued
to take part in a variety of other NATO and national exercises
throughout the year. The Royal Air Force also took part in
Exercise DISTANT DRUM (a NATO command post exercise designed to
practise TATO and national plans in a time of tension), and a
III-30
CONFIDENTIAL