This is only part of the cold weather survival course that all soldiers must complete when they first enter Camp Viking, the UK’s main base of operations in northern Norway. About 1,500 commandos are now stationed at the outpost, the largest deployment of British military personnel to the region in more than two decades, in response to the growing threat posed by Russian forces just across the Norwegian border. Specialising in Arctic warfare, the elite contingent is one of two in the UK armed forces capable of deploying in 48 hours or less. They serve as the “nation’s 999 service”...