Smile, you're in the Royal Navy now:

Published on June 27 2012 by John and Mei

Smile, you're in the Royal Navy now: Photo competition captures sailors and marines at work on sea and land

PUBLISHED: 20:51 EST, 25 June 2012 | UPDATED: 01:49 EST, 26 June 2012

Whether it's a Royal Marine inspecting his kit and weaponry in a darkened Afghan compound, or a rare view from inside a Royal Navy ice ship, there are many sides to the Forces which remain largely unseen by the eyes of the public.

But an insightful portfolio of photographs has given a fascinating glimpse into the lives of marines and sailors, and the rituals and challenges they face every day.

Leading airman Arron Hoare's eye-catching images show marines crevassing in Antarctica, navy divers taking the plunge from an iceberg, and even the sombre moment HMS Protector crew members pay tribute to fallen colleagues during a Falklands Memorial.

Picture perfect: The HMS Protector is photographed off James Ross Island, near the northeastern extremity of Antarctic Peninsula, in one of many eye-catching pictures by LA (Phot) Arron Hoare

Hanging on: A Royal Marine detachment from HMS Protector crevass in Rothera, Antarctica, in another shot from Arron Hoare's award-winning collection

Portrait: A Royal marine from K Company of 42 Commando Royal Marines, deployed to Nahre-e Saraj South, Afganistan, inspects his GPMG in his sleeping area in a small compound at one their check points

Taking the plunge: A navy diver leaps from an iceberg near the Antarctic Peninsula, while a colleague looks on

All at sea: The HMS Edinburgh passes through the Patagonian Canal on her way to Valparaiso, Chile, in a picture which won the Best Maritime Image award

LA (Phot) Hoare's portfolio, taken while he was on board HMS Protector, won the prize for the service's annual photographic competition as he catalogued the ice patrol ship's effort to help UK research and exploration teams in the Antarctic.

Another award winning picture from the competition was that of leading airman (phot) David Hillhouse, whose image of a Royal Marine cleaning his GPMG in an Afghan compound won the Navy News Award.

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The competition included entries from naval photographers deployed in Afghanistan, on counter-piracy operations and other operations abroad and in the UK.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope said: 'With some 8,000 sailors and marines deployed at any one time for much of last year off Libya, on our seas and in Afghanistan, there have been plenty of opportunities to capture that sense of purpose, that passion and that pride of people making a positive difference.'

Dramatic: This spectacular picture of A Company, 1 Rifles and embedded Royal Marines showed them conducting a Helicopter Assault Force operation in Alikosi, Helmand Province

Inside glimpse: This picture by Arron Hoare shows crewmembers at the helm in the bridge of HMS Protector, as it negotiates thick ice in the Antarctic Peninsula

Into the light: A fire exercise on board the HMS Protector during the ship's Basic Operational Sea Training gives a different view of life in the ice patrol ship

On patrol: Member of 30 Commando kneel to the ground in the Lashkar gah area of operation as helicopters arrive to collect them from their last helicopter assault, in an image which won the 'Life Without Limits' award

Sombre: Crewmembers have a moment of quiet reflection for fallen colleagues from the Falklands in this thought-provoking image

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