U.S Destroyers, Norwegian Frigate Patrol Arctic North Cape as NATO Forces Search for Russian Attack Submarines off Lofoten U.S. and Norwegian naval forces conducted a joint patrol in the Barents Sea. The Arctic operation comes as part of a large exercise in the Norwegian and North Seas involving theUSS Gerald R. Fordnuclear aircraft carrier and carrier group. NATO forces also conducted extensive aerial searches for three Russian Yasen-class attack submarines which were reported to be operating in the area off the Lofoten.