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Double Dutch for Clyde-Based Commandos and Police
Royal Marines tasked with safeguarding Britain's nuclear deterrent have been testing their skills, alongside their Ministry of Defence Police counterparts, in The Netherlands during Exercise Gelderland Strike. The Scotland-based Marines – from O and P Squadrons at 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group RM – are trusted with the important duty of keeping Britain’s strategic nuclear deterrent safe, whether on a Vanguard-class submarine in and around the Clyde, or elsewhere in the UK.
The mission relies on the Royal Marines, MOD Police and other agencies working together, so a joint training exercise was the ideal opportunity to build the partnership and share tactics.
Pictured: A Royal Marine from Zulu Company. 45 Commando on section attack training in Ravlunda, Sweden as part of their Baltic Protector Deployment.
Royal Marines from Zulu Company, 45 Commando have been honing their skills in the phase 2 part of Baltic Protector in the area of Rinkeby which is in the south west of Sweden. This involved section, troop and company level training.
Baltic Protector marks the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group. A total of 3000 military personnel and 9 nations including the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
Credit: LPhot Joe Cater
Pictured: Royal Marines from X-Ray Company, 45 Commando assault the final objective in Rinkenby, Sweden on Baltic Protector.
Royal Marines of 45 Commando have completed the final exercise in Rinkenby, Sweden as part of the Baltic Protector deployment.
Baltic Protector marks the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group. A total of 3000 military personnel and 9 nations including the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
Credit: LPhot Joe Cater
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
Royal Marines from 40 Commando practice urban warfare techniques on July 14, 2010, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. HMS Ark Royal, the nation's strike carrier, is leading an international task group during exercise Auriga 2010 a joint US-British amphibious exercise in Onslow Bay, off the coast of North Carolina. Exercise AURIGA is part of a series of training exercises that will build on the UK's ability to conduct small scale focused intervention operations anywhere in the world, delivering amphibious forces supported by air power from the Joint Harrier force.
Greek Amphibious Commandos during a training exercise demonstrating some of their weapons and equipment
Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, begin setting up tents which function as the brigade's command post in tactical environments during a command post training exercise, November 18, at Fort Drum, New York. This CPX is the second in a series of training events allowing the brigade staff to rehearse, execute and evaluate the collective training tasks essential to the brigade’s mission. Soldiers across the Commando brigade have spent months progressing from individual to collective mission essential tasks as they work toward brigade level certification at the Joint Readiness Training Center. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Paige Behringer)
Pictured is Marine Travis (front) and Marine Stoddern (rear) of Alpha Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines patrolling in Belize jungle as part of Exercise Curry Trail. This exercise sees participants develop jungle warfare capabilities for Commando Forces up to and including live fire section drills. February 14, 2019.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
French Commandos on duty at the Eiffel area... they also had some of these men rappel down the Eiffel... very impressive.. Here i try to capture the mood that Elite Commandos present to the public... and tourists today.
An Australian Army special forces soldier from 2nd Commando Regiment conducts a fast-rope descent onto a Sydney ferry from an Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, as part of a maritime counter-terrorism training activity on Sydney Harbour, on Wednesday, 24 June 2020. *** Local Caption *** Australian Army special forces soldiers from 2nd Commando Regiment conducted Exercise Mars Toothfish in Sydney, Wollongong and associated New South Wales coastal waters from late-June to early July 2020.
Exercise Mars Toothfish is essential Australian Army training that ensures the Australian Defence Force is ready to defend Australia and its national interests. The training activity was conducted using strict COVID-19 protocols.
The Mars series of counter-terrorism training activities are designed to build and maintain the skills of 2nd Commando Regiment's Tactical Assault Group - East (TAG-East), a short-notice counter-terrorist force, able to respond to a terrorist incident of national importance or in support of state and territory-based police.
2nd Commando Regiment is part of Special Forces Group, a brigade-level formation within the Australian Army's Special Operations Command.
Special Operations Command's mission is to prepare and employ special operations forces to defend Australia and its national interests.
Special Operations Command is a small, high-tempo and diverse multi-disciplinary team drawn from Navy, Army, Air Force, Australian Public Service and contractors, who continue the 78 years of Australian special operations experience and sacrifice since World War II.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
Pictured is Marine Travis (front) and Marine Stoddern (rear) of Alpha Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines patrolling in Belize jungle as part of Exercise Curry Trail. This exercise sees participants develop jungle warfare capabilities for Commando Forces up to and including live fire section drills. February 14, 2019.
This is my entry for the Mega Man 10 weekly Robot Masters fan art contest.
www.capcom-unity.com/jgonzo/blog/2010/01/18/the_weekly_me...
Royal Marines from 42 Commando, have been perfecting specialist boarding skills and practicing saving downed aircrew as they operate at the heart of the UK Carrier Strike Group
Photos: Royal Navy
Pictured: A Royal Marine from Zulu Company. 45 Commando on section attack training in Ravlunda, Sweden as part of their Baltic Protector Deployment.
Royal Marines from Zulu Company, 45 Commando have been honing their skills in the phase 2 part of Baltic Protector in the area of Rinkeby which is in the south west of Sweden. This involved section, troop and company level training.
Baltic Protector marks the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group. A total of 3000 military personnel and 9 nations including the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
Credit: LPhot Joe Cater
Pictured: A Royal Marines from X-Ray Company, 45 Commando assault the final objective in Rinkenby, Sweden on Baltic Protector.
Royal Marines of 45 Commando have completed the final exercise in Rinkenby, Sweden as part of the Baltic Protector deployment.
Baltic Protector marks the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group. A total of 3000 military personnel and 9 nations including the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
Credit: LPhot Joe Cater
My travels around the UK by car for three weeks with my son. June/July 2019 Scotland.
Day fourteen ..The Commando Memorial in the Spean Bridge area making our way to Inverness, where we are staying the night.
The Commando Memorial is a Category A listed monument in Lochaber, Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II. Situated around a mile from Spean Bridge, it overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle.
The monument consists of a cast bronze sculpture of three Commandos in characteristic dress complete with cap comforter, webbing and rifle, standing atop a stone plinth. The soldier at the front is thought to depict Commando Jack Lewington who frequently attended Remembrance Services at the monument during his lifetime. One of the other two soldiers is Frank Nicholls (rank unknown) the other is alleged to be Patrick Hynan. The three Commandos are depicted looking south towards Ben Nevis. The entire monument is 17 feet (5.2 m) tall. The monument has been variously described as a huge, striking and iconic statue.
"United we conquer" is inscribed around the top of the stone plinth, while the original plaque on the stone plinth reads: "In memory of the officers and men of the commandos who died in the Second World War 1939–1945. This country was their training ground."
The location was chosen because it is on the route from Spean Bridge railway station to the former Commando Training Centre at nearby Achnacarry Castle. Arriving prospective Commandos would disembark after a 14-hour journey, load their kit bags onto waiting trucks and then speed march the 7 miles (11 km) to the training centre in full kit with weapon, weighing a total of 36 pounds (16 kg). Anyone not completing it within 60 minutes was immediately RTU'd (returned to unit).
For More Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando_Memorial<
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
Pictured: A Royal Marine from Zulu Company. 45 Commando on section attack training in Ravlunda, Sweden as part of their Baltic Protector Deployment.
Royal Marines from Zulu Company, 45 Commando have been honing their skills in the phase 2 part of Baltic Protector in the area of Rinkeby which is in the south west of Sweden. This involved section, troop and company level training.
Baltic Protector marks the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group. A total of 3000 military personnel and 9 nations including the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
Credit: LPhot Joe Cater
Portuguese Army Commandos serving the Central African Republic as part of the UN Peacekeeping forces deployed n that Country.
Commandos return to base in bangui...
Congratulations to all the military who, with bravery and mastery, add another successful mission to the service of the United Nations!
After a month of a complex operation in bocaranga, about 500 km from bangui, the army and air force military of the 5th National Force deployed in the Central African Republic, mostly composed of commands, are back Based in the capital.
The Portuguese rapid reaction force was called upon to intervene to protect the locations of letele, boukaya and bohong from the oppression of elements of armed groups following the massacre of more than 50 people last may.
Once again, the presence of the Portuguese military in the region, in the name of the maintenance of peace, brought security to the local populations and boosted the negotiation between a delegation of the African Union, the government of the Central African Republic, representatives of the The leadership of the armed group, seeking a solution under the khartoum peace agreement, signed earlier this year.
Photos: Forças Armadas Portuguesas
Lima Company 42 Commando Royal Marines - Exercise Black Alligator
Images show a dawn raid by Lima Company 42 Commando Royal Marines on to objective Ruby. The mission saw the commando’s clear enemy from buildings and the surrounding terrain. The attack was part of 42 Commando's week long final exercise of Black Alligator.
Photos: PO (Phot) Sean Clee MOD Crown copyright 2012
43 Commando go stalking through the glen
Pictured are Royal Marines from 43 Commando demonstrating their extensive military skills and capabilities while conducting low-level training in and around Glen Fruin, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Located at HM Naval Base Clyde, 43 Commando help safeguard the ships and submarines at the Naval Base and those transiting the Firth of Clyde.
Each year the unit conducts dozens of Fleet directed operations around the globe, deploying Fleet Standby Rifle Teams and Maritime Sniper Teams. The 500-strong unit also supports Royal Navy counter-narcotics and counter-piracy missions, boarding and searching suspect ships in hot-spots around the world.
Images by CPOA(Phot) Thomas McDonald
Royal Marines from Zulu Company, 45 Commando have been honing their skills in the phase 2 part of Baltic Protector in the area of Rinkeby which is in the south west of Sweden. This involved section, troop and company level training.
Baltic Protector marks the first deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Maritime Task Group. A total of 3000 military personnel and 9 nations including the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden will contribute to the first major maritime training deployment of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
Credit: LPhot Joe Cater
Active trip 2010
This exercise will take place in the provinces of West and East Flanders, Hainaut and Namur, Belgium
The purpose of the exercise, in collaboration with French soldiers from 35 (RAP Parachute Infantry Regiment) and the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, is training in the procedures and techniques for Non-combatant Evacuation Operations ( NEO).
Nearly 1,000 military Belgians, mostly from the 2nd Battalion of Commandos Flawinne and 3 Battalion Paratroopers Tielen, and 150 French soldiers, supported by 4 C-130, will participate in ACTIVE TRIP. They will travel mainly by foot or by using light wheeled vehicles
Main Caption
Belgian airborne units are on alert, with 3 Parachute Battalion from Tielen and 2 Commandos from Flawinne, are about to help Belgian expatriates in the context of Exercise Active Trip.
Led by the Immediate Reaction Capability (IRC - Para-Commando Regiment), this exercise will also see the participation of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The recent security crisis born of the earthquake in Haiti has highlighted the importance of coordination between the FPS Foreign Affairs and Defense during such a crisis. To gain experience in the field, a team composed of staff from both departments will participate actively in the consolidation of expatriates (about 450 civilians), reception and sorting of these before their evacuation by road or by air on board four C-130 Defence Belgian and a French C-160.
Pictured is Marine John Allen of Alpha Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines with an Army Commando and a Marine patrolling in the river at Belize as part of Exercise Curry Trail. This exercise sees participants develop jungle warfare capabilities for Commando Forces up to and including live fire section drills. February 14, 2019.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
Alpha Company 40 Commando Royal Marines on operations in Nahr-e Saraj, Central Helmand.
Photographs by L(Phot) Rhys Oleary – MOD/Crown Copyright 2013
British Royal Marines assigned to 8 Troop Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines.
The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory executed Project Metropolis II ,a Dense Urban Operations limited operational experiment 2019 (DUO19) at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center (MUTC), Indiana.
The event aimed to effectively combine robotics, sensors, manned/unmanned vehicles, and dismounted Marines with a focus on improving Marines' ability to sense and locate the threat, observing their speed of decision making and speed of action, and determining their lethality when employing traditional and surrogate equipment versus an enemy force in a dense urban environment.
This experiment took Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, a squad-sized element from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and British Royal Marines assigned to 8 Troop Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines.
The U.S. Marines and Royal Marine Commandos were divided into 'red' force and 'blue' force and engaged each other in a live force-on-force, free-play battle within a dense urban setting.
Photo: Matt Lyman
Portuguese Army Commandos serving the Central African Republic as part of the UN Peacekeeping forces deployed n that Country.
Commandos return to base in bangui...
Congratulations to all the military who, with bravery and mastery, add another successful mission to the service of the United Nations!
After a month of a complex operation in bocaranga, about 500 km from bangui, the army and air force military of the 5th National Force deployed in the Central African Republic, mostly composed of commands, are back Based in the capital.
The Portuguese rapid reaction force was called upon to intervene to protect the locations of letele, boukaya and bohong from the oppression of elements of armed groups following the massacre of more than 50 people last may.
Once again, the presence of the Portuguese military in the region, in the name of the maintenance of peace, brought security to the local populations and boosted the negotiation between a delegation of the African Union, the government of the Central African Republic, representatives of the The leadership of the armed group, seeking a solution under the khartoum peace agreement, signed earlier this year.
Photos: Forças Armadas Portuguesas
Royal Marines from M Company 42 Commando making an helicopter insertion into the Mojave Desert. The troops where flown my Merlin helicopter during the initial stages of the week long final exercise of exercise Black Alligator.
Photographs by L(Phot) Jason Ballard Crown Copyright 2012
Royal Marines of 43 Commando train in various environment to test their skills in protecting the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Royal Marines have completed two weeks of rigorous training in the skills needed to protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
The marines of 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group are held at very high-readiness year round, guarding the nuclear deterrent carried onboard the Vanguard-class submarines based at Faslane Naval Base in Scotland.
These expert warriors must be highly-skilled in fighting in a range of close-quarter combat environments and two weeks of exercises at training areas around the UK ensured they are razor sharp for duties.
The commandos battled in a range of complex environments and challenging scenarios that ensure they are ready to safeguard the nuclear deterrent whatever the situation.
Major Steve Lewis RM, Officer Commanding R-Squadron, said: “Exercise Driven Defender provided R-Squadron, 43 Commando, an opportunity to conduct challenging role training in a variety of complex and novel training environments across the UK following the cancellation of the original US based version of this exercise.
“Through a mixture of agile planning and innovative training design R-Squadron delivered realistic, high-end training whilst remaining aligned with the fluid national COVID control situation. The training activity comprising dismounted, vehicle mounted, and Helicopter Assault operations extensively tested the participating highly skilled, specialist commando forces.”
Under the cover of darkness, troops fought through a multi-storey building in pitch blackness taking down any threats hindering their mission.
Using every trick in their book, together with rapid, relentless and overwhelming force, the marines successfully overcame all hurdles the ‘enemy’ had for them.
Following this, the commandos moved to a former bunker in the South West where they carried out training missions hundreds of metres underground in a network of intersecting passages and railway tunnels.
The commandos were told that a ‘high-value asset’ had been taken deep into the bunker and employing a range of their combat skills, were tasked with defeating their adversary and liberating the asset, combining technology and agile thought to produce success.
The Faslane-based marines followed this up with close-quarter battle training at Wakefield Armed Police College, moving to the target area as a Helicopter Assault Force via CH47 Chinook before clearing through buildings testing their method of entry abilities to provide operational assurance in built-up environments.
Not resting on their laurels, the commandos moved onto their next scenario which saw an enemy preparing to fly out high-value assets.
Observation posts were positioned and a recce was carried out on RAF Woodvale, on Merseyside, determining enemy movements and positions, calculating the best way of taking down the threat without risking the safety of the assets.
The following day at first light and again deploying as a Helicopter Assault Force via Puma helicopters, the commandos struck, taking the runway and securing the base before their adversary could leave with the stolen assets.
Quick Reaction Forces were tasked with clearing aircraft hangars and taking down well-protected enemy positions throughout the training area.
The exercise reached its conclusion with troops conducting close-quarters battle training, using simulated and live ammunition in Fort Blockhouse in Gosport.
This realistic and confined activity concluded an excellent and varied mission specific training package, ultimately assuring the security of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
“This exercise has revalidated the high levels of knowledge, skills and ability required of each marine within R-Squadron allowing them to take their place with confidence delivering in support of the unit nuclear security mission,” added Maj Lewis.
23 October 2020
Photos: Royal Navy MOD/Copyright 2020
Turkish Army Commandos providing VIP Security the Turkish Presidents wife Emine Erdoğan visited Uludere villige close to the Syrian Border - March 2012
Commando level attack on to objective LEAD (Range 200)
Images captured show a Commando level attack on to objective LEAD (Range 200) in the 29 Palms training area of California. Over 500 Royal Marines from 42 Commando were involved in the dawn raid. The mission saw the Commandos clear enemy from buildings and surrounding terrain. The attack was the final phase of the six week long training exercise, Black Alligator – December 2012
Photographs by PO (phot) Sean Clee Crown Copyright 2012
i shut one of the kitchen windows before bed last week without realizing that abu was still out on the fire escape. i didn't discover this until the next morning when it was time for food, and abu wasn't right there waiting. i put up some posters and a craigslist ad and went to work, it was hard to concentrate all day long. after work there was no word from anyone but while i was making dinner, i could hear a faint meowing out my kitchen window. i stuck my head out and could see abu sitting in the middle of the neighbor's backyard garden.
i went right next door to ring the bell, but before i even got up the steps a guy walking up the street asked if he could help me. i explained the whole situation and asked if i could have access to the backyard to fetch my cat and he flat out refused. he did offer to go back there himself and 'pass the cat over the fence' to me.
that was all a farce of course, because as soon as the guy turned on the light and went into his backyard, abu hid off in the corner in the weeds. i explained this to him from my side of the fence, and he gruffly denied any cat being back there and retreated into his very private air-conditioned home, end of conversation.
so, naturally i waited until 2am, scaled the back fence commando-style, crawled across the roof of their outbuilding and climbed down the clothesline tower to provide my own self access to their backyard. i brought the carrier with me and after ten minutes or so of quietly calling out to him, abu decided it was safe to show himself and came trotting over. i pet him for a minute before stuffing him in to the carrier and making the whole obstacle course routine in reverse, this time with a very nervous cat in tow. i'm glad to report that all is well now and neither my landlord nor my neighbor are aware of my trespasses.
highlights of the route are in green and they include: razor wire, power lines, and the slick, slimy fruit vines.
A combined British and French commando unit landed on the beach to gather information on the German defences in December 1943. This is not an easy memorial to find! Seen in August 2015.
ROYAL MARINES GREEN DAGGER USA 2019
IMAGE SHOWS: A Royal Marine RPAS (Remotely Piloted Air System) Operator flys a drone during a firefight to help his section locate enemy positions during an urban exercise in the Californian desert. Taken on Ex Green Dagger 2019.
40 Commando Battle Group take on their US Marine Corps counterpart in a peer-on-peer scenario in the deserts of California. Their training took place in the excellent, and truly vast, range complex at Twentynine Palms (near the border of Mexico).
The Royal Marines have been invited by the Commandant General of the US Marine Corps to compete in a peer-on-peer warfighting scenario: “we must train the way we intend to fight. Training must reflect how we would fight a thinking adversary who can compete in all domains”. 40 Commando Battle Group have partnered with 7th Marine Regiment USMC as the adversary for; providing a commando force to be the lethal tip-of-the-spear to take on 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV).
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division gathered in a Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield hangar during a ceremony to case the Commando brigade’s colors before an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, October 17, 2018, at Fort Drum, New York. The casing of the colors is a traditional ceremony symbolizing a unit’s movement into a new theater of operation. The brigade is sending an element of troops on an additional mission to Kosovo for the duration of the deployment.
Royal Marines of 43 Commando train in various environment to test their skills in protecting the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Royal Marines have completed two weeks of rigorous training in the skills needed to protect the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
The marines of 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group are held at very high-readiness year round, guarding the nuclear deterrent carried onboard the Vanguard-class submarines based at Faslane Naval Base in Scotland.
These expert warriors must be highly-skilled in fighting in a range of close-quarter combat environments and two weeks of exercises at training areas around the UK ensured they are razor sharp for duties.
The commandos battled in a range of complex environments and challenging scenarios that ensure they are ready to safeguard the nuclear deterrent whatever the situation.
Major Steve Lewis RM, Officer Commanding R-Squadron, said: “Exercise Driven Defender provided R-Squadron, 43 Commando, an opportunity to conduct challenging role training in a variety of complex and novel training environments across the UK following the cancellation of the original US based version of this exercise.
“Through a mixture of agile planning and innovative training design R-Squadron delivered realistic, high-end training whilst remaining aligned with the fluid national COVID control situation. The training activity comprising dismounted, vehicle mounted, and Helicopter Assault operations extensively tested the participating highly skilled, specialist commando forces.”
Under the cover of darkness, troops fought through a multi-storey building in pitch blackness taking down any threats hindering their mission.
Using every trick in their book, together with rapid, relentless and overwhelming force, the marines successfully overcame all hurdles the ‘enemy’ had for them.
Following this, the commandos moved to a former bunker in the South West where they carried out training missions hundreds of metres underground in a network of intersecting passages and railway tunnels.
The commandos were told that a ‘high-value asset’ had been taken deep into the bunker and employing a range of their combat skills, were tasked with defeating their adversary and liberating the asset, combining technology and agile thought to produce success.
The Faslane-based marines followed this up with close-quarter battle training at Wakefield Armed Police College, moving to the target area as a Helicopter Assault Force via CH47 Chinook before clearing through buildings testing their method of entry abilities to provide operational assurance in built-up environments.
Not resting on their laurels, the commandos moved onto their next scenario which saw an enemy preparing to fly out high-value assets.
Observation posts were positioned and a recce was carried out on RAF Woodvale, on Merseyside, determining enemy movements and positions, calculating the best way of taking down the threat without risking the safety of the assets.
The following day at first light and again deploying as a Helicopter Assault Force via Puma helicopters, the commandos struck, taking the runway and securing the base before their adversary could leave with the stolen assets.
Quick Reaction Forces were tasked with clearing aircraft hangars and taking down well-protected enemy positions throughout the training area.
The exercise reached its conclusion with troops conducting close-quarters battle training, using simulated and live ammunition in Fort Blockhouse in Gosport.
This realistic and confined activity concluded an excellent and varied mission specific training package, ultimately assuring the security of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
“This exercise has revalidated the high levels of knowledge, skills and ability required of each marine within R-Squadron allowing them to take their place with confidence delivering in support of the unit nuclear security mission,” added Maj Lewis.
23 October 2020
Photos: Royal Navy MOD/Copyright 2020
Lima Company 42 Commando Royal Marines - Exercise Black Alligator
Images show a dawn raid by Lima Company 42 Commando Royal Marines on to objective Ruby. The mission saw the commando’s clear enemy from buildings and the surrounding terrain. The attack was part of 42 Commando's week long final exercise of Black Alligator.
Photos: PO (Phot) Sean Clee MOD Crown copyright 2012