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Royal Marines of 40 Commando and Army Commandos taking part in PROJECT HERMOD LIVEX.
PROJECT HERMOD was a capability demonstration to mark the Defence Integrated Review (IR).
Taking place on RFA Mounts Bay and at Bovington training area, it displayed Multi-Domain Integration (MDI) within Defence as part of a transformation programme.
Trained for rapid worldwide deployment, the troops of 40 Commando are highly skilled, adaptable, and capable of combating a wide range of threats.
The unit are at the forefront of innovation as commandos go back to their roots as raiders from the sea and embrace new technologies to help their specialised operations around the world.
Since its formation in 1942, 40 Commando has served in every major British conflict, playing a pivotal role in several notable campaigns and operations.
Photos: LPhot Phil Bloor
Credit: UK Ministry of Defence 2021
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. Unveiled in 1952 by the Queen Mother, it is one of Scotland’s best-known monuments, both as a war memorial and as a tourist attraction offering views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr.
A veteran of many battles, Commander Reckless has survived well in this post-apoc world. Reckless carries only a kukri and revolver.
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I like the name Reckless. : 3
That's a BF kukri that I painted. It used to be baby blue for heaven's sake. Who's gonna use that? Besides, I got two of them in my two blind bags. Oh well, the rest of the blind bags were awesome.
Please comment if you fave.
-IronBricks
I don't know whether any Commer Commandos of this type were bodied as village buses in Cyprus. There were certainly some smaller Commers and examples of the later Superpoise range. The chrome radiator shell on this fictitious Commando is possibly a little unlikely for a village bus and the aluminium window units suggest a body of fairly recent construction, possibly for tourist work and wedding parties. Window units aside, it is remarkable how little the traditional Cyprus village bus has changed in appearance over its very long production life. The early all-wood bodies were ultimately succeeded by steel construction, but still using hand fabricated and assembled components. I had the pleasure of spending time a few years ago with Petros Nikolaou and his three sons, working within very basic facilities in central Nicosia. It was an education to see such craftsmen at work but I did wonder how they made it all pay. The vast majority of Cyprus village buses were finished in red or green. There are other colours, including some very smart metallic finishes, but somehow they don't look right. This version carries the more common red livery. The source image is based on a Ford K600 village bus, onto which the front-end from a Maltese Commer Commando has been digitally grafted (01-Jun-10).
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Royal Marines from O Squadron, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines based at HM Naval Base Clyde near Helensburgh have recently conducted an exercise to sharpen their ‘Commando skills’ during a period away from delivering their core nuclear security role in Faslane and RNAD Coulport.
Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is a two-week exercise that aims to strengthen the fundamental conventional skills of the Royal Marines and has also included an amphibious landing and live firing phase. The exercise has taken place in the local area around Faslane and also at the military training area in Kirkcudbright.
“Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is an important part of the O Squadron yearly training programme and aims to revise and strengthen core skills that are utilised by Royal Marines in all types of deployment including by the Troops deployed on Nuclear Security duties in Faslane and Coulport. It also ensures that the Marines from O Squadron remain proficient in the skills they will require as they move to other units within 3 Commando Brigade in the future,” said Capt Josh Roughton RM, Second in Command of O Squadron, 43 Commando who organised the exercise.
43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a 550-strong Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland
Its primary mission is to prevent unauthorised access to the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent through the provision of specialist military capability. Additionally, maritime boarding and sniper teams and the very high readiness Fleet Contingent Troop are deployed worldwide to conduct specialist maritime security tasks in support of the Royal Navy.
Royal Marine teams from 43 Commando are currently deployed on counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, and maritime interdiction operations in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. There is also a detachment of cold weather warfare trained Royal Marines from the Unit deployed on the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship.
Photos: L(Phot) Stephen Burke RN
Royal Marines of 40 Commando and Army Commandos taking part in PROJECT HERMOD LIVEX.
PROJECT HERMOD was a capability demonstration to mark the Defence Integrated Review (IR).
Taking place on RFA Mounts Bay and at Bovington training area, it displayed Multi-Domain Integration (MDI) within Defence as part of a transformation programme.
Trained for rapid worldwide deployment, the troops of 40 Commando are highly skilled, adaptable, and capable of combating a wide range of threats.
The unit are at the forefront of innovation as commandos go back to their roots as raiders from the sea and embrace new technologies to help their specialised operations around the world.
Since its formation in 1942, 40 Commando has served in every major British conflict, playing a pivotal role in several notable campaigns and operations.
Photos: LPhot Phil Bloor
Credit: UK Ministry of Defence 2021
Royal Marine Young Officers (RMYOs) on Exercise FINAL NAIL
Royal Marine Young Officers (RMYOs) put their extensive training and skills to the test during final phase training, on Exercise FINAL NAIL conducted in the Argyll forest exercise areas Argyll & Bute Scotland.
Exercise FINAL NAIL represented the culmination of Royal Marines Young Officer (RMYO) training and was the last serial of an arduous 15 month course based at Commando Training Centre Royal
Marines. It was designed to confirm the YOs as fit to command a close combat troop, before their passing out in December 2012. Emphasis was placed on learning to operate within the company context, with trained ranks; Marines from 43 Cdo FPGRM augmenting the YOs to company strength and HQ elements. Use of attached assets added realism and complexity to the exercise; with LCs from 10 Trg Sqn RM manning Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC) and Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC), and MLs playing the role of BPT for vertical assault elements.
The exercise was spread over four different training areas, each demanding different tactical considerations. The exercise began with a troop amphibious beach assault in Braunton Burrows. The YOs then deployed to the West Coast of Scotland to conduct a company attack onto an airfield and riverine operations in Galloway Forest, before staging amphibious raids on the lochs of Ardgartan Forest. The final attack was a simultaneous company-led attack onto hill-top enemy positions, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Garelochs.
Photographs by CPO(Phot) Tam McDonald - MOD Crown Copyright 2012
Turkish Army Commandos providing VIP Security the Turkish Presidents wife Emine Erdoğan visited Uludere villige close to the Syrian Border - March 2012
Royal Marines from 42 Commando Boarding RFA Mounts Bay
Members of 42 Commando Fleet Contingency conducting high vertical assaults on RFA Mounts Bay as part of the Autonomous Advance Force 4.0 trials. 42 Commando Royal Marine’s Fleet Contingency Troop have been conducting high vertical assault drills onto RFA Mounts Bay in Portland Harbour, supported by Offshore Raiding Craft and Coxswains from 47 Commando RM.
The training forms part of the Autonomous Advance Force 4.0 trials, utilising modern communication systems and autonomous capabilities, including mobile ad hoc networking radios MPU5, Ghost drone, which provides a live feed to ground commanders and the MADFOX unmanned surface vessel, used to provide deception and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
Photos: LPhot Joe Cater
Royal Marines from 42 Commando Boarding RFA Mounts Bay
Members of 42 Commando Fleet Contingency conducting high vertical assaults on RFA Mounts Bay as part of the Autonomous Advance Force 4.0 trials. 42 Commando Royal Marine’s Fleet Contingency Troop have been conducting high vertical assault drills onto RFA Mounts Bay in Portland Harbour, supported by Offshore Raiding Craft and Coxswains from 47 Commando RM.
The training forms part of the Autonomous Advance Force 4.0 trials, utilising modern communication systems and autonomous capabilities, including mobile ad hoc networking radios MPU5, Ghost drone, which provides a live feed to ground commanders and the MADFOX unmanned surface vessel, used to provide deception and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
Photos: LPhot Joe Cater
Pictured are 40 Commando Royal Marines attacking Cilieni village at Sennybridge training area during Exercise Joint Warrior as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force exercise. May 3, 2018.
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
Royal Marines from 42 Commando Boarding RFA Mounts Bay
Members of 42 Commando Fleet Contingency conducting high vertical assaults on RFA Mounts Bay as part of the Autonomous Advance Force 4.0 trials. 42 Commando Royal Marine’s Fleet Contingency Troop have been conducting high vertical assault drills onto RFA Mounts Bay in Portland Harbour, supported by Offshore Raiding Craft and Coxswains from 47 Commando RM.
The training forms part of the Autonomous Advance Force 4.0 trials, utilising modern communication systems and autonomous capabilities, including mobile ad hoc networking radios MPU5, Ghost drone, which provides a live feed to ground commanders and the MADFOX unmanned surface vessel, used to provide deception and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
Photos: LPhot Joe Cater
Royal Marines held at high-readiness for maritime security operations have pyshed themselves in a vast underground comokex beneath a town in the South West ahead of being deployed to the Mediterranean.
Marines from Juliet Company of Plymouth-based 42 Commando work in small teams on Royal Navy warships around the world, ready to react to emergencies and specialist missions, like counter-piracy and boarding operations.
J Company is also the home of the Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) – experts in a range of security missions and the UK’s only force trained in opposed boarding operations (known as Level 3 (Opposed)) outside of Special Forces.
The complex of tunnels became a facility for the potential relocation of the government in times of crisis during the 1950s with the threat of nuclear war looming large.
These days, parts of it are a useful training area; a place where the commandos can push themselves in the art of close-quarters combat, testing their well-rehearsed tactics, techniques and procedures to quickly assess and deal with threats in even the trickiest of environments.
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Photos: Royal Navy
Een klimoefening op het fort Port au Prince tijdens de Franse commando opleiding op Martinique in 1990.
Collectie: D. Melessen
Voor meer foto's van mariniers zie: www.maritiemdigitaal.nl
Commando Challenge, today the ships company of HMS Ocean sampled life as a Royal Marine in the Commando Challange. This is an improvised assult course on the flight deck while the ship is in transit towards the Suez Canal on her way home from OP Taurus 09.. Images by LA (PHOT) Bernie Henesy HMS Ocean.
Royal Marines from O Squadron, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines based at HM Naval Base Clyde near Helensburgh have recently conducted an exercise to sharpen their ‘Commando skills’ during a period away from delivering their core nuclear security role in Faslane and RNAD Coulport.
Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is a two-week exercise that aims to strengthen the fundamental conventional skills of the Royal Marines and has also included an amphibious landing and live firing phase. The exercise has taken place in the local area around Faslane and also at the military training area in Kirkcudbright.
“Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is an important part of the O Squadron yearly training programme and aims to revise and strengthen core skills that are utilised by Royal Marines in all types of deployment including by the Troops deployed on Nuclear Security duties in Faslane and Coulport. It also ensures that the Marines from O Squadron remain proficient in the skills they will require as they move to other units within 3 Commando Brigade in the future,” said Capt Josh Roughton RM, Second in Command of O Squadron, 43 Commando who organised the exercise.
43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a 550-strong Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland
Its primary mission is to prevent unauthorised access to the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent through the provision of specialist military capability. Additionally, maritime boarding and sniper teams and the very high readiness Fleet Contingent Troop are deployed worldwide to conduct specialist maritime security tasks in support of the Royal Navy.
Royal Marine teams from 43 Commando are currently deployed on counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, and maritime interdiction operations in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. There is also a detachment of cold weather warfare trained Royal Marines from the Unit deployed on the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship.
Photos: L(Phot) Stephen Burke RN
Royal Marine Young Officers (RMYOs) on Exercise FINAL NAIL
Royal Marine Young Officers (RMYOs) put their extensive training and skills to the test during final phase training, on Exercise FINAL NAIL conducted in the Argyll forest exercise areas Argyll & Bute Scotland.
Exercise FINAL NAIL represented the culmination of Royal Marines Young Officer (RMYO) training and was the last serial of an arduous 15 month course based at Commando Training Centre Royal
Marines. It was designed to confirm the YOs as fit to command a close combat troop, before their passing out in December 2012. Emphasis was placed on learning to operate within the company context, with trained ranks; Marines from 43 Cdo FPGRM augmenting the YOs to company strength and HQ elements. Use of attached assets added realism and complexity to the exercise; with LCs from 10 Trg Sqn RM manning Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC) and Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC), and MLs playing the role of BPT for vertical assault elements.
The exercise was spread over four different training areas, each demanding different tactical considerations. The exercise began with a troop amphibious beach assault in Braunton Burrows. The YOs then deployed to the West Coast of Scotland to conduct a company attack onto an airfield and riverine operations in Galloway Forest, before staging amphibious raids on the lochs of Ardgartan Forest. The final attack was a simultaneous company-led attack onto hill-top enemy positions, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Garelochs.
Photographs by CPO(Phot) Tam McDonald - MOD Crown Copyright 2012
1970 was the year AMC bought Jeep from Kaiser/Willys. Neither maker is listed in this advertisement.
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
A U.K. Royal Marine with 45 Commando holds his position during Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 2-19 at Range 220, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Feb. 9, 2019. ITX creates a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as an integrated Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Conner Downey)
Soldiers of the 4th Special Service Brigade of British Commandos on the beach during the Battle of the Scheldt, Netherlands, 1944. From the Donald Carson fonds, PR2011.0001/2.
Royal Marines held at high-readiness for maritime security operations have pyshed themselves in a vast underground comokex beneath a town in the South West ahead of being deployed to the Mediterranean.
Marines from Juliet Company of Plymouth-based 42 Commando work in small teams on Royal Navy warships around the world, ready to react to emergencies and specialist missions, like counter-piracy and boarding operations.
J Company is also the home of the Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) – experts in a range of security missions and the UK’s only force trained in opposed boarding operations (known as Level 3 (Opposed)) outside of Special Forces.
The complex of tunnels became a facility for the potential relocation of the government in times of crisis during the 1950s with the threat of nuclear war looming large.
These days, parts of it are a useful training area; a place where the commandos can push themselves in the art of close-quarters combat, testing their well-rehearsed tactics, techniques and procedures to quickly assess and deal with threats in even the trickiest of environments.
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:
Photos: Royal Navy
The loyal Captain Argyus and the Senate Commandos. The two in the back were ones that I made from some regular clone troopers (I usually don't paint my figures...) since I wasn't going to buy the Venator Cruiser. I was glad when some cheaper options came along.
42 Commando Royal Marines - Exercise Black Alligator
Images show Mortar Troop from 42 Commando Royal Marines illuminating enemy positions in the mountains of the Mojave Desert during the week long final exercise of Black Alligator.
Photos: PO (Phot) Sean Clee MOD Crown copyright 2012
Hongwell oddly made their Mercedes Actros lorry in two different sizes: one marked as 1/80 but actually close to 1/76 and a slightly smaller one in 1/87. The latter can be used with smaller 1/76 cabs and I think this turntable ladder looks very effective as a typically British Dodge Commando with a Road Transport Images cab.
Royal Marines from O Squadron, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines based at HM Naval Base Clyde near Helensburgh have recently conducted an exercise to sharpen their ‘Commando skills’ during a period away from delivering their core nuclear security role in Faslane and RNAD Coulport.
Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is a two-week exercise that aims to strengthen the fundamental conventional skills of the Royal Marines and has also included an amphibious landing and live firing phase. The exercise has taken place in the local area around Faslane and also at the military training area in Kirkcudbright.
“Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is an important part of the O Squadron yearly training programme and aims to revise and strengthen core skills that are utilised by Royal Marines in all types of deployment including by the Troops deployed on Nuclear Security duties in Faslane and Coulport. It also ensures that the Marines from O Squadron remain proficient in the skills they will require as they move to other units within 3 Commando Brigade in the future,” said Capt Josh Roughton RM, Second in Command of O Squadron, 43 Commando who organised the exercise.
43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a 550-strong Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland
Its primary mission is to prevent unauthorised access to the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent through the provision of specialist military capability. Additionally, maritime boarding and sniper teams and the very high readiness Fleet Contingent Troop are deployed worldwide to conduct specialist maritime security tasks in support of the Royal Navy.
Royal Marine teams from 43 Commando are currently deployed on counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, and maritime interdiction operations in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. There is also a detachment of cold weather warfare trained Royal Marines from the Unit deployed on the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship.
Photos: L(Phot) Stephen Burke RN
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
The Sondergerät SG104 "Münchhausen" was a German airborne recoillless 355.6 mm (14-inch) caliber gun, intended to engage even the roughest enemy battleships, primarily those of the Royal Navy. The design of this unusual and massive weapon began in 1939. The rationale behind it was that a battleship’s most vulnerable part was the deck – a flat surface, with relatively thin armor (as typical hits were expected on the flanks) and ideally with vital targets underneath, so that a single, good hit would cripple of even destroy a ship. The purpose of such a high angle of attack was likely to allow the projectile to penetrate the target ship's deck, where the ship's armor, if there was any, would have been much thinner than the armor on its sidesHowever, hitting the deck properly with another ship’s main gun was not easy, since it could only be affected through indirect hits and the typical angle of the attack from aballistic shot would not necessarily be ideal for deep penetration, esp. at long range.
The solution to this problem: ensure that the heavy projectile would hit its target directly from above, ideally at a very steep angle. To achieve this, the gun with battleship caliber was “relocated” from a carrier ship or a coastal battery onto an aircraft – specifically to a type that was capable of dive-bombing, a feature that almost any German bomber model of the time offered.
Firing such a heavy weapon caused a lot fo problems, which were severe even if the gun was mounted on a ship or on land. To compensate for such a large-caliber gun’s recoil and to make firing a 14 in shell (which alone weighed around almost 700 kg/1.550 lb, plus the charge) from a relatively light airframe feasible, the respective gun had to be as light as possible and avoid any recoil, which would easily tear an aircraft – even a bomber – apart upon firing. Therefore, the Gerät 104 was designed as a recoilless cannon. Its firing system involved venting the same amount of the weapon's propellant gas for its round to the rear of the launch tube (which was open at both ends), in the same fashion as a rocket launcher. This created a forward directed momentum which was nearly equal to the rearward momentum (recoil) imparted to the system by accelerating the projectile itself. The balance thus created did not leave much net momentum to be imparted to the weapon's mounting or the carrying airframe in the form of felt recoil. A further share of the recoil induced by the moving round itself could be compensated by a muzzle brake which re-directed a part of the firing gases backwards. Since recoil had been mostly negated, a heavy and complex recoil damping mechanism was not necessary – even though the weapon itself was huge and heavy.
Work on the "Münchhausen" device (a secret project handle after a fictional German nobleman created by the German writer Rudolf Erich Raspe in the late 18th century who reputedly had ridden on a cannonball between enemy frontlines), was done by Rheinmetall-Borsig and lasted until 1941. The first test of a prototype weapon was conducted on 9th of September 1940 in Unterlüss with a satisfactory result, even though the weapon was only mounted onto an open rack and not integrated into an airframe yet. At that time, potential carriers were the Ju 88, the Dornier Do 217 and the new Junkers Ju 288. Even though the system’s efficacy was doubted, the prospect of delivering a single, fatal blow to an important , armored arget superseded any doubts at the RLM, and the project was greenlit in early 1942 for the next stage: the integration of the Sondergerät 104 into an existing airframe. The Ju 88 and its successor, the Ju 188, turned out to be too light and lacked carrying capacity for the complete, loaded weapon, and the favored Ju 288 was never produced, so that only the Dornier Do 217 or the bigger He 177 remained as a suitable carriers. The Do 217 was eventually chosen because it had the biggest payload and the airframe was proven and readily available.
After calculations had verified that the designed 14 in rifle would have effectively no recoil, preliminary tests with dumm airframes were carried out. After ground trials with a Do 217 E day bomber to check recoil and blast effects on the airframe, the development and production of a limited Nullserie (pre-production series) of the dedicated Do 217 F variant for field tests and eventual operational use against British sea and land targets was ordered in April 1942.
The resulting Do 217 F-0 was based on the late “E” bomber variant and powered by a pair of BMW 801 radial engines. It was, however, heavily modified for its unique weapon and the highly specialized mission profile: upon arriving at the zone of operation at high altitude, the aircraft would initiate a dive with an angle of attack between 50° and 80° from the horizontal, firing the SG 104 at an altitude between 6,000 and 2,000 meters. The flight time of the projectile could range from 16.0 seconds for a shot from an altitude of 6,000 meters at a 50° angle to just 4.4 seconds for a shot from 2.000 meters at an almost vertical 80° angle. Muzzle velocity of the SG 104 was only 300 m/s, but, prior to impact, the effective velocity of the projectile was projected to range between 449 and 468 m/s (1,616 to 1,674 km/h). Together with the round's weight of roughly 700 kg (1.550 lb) and a hardened tip, this would still ensure a high penetration potential.
The operational Sondergerät 104 had an empty mass of 2.780 kg (6,123 lb) and its complete 14 inch double cartridge weighed around 1.600 kg (3,525 lb). The loaded mass of the weapon was 4,237 kg, stretching the limits of the Do 217’s load capacity to the maximum, so that some armor and less vital pieces of equipment were deleted. Crew and defensive armament were reduced to a minimum.
Even though there had been plans to integrate the wepaon into the airframe (on the Ju 288), the Gerät 104 was on the Do 217 F-0 mounted externally and occupied the whole space under the aircraft, precluding any use of the bomb bay. The latter was occupied by the Gerät 104’s complex mount, which extended to the outside under a streamlined fairing and held the weapon at a distance from the airframe. Between the mount’s struts inside of the fuselage, an additional fuel tank for balance reasons was added, too.
The gun’s center, where the heavy round was carried, was positioned under the aircraft’s center of gravity, so that the gun barrel markedly protruded from under the aircraft’s nose. To make enough space, the Do 217 Es bomb aimer’s ventral gondola and his rearward-facing defensive position under the cockpit were omitted and faired over. The nose section was also totally different: the original extensive glazing (the so-called “Kampfkopf”) was replaced by a smaller, conventional canopy, similar to the later Do 217 J and N night fighter versions, together with a solid nose - the original glass panels would have easily shattered upon firing the gun, esp. in a steep high-speed dive. A "Lotfernrohr" bomb aiming device was still installed in a streamlined and protected fairing, though, so that the navigator could guide the pilot during the approach to the target and during the attack run.
To stabilize the heavy aircraft during its attack and to time- and safely pull out of the dive, a massive mechanical dive brake was mounted at the extended tail tip, which unfolded with four "petals". A charecteristic stabilizing dorsal strake was added between the twin fins, too.
The ventral area behind the gun’s rear-facing muzzle received additional metal plating and blast guiding vanes, after trials in late 1940 had revealed that firing the SG 104 could easily damage the Do 217’s tail structure, esp. all of the tail surfaces’ rudders and the fins’ lower ends in particular. Due to all this extra weight, the Do 217 F-0’s defensive armament consisted only of a single 13 mm MG 131 machine gun in a manually operated dorsal position behind the cockpit cabin, which offered space for a crew of three. A fixed 15 mm MG 151 autocannon was mounted in the nose, too, a weapon with a long barrel for extended range and accuracy. It was not an offensive weapon, though, rather intended as an aiming aid for the SG 104 because it was loaded with tracer bullets: during the final phase of the attack dive, the pilot kept firing the MG 151, and the bullet trail showed if he was on target to fire the SG 104 when the right altitude/range had been reached.
The first Do 217 F-0 was flown and tested in late 1943, and after some detail changes the type was cleared for a limited production run of ten aircraft in January 1944. The first operational machine was delivered to a dedicated testing commando, the Erprobungskommando 104 “Münchhausen”, also known as “Sonderkommando Münchhausen” or simply “E-Staffel 104”. The unit was based at Bordeaux/Merignac and directly attached to the KG 40's as a staff flight. At that time, KG 40 operated Do 217 and He 177 bombers and frequently flew reconnaissance and anti-shipping missions over the Atlantic west of France, up to the British west and southern coast, equipped with experimental Henschel Hs 293 glide bombs.
Initial flights confirmed that the Do 217 airframe was burdened with the SG 104 to its limits, the already rather sluggish aircraft (the Do 217 had generally a high wing loading and was not easy to fly) lost anything that was left of what could be called agility. It needed an experienced pilot to handle it safely, esp. during start and landing. It is no wonder that two Do 217 F-0s suffered ground accidents during the first two weeks of operations, but the machines could be repaired, resume the test program and carry out attack missions.
However, during one of the first test shots with the weapon, one Do 217 F-0 lost its complete tail section though the gun blast, and the aircraft crashed into the Bay of Biscay, killing the complete crew.
On 4th or April 1944 the first "hot" attack against an enemy ship was executed in the Celtic Sea off of Brest, against a convoy of 20 ships homeward bound from Gibraltar. The attack was not successful, though, the shot missing its target, and the German bomber was attacked and heavily damaged by British Bristol Beaufighters that had been deployed to protect the ships. The Do 217F-0 eventually crashed and sank into the Atlantic before it could reach land again.
A couple of days later, on 10th of April, the first attempt to attack and destroy a land target was undertaken: two Do 217 F-0s took off to attack Bouldnor Battery, an armored British artillery position located on the Isle of Wight. One machine had to abort the attack due to oil leakages, the second Do 217 F-0 eventually reached its target and made a shallow attack run, but heavy fog obscured the location and the otherwise successful shot missed the fortification. Upon return to its home base the aircraft was intercepted by RAF fighters over the Channel and heavily damaged, even though German fighters deployed from France came to the rescue, fought the British attackers off and escorted the limping Do 217 F-0 back to its home base.
These events revealed that the overall SG 104 concept was generally feasible, but also showed that the Do 217 F-0 was very vulnerable without air superiority or a suitable escort, so that new tactics had to be developed. One consequence was that further Do 217 F-0 deployments were now supported by V/KG 40, the Luftwaffe's only long range maritime fighter unit. These escorts consisted of Junkers Ju 88C-6s, which were capable of keeping up with the Do 217 F-0 and fend of intercepting RAF Coastal Command’s Beaufighters and later also Mosquitos.
In the meantime, tests with the SG 104 progressed and several modifications were tested on different EKdo 104's Do 217 F-0s. One major upgrade was a further strengthening of the tail section, which added another 200 kg (440 lb) to the aircraft's dry weight. Furthermore, at least three aircraft were outfitted with additional dive brakes under the outer wings, so that the dive could be better controlled and intercepted. these aircraft, however, lost their plumbed underwing hardpoints, but these were only ever used for drop tanks during transfer flights - a loaded SG 104 precluded any other ordnance. On two other aircraft the SG 104 was modified to test different muzzle brakes and deflectors for the rear-facing opening, so that the gun blast was more effectively guided away from the airframe to prevent instability and structural damage. For instance, one machine was equipped with a bifurcated blast deflector that directed the rearward gasses partly sideways, away from the fuselage.
These tests did not last long, though. During the Allied Normandy landings in June 1944 E-Staffel 104 was hastily thrown into action and made several poorly-prepared attack runs against Allied support ships. The biggest success was a full hit and the resulting sinking of the Norwegian destroyer HNoMS Svenner (G03) by "1A+BA" at dawn on 6th of June, off Sword, one of the Allied landing zones. Other targets were engaged, too, but only with little effect. This involvement, however, led to the loss of three Do 217 F-0s within just two days and four more heavily damaged aircraft – leaving only two of EKdo 104's Do 217 F-0s operational.
With the Allied invasion of France and a worsening war condition, the SG 104 program was stopped in August 1944 and the idea of an airborne anti-ship gun axed in favor of more flexible guided weapons like the Hs 293 missile and the Fritz-X glide bomb. Plans for a further developed weapon with a three-round drum magazine were immediately stopped, also because there was no carrier aircraft in sight that could carry and deploy this complex 6.5 tons weapon. However, work on the SG 104 and the experience gained from EKdo 104's field tests were not in vain. The knowledge gathered from the Münchhausen program was directly used for the design of a wide range of other, smaller recoilless aircraft weapons, including the magnetically-triggered SG 113 "Förstersonde" anti-tank weapon or the lightweight SG 118 "Rohrblock" unguided air-to-air missile battery for the Heinkel He 162 "Volksjäger".
General characteristics:
Crew: 3 (pilot, navigator, radio operator/gunner)
Length: 20,73 m (67 ft 11 in) overall
18,93 m (62 ft 3/4 in) hull only
Wingspan: 19 m (62 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.97 m (16 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 57 m² (610 sq ft)
Empty weight: 9,065 kg (19,985 lb)
Empty equipped weight:10,950 kg (24,140 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 16,700 kg (36,817 lb)
Fuel capacity: 2,960 l (780 US gal; 650 imp gal) in fuselage tank and four wing tanks
Powerplant:
2× BMW 801D-2 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, delivering
1,300 kW (1,700 hp) each for take-off and 1,070 kW (1,440 hp) at 5,700 m (18,700 ft),
driving 3-bladed VDM constant-speed propellers
Performance:
Maximum speed: 475 km/h (295 mph, 256 kn) at sea level
560 km/h (350 mph; 300 kn) at 5,700 m (18,700 ft)
Cruise speed: 400 km/h (250 mph, 220 kn) with loaded Gerät 104 at optimum altitude
Range: 2,180 km (1,350 mi, 1,180 nmi) with maximum internal fuel
Ferry range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi); unarmed, with auxiliary fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 7,370 m (24,180 ft) with loaded Gerät 104,
9,500 m (31,200 ft) after firing
Rate of climb: 3.5 m/s (690 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 4 minutes 10 seconds
2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 8 minutes 20 seconds
6,100 m (20,000 ft) in 24 minutes 40 seconds
Armament:
1x 355.6 mm (14-inch) Sondergerät 104 recoilless gun with a single round in ventral position
1x 15 mm (0.787 in) MG 151 machine cannon with 200 rounds, fixed in the nose
1x 13 mm (0.512 in) MG 131 machine gun with 500 rounds, movable in dorsal position
Two underwing hardpoints for a 900 l drop tank each, but only used during unarmed ferry flights
The kit and its assembly:
This was another submission to the "Gunships" group build at whatifmodellers.com in late 2021, and inspiration struck when I realized that I had two Italeri Do 217 in The Stash - a bomber and a night fighter - that could be combined into a suitable (fictional) carrier for a Sondergerät 104. This mighty weapon actually existed and even reached the hardware/test stage - but it was never integrated into an airframe and tested in flight. But that's what this model is supposed to depict.
On the Do 217, the Sg 104 would have been carried externally under the fuselage, even though there had been plans to integrate this recoilless rifle into airframes, esp. into the Ju 288. Since the latter never made it into production, the Do 217 would have been the most logical alternative, also because it had the highest payload of all German bombers during WWII and probably the only aircraft capable of carrying and deploying the Münchhausen device, as the SG 104 was also known.
The fictional Do 217 F-0 is a kitbashing, using a Do 217 N fuselage, combined with the wings from a Do 217 K bomber, plus some modifications. What initially sounded like a simple plan soon turned into a improvisation mess: it took some time to realize that I had already donated the Do 217 K's BMW 801 engines to another project, an upgraded He 115... I did not want to use the nightfighter's more powerful DB 603s, and I was lucky to have an Italeri Ju 188 kit at hand which comes with optional BMW 801s and Jumo 211s. Transplanting these engines onto the Do 217's wings took some tailoring of the adapter plates, but was feasible. However, the BMW 801s from the Ju 188 kit have a flaw: they lack the engine's characteristic cooling fans... Another lucky find: I found two such parts in the scrap box, even though from different kits - one left over from another Italeri Do 217 K, the other one from what I assume is/was an Italeri 1:72 Fw 190 A/F. To make matters worse, one propeller from the Ju 188 kit was missing, so that I had to find a(nother) replacement. :-/
I eventually used something that looked like an 1:72 F6F Hellcat propeller, but I an not certain about this because I have never built this model...? With some trimming on the blades' trailing edges and other mods, the donor's overall look could be adapted to the Ju 188 benchmark. Both propellers were mounted on metal axis' so that they could also carry the cooling fans. Lots of work, but the result looks quite good.
The Do 217 N's hull lost the lower rear gunner position and its ventral gondola, which was faired over with a piece of styrene sheet. The pilot was taken OOB, the gunner in the rear position was replaced by a more blob-like crew member from the scrap box. The plan to add a navigator in the seat to the lower right of the pilot did not work out due to space shortage, but this figure would probably have been invisble, anyway.
All gun openings in the nose were filled and PSRed away, and a fairing for a bomb aiming device and a single gun (the barrel is a hollow steel needle) were added.
The SG 104 was scratched. Starting point was a white metal replacement barrel for an 1:35 ISU-152 SPG with a brass muzzle brake. However, after dry-fitting the barrel under the hull the barrel turned out to be much too wide, so that only the muzzal brake survived and the rest of the weapon was created from a buddy refueling pod (from an Italeri 1:72 Luftwaffe Tornado, because of its two conical ends) and protective plastic caps from medical canulas. To attach this creation to the hull I abused a conformal belly tank from a Matchbox Gloster Meteor night fighter and tailored it into a streamlined fairing. While this quite a Frankenstein creation, the overall dimensions match the real SG 104 prototype and its look well.
Other cosmetic modifications include a pair of underwing dive brakes, translanted from an Italeri 1:72 Ju 88 A-4 kit, an extended (scratched) tail "stinger" which resembles the real dive brake arrangement that was installed on some Do 217 E bombers, and I added blast deflector vanes and a dorsal stabilizer fin.
In order to provide the aircraft with enough ground clearance, the tail wheel was slightly extended. Thanks to the long tail stinger, this is not blatantly obvious.
Painting and markings:
This was not an easy choice, but as a kind of prototype I decided that the paint scheme should be rather conservative. However, German aircraft operating over the Atlantic tended to carry rather pale schemes, so that the standard pattern of RLM 70/71/65 (Dunkelgrün, Schwarzgrün and Hellblau) with a low waterline - typical for experimental types - would hardly be appropriate.
I eventually found a compromise on a He 177 bomber (coded 6N+BN) from 1944 that was operated by KG 100: this particular aircraft had a lightened upper camouflage - still a standard splinter scheme but consisting of RLM 71 and 02 (Dunkelgrün and Grau; I used Modelmaster 2081 and Humbrol 240), a combination that had been used on German fighters during the Battle of Britain when the standard colors turned out to be too dark for operations over the Channel. The aircraft also carried standard RLM 65 (or maybe the new RLM76) underneath (Humbrol 65) and on the fin, but with a very high and slightly wavy waterline. As a rather unusual feature, no typical camouflage mottles were carried on the flanks or the fin, giving the aircraft a very bleak and simple look.
Despite my fears that this might look rather boring I adapted this scheme for the Do 217 F-0, and once basic painting was completed I was rather pleased by the aircraft's look! As an aircraft operated at the Western front, no additional markings like fuselage bands were carried.
To set the SG 104 apart from the airframe, I painted the weapon's visible parts in RLM 66 (Schwarzgrau, Humbrol 67), because this tone was frequently used for machinery (including the interior surfaces of aircraft towards 1945).
RLM 02 was also used for the interior surfaces and the landing gear, even though I used a slightly different, lighter shade in form of Revell 45 (Helloliv).
A light black ink washing was applied and post-shading to emphasize panel lines. Most markings/decals came from a Begemot 1:72 He 11 sheet, including the unusual green tactical code - it belongs to a staff unit, a suitable marking for such an experimental aircraft. The green (Humbrol 2) was carried over to the tips of the propeller spinners. The unit's code "1A" is fictional, AFAIK this combination had never been used by the Luftwaffe.
The small unit badge was alucky find: it actually depicts the fictional Baron von Münchhausen riding on a cannonball, and it comes from an Academy 1:72 Me 163 kit and its respective sheet. The mission markings underneath, depicting two anti-ship missions plus a successful sinking, came from a TL Modellbau 1:72 scale sheet with generic German WWII victory markings.
After some soot stains around the engine exhaust and weapon muzzles had been added with graphite, the model was sealed with matt acrylic varnish and final details like position lights and wire antennae (from heated black plastic sprue material) were added.
Well, what started as a combination of two kits of the same kind with a simple huge pipe underneath turned out to be more demanding than expected. The (incomplete) replacement engines were quite a challenge, and body work on the hull (tail stinger, fairing for the SG 104 as well as the weapon itself) turned out to be more complex and extensive than initially thought of. The result looks quite convincing, also supported by the rather simple paint scheme which IMHO just "looks right" and very convincing. And the whole thing is probably the most direct representation of the inspiring "Gunship" theme!
Marines Parachute Into Exercise For First Time In A Decade
In a spectacular display, the 10 personnel of the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) jumped from 600ft into Galloway, Scotland as part of Exercise Joint Warrior.
An element of the Lead Commando Group, SRS are a Pre Landing Force that seek a covert entry into enemy territory ahead of the main force to send back intelligence from the ground.
The first ever parachute insert as part of Exercise Joint Warrior – the team are practising their core capability as the Marines regenerate their amphibious skills as oppose to the land effort used in Afghanistan.
One of the SRS Troop Commanders Captain Matt Hills said:
“As the lead element of the landing force we need to insert, covertly, by a number of different methods including boat, vehicle and parachute.
“It is vital we maintain our parachute capability in order to be as flexible as possible across a broad range of potential reconnaissance tasks.”
SRS come under the command of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group whose role is to collect and understand information on an area prior to the arrival of the main 3 Commando Brigade force elements.
This ranges from finding enemy force dispositions to understanding the topography, key infrastructure and the population.
Commanding Officer of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Middleton MBE said:
“Collecting and analysing key information to enable Lead Commando Group operations is a challenging task that is normally conducted under significant time pressure.
“Exercise Joint Warrior enables us to test our reconnaissance capabilities and our analysis skills in a demanding, contemporary scenario. Using our ability to parachute reconnaissance teams ahead of the main force is key in maximising the time available to collect the information we need.”
The Lead Commando Group are currently on Exercise Joint Warrior and are based on a number of British warships including HMS Bulwark and HMS Illustrious.
The twice-yearly exercise is the largest one yet and involves Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF personnel working alongside forces from the Netherlands, Canada, France, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Germany.
There are more than 30 warships, 40 fixed wing aircraft and 30 helicopters involved in the war games that will see them all being put to the test as part of a Response Force Task Group which can deploy across the globe in the event of rapidly unfolding crises such as Libya in 2011.
More than a dozen Royal Navy ships and submarines are involved in the exercise which will take place off the East and West Coasts of Scotland for the next fortnight.
MOD/Crown Copyright Photographs by PO (Phot)Sean Clee
A British Royal Marine Commando with Alpha Company, 40 Commando Battle Group looks through a window
during Integrated Training Exercise 1-20 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms,
Calif. Oct. 21, 2019. The Royal Marines took advantage of training areas at MCAGCC while preparing to participate in the Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise as an adversary force in early
November. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cedar M. Barnes)
Royal Marine from 45 Commando conducting patrols whilst located in strategic positions around Senja during Exercise CR20. Ships, helicopters, armoured vehicles, commando units, medics, and specialist raiding craft are all committed to the Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response. In all 15,000 military personnel from ten countries are committed to the demanding winter war games, which will test the abilities of allied nations to fight in one of the most hostile environments on earth.
Photo: PO Phot Si Ethell
TAUNTON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Royal Marines from 40 Commando are presented with their campaign medals following a six-month deployment in Sangin, Afghanistan at Norton Camp Barracks in the presence of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on November 16, 2010 in Taunton, England. During their deployment to Afghanistan, 14 marines were killed and 11 were seriously injured. About 600 marines from the base at Norton Fitzwarren in Somerset had been serving since April 2010 in the Sangin area of Helmand Province before it was taken over by US forces in September.
Royal Marine Young Officers (RMYOs) on Exercise FINAL NAIL
Royal Marine Young Officers (RMYOs) put their extensive training and skills to the test during final phase training, on Exercise FINAL NAIL conducted in the Argyll forest exercise areas Argyll & Bute Scotland.
Exercise FINAL NAIL represented the culmination of Royal Marines Young Officer (RMYO) training and was the last serial of an arduous 15 month course based at Commando Training Centre Royal
Marines. It was designed to confirm the YOs as fit to command a close combat troop, before their passing out in December 2012. Emphasis was placed on learning to operate within the company context, with trained ranks; Marines from 43 Cdo FPGRM augmenting the YOs to company strength and HQ elements. Use of attached assets added realism and complexity to the exercise; with LCs from 10 Trg Sqn RM manning Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC) and Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC), and MLs playing the role of BPT for vertical assault elements.
The exercise was spread over four different training areas, each demanding different tactical considerations. The exercise began with a troop amphibious beach assault in Braunton Burrows. The YOs then deployed to the West Coast of Scotland to conduct a company attack onto an airfield and riverine operations in Galloway Forest, before staging amphibious raids on the lochs of Ardgartan Forest. The final attack was a simultaneous company-led attack onto hill-top enemy positions, set against the spectacular backdrop of the Garelochs.
Photographs by CPO(Phot) Tam McDonald - MOD Crown Copyright 2012
French Air Force Commandos from CPA10 (Commando parachutiste de l'air 10) during winter warfare training – January 2013
Royal Marines from M Coy hone their skills during Royal Marine Boarding Course
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The Marines of M Coy, 42 Commando RM, have been consolidating their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) on the final exercise of the RM Boarding Course at Bovington Training Area, Dorset.
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The arduous 8-week course will qualify the Commandos to take the mantle as the Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) and will see them being held at a high state of readiness for potential deployments to key areas of national interest.
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Image: POPhot Paul Hall
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