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

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

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.

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

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

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.

D-Day

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.

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

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

Spotted outside Azami

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

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)

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

Going Commando

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

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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1/30 scale

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.

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Sulla A82, a pochi chilometri da Spean Bridge, si trova il "Commando Memorial", un monumento alla memoria di un corpo speciale, "The commandos" appunto, istituito nel 1940 da Winston Churchill.

Il monumento, alto 5,1 metri, è stato eretto in questa zona proprio perchè qua i "Commandos" hanno fatto le loro prime esercitazioni per la Seconda Guerra Mondiale.

Dalla collinetta dove si ergono le 3 statue dei soldati, si gode di un panorama pazzesco!

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On the A82, a few miles from Spean Bridge, there is the Commando Memorial, a monument to the memory of a special force, "The Commandos" in fact, established in 1940 by Winston Churchill.

The monument, 5.1 meters high, was erected in this area precisely because here the "Commandos" made their training for the Second World War.

From the hill where stand the statues of three soldiers, you can see a spectacular landscape!

Commando Memorial Monument

Royal Marines tasked with safeguarding Britain's nuclear deterrent have been testing their skills on a variety of weapons 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.

To do this highly specialised role effectively, they need to use the most technologically advanced equipment. Marines at 43 Commando are therefore trained in a wider variety of weapons than their colleagues across other Royal Marines units. This includes the C8 assault rifle, Glock pistol, Sharpshooter rifle and General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG).

A British Army Commando with 148th Battery, 29th Commando Fire Support Team, Royal Artillery, demonstrates proper camouflage after a concealment class as part of a sniper training evolution during Exercise Burmese Chase 2013 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 4, 2013. Burmese Chase is a bilateral training exercise designed to improve interoperability between U.S. and British military forces. Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and British Army Commandos participated in the exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cody Haas/ Released)

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

On 25th of December, 2884 the SDR ground forces started their massive offensive campaign on Torifujiograd, one of few and controlled towns held by mercenary's forces. This massive battle should remain among other things in recollection, because it should come to the first contact between the unmanned Nutcracker tank of the SDR forces and SAFS unit of the mercenarys' army.

This command enterprise was taken seriously by the army SDR and only the most modern material was used. While on the one hand the PKH 103 Nutcracker was used for the first time in the city centre to storm the strongly defended harbour areas, the new P.K.A Ausf M was used by commando troops like the PzKGr. 45. Additionally, light, mobile support vehicles like the HX-39 "Krampus" walking tanks, which were optimised for urban use, saw front line service. However, with strong losses only a partial success could be achieved after two days of violent street fights, before the PzKGr. 45 was de facto chafed - only achieving the destruction of Torifujiograd's telecommunication tower.

Remark:

The story is completely fictive, however, the events stick to the semi-official timeline of the Ma. K. universe and indicate the circumstances of the diorama's scenery.

Inspiration:

This diorama originated after long brooding for the "Dead Snow" competition in 2010/11, initiated by a local web forum similar to starshipmodelers.com. That it finally became a Ma.K. subject has several reasons. For once, my basic interest in the Ma. K. universe and Kow Yokoyamas designs. However, so far I had never had built something in this genre. But then the competition was a good occasion to connect this latent fascination with the basic subject of winter and violence. It was also helpful that I had recently acquired a box with Hobby Base Ma.K. collectible figures in 1:35 scale. These 'Melusine' combat suits in winter camouflage were basically the starting point around which I designed this diorama scene.

The draught:

All in all I had eight figures at disposal, partly even with open bonnets (but unfortunately, without inner life), and I wanted to use this pure mass for the diorama. Basic idea was an advance scene of Melusine suits in the snow. While rummaging in the literature I came across the SDR raid on Torifujiograd as a „historical event“. Consequently, the idea of a wintry street scene with house walls/ruins hardened.

The base plate should not be greater than 30x20cm – a personal standard measure for my glass cabinets at home. With first arrangement tests it became quickly clear fast that an exclusive display of Melusine suits would not "work". An additional focus object was needed, as a visual and thematic counterpart. The problem: in 1:35 there is hardly anything suitable "from the rack". Even though Hasegawa's brand new Nutcracker kit would have been an option, it was too large too expensive, too dominant, and its date of delivery to Germany would have been too uncertain... So only manual labour remained, and the idea of a self-built, small retro walking tank in the style of MiG Production's KV-2X took life.

A walking tank as an extra:

Concerning the HX-39, see also the more detailed separate pictures and comments on that kit. The model was vaguely inspired by the Ma.K. "Gladiator" from the mercenary's troops: a four-legged vehicle of compact size. Because time was scarce, however I decided not to build completely from scratch but rather use 'material from the shelve', combining primarily two models with each other. What sounds simple, however, took quite a lot of search time in order to find suitable donation kits which would match stylistically. The result has become quite consistent in my opinion and from the lines at least not unplausible for the Ma.K. universe: the HX-39 "Krampus".

The body of this small walking tank comes from a Hotchkiss H-39, a light French artillery tank from the early 2nd world war period. The polystyrene model in 1:35 comes from TRUMPETER. The legs and their complete suspension come from a resin kit, a recast of a small SF walking tank from the Japanese 'Junk tank rock '-model series, a TACO-34M 'Beetle'.

Some spare parts from this kit like the commander's cupola or the laser weapon found their way on the new small tank in services of the SDR army. Numerous other individual parts also found their way into the model, among other things generic parts of a 'Roof Details'-set in HO scale from Coernerstone Modulars. From these elements, e.g., the machine block was built.

Reference for the painting of the "Krampus" were the Melusine figures. They carry a winter camouflage which reminds of airplanes of the German air force during the second world war at the eastern front: White/light grey tempera colour on dark green, with yellow marking stripes. The Krampus should just become a minor element in the diorama, however, and, therefore not stick out with exotic extras or flashy colours. Though the model was a piece of work of its own, however, it is only to be seen as an accessory in the bigger diorama ensemble.

The Melusine figures are reworked:

The Hobby Base figures are unexpectedly well printed and hardly leave open wishes. Basically there are three bodies/poses, three weapons/arms and three painting variations available. The suits are even marked with individual numbers!

However, one major disadvantage is that the figures are made out of soft vinyl and show now and then downpour burrs which are hardly to be mended on account of the soft, tough material. Arms and legs are simply connected to the figures' body, so they can be modified and exchanged with little effort – what I have partly used to simulate running figures or to change an arm for a better pose in the scenery.

Only little was changed concerning the figures' paint finish. Merely some of the numbers have been painted by hand to avoid doubles, assigning individual numbers to every figure. Furthermore, the interior of the open suits has been refined – among other things, pilots figure busts were "implanted". For these, some rummaging was necessary, too, but I made a find, finally, with a modern Israeli tank crew from ACADEMY.

In order to make the troops not to look too uniformly, the camouflage of two suits was changed: One Melusine (number 7) received a grey pattern, another (number 8, with open bonnet) a mottled pattern in green grey.

Moreover, almost all figures received personal markings with decals from the scrap box, e.g., nose art like comic eyes, mascots, even a Coraya heart, "kill marks" even a "Kölle Alaaf" banner for the commander with the number 1. Everything only little things, but these details make the diorama look much more lively.

From the total pool of eight figures I chose seven for the diorama which were arranged in three thematic scenes, together with the walking tank:

Commander of the troop (number 1) with two subordinates in direct conversation, partly with open hatches.

Two Melusine with hand weapons marching past in front of the HX-39 at a trot, to the frontline of the battle which is not shown in the diorama but ideally to the left „beyond the picture“.

A Melusine stands with the back to the viewer and instructs the HX-39 driver to wait, until the foot troop has explored and secured the next corner. Another Melusine stands beside HX-39 – he has no active function in the scene, fills primarily the emptiness under the bay window.

Building the diorama:

The base is formed by a 10mm MDF board. On it a 10mm-layer of styrofoam was glued – the soft subsoil would later permit "blows" to the street, creating an uneven surface. Around this base skirt from 2mm balsa wood was glued and later painted black.

Themantically, a street scenery with fight tracks should be shown, after light snowfall in winter. A house ruin which should overlook a street corner came to the left, rear corner. This outer wall is a prepainted plaster kit which was adapted, however, to the circumstances and refined, e.g., with nailed up windows in the ground floor (with the low depth behind the windows I found the "installation" of rubble impractical) and the rubble in the 1st floor bay window. Additionally I applied a new/better painting and ageing with easy watercolors and brick-drilling dust. The smoke traces are real!

In front of and around the building came an approx. 5 cm wide sidewalk which was brought on higher level to the street with 3mm balsa wood. For the surface finish I simply used pre-printed cardboards from Busch - actually for HO scale, but these looked very realistic and "non-uniform" that I ventured the application here instead of a complete do-it-yourself construction with plaster and paint. Most of it would disappear layter under rubble and snow, anyway.

The bay window of the house defined the position for the planned street lights on the sidewalks, on the left and on the right in the streets. The lamps are scratch constructions from brass and polystyrene pipes, the luminous bodies at the top are protective bonnets for syringes...

In order to hold figures and lamps, vertical drillings were put through the MDF base plate into which soft iron wires were glued as holders. Especially the running Melusine figures needed this extra hold. The Krampus stands on own legs, the kit is simply removable.

The HX-39 stands on the street on the right side and forms a counterpole to the building to the left. It serves at the same time as optical divider between the three Melusine scenes.

Small stone and rubble heaps as well as snowy heaps on the street from broken plaster leftovers, sand, shell shards as well as a few resin bricks also support the visual structure of the diorama. Spanish riders (Italieri) and barbed wire barricades (specialised trade) on the street provide offer additional details and enhance spatial separation. Fine sand and drilling dust bring mess on the street (and cover the good-looking paving, unfortunately, almost completely...), some longer grass from paintbrush bristle on the house wall and dry moss which forms ivy tendrils "animates" the hopeless scenario and fills some empty places beside the figures. I tried to fill almost and spot with a minor detail in order to enhance the impression of density and hurry. Consequently, the figures have been consciously distributed rather evenly across the area, so that the viewer cannot grasp the whole scenery at once – it should "resonate" with the whole arrangement a sort of hectic rush in the front section.

The snow comes to the country:

After basic work was done, everything was to be sealed under a thin layer of snow. To enhance the winter impression, even self-made icicles from white glue were used for decoration.

For the "snowfall process" everything was made wet with relaxed water and was sprinkled carefully, in many thin layers, with white joint mortar, resulting in a fluffy, thin snowy cover. A clinical-kitschy snow cover was to be avoided, though. I rather wanted to create the impression as if something had already happened there – thus as if already the first fight troop had passed through, and now the special command moves up to the front line.

Mush was formed by partial mixes of joint mortar with toned water. The puddles in the depressions in the road pavement have been poured out, finally, with brown coloured white glue what has a good, sculptural effect and light shine (like frozen water).

After drying everything was fixed with a water/white glue mixture as well as hair spray. Afterwards, the base of the diorama and its balsa skirt was painted, and as a final step a layer of acrylic matte varnish sealed everything.

Commando Memorial

Dark days, dark when I go to work and dark when I get back. That's why I went back into my Lightroom catalog to select some more images to post.

The Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge in Scotland is a very nice memorial in a wonderful location.

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

Spean Bridge, Scotland

An enemy position is destroyed by a simulated air attack during the Commando Assault onto Sazan Island.

Royal Marines launch amphibious raid on abandoned submarine base

As dawn broke over an abandoned former Cold War submarine base a series of explosions announced the arrival of the Royal Marines as they began a full scale amphibious attack.

As part of Exercise Albanian Lion, the Marines landed on the shores of Sazan island and, amid a scenario based around smugglers, social unrest and the rise of terrorist groups, the Commandos attacked the hostile nation from the sea by climbing cliff faces in darkness to surprise the enemy.

Photos by PO(Phot) Sean Clee

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

Miniature warriors from Families across 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, assembled to face Soldiers of the 41st Engineer Battalion during the Commando brigade's second "Nerf Wars" match held inside a makeshift battlefield configured throughout the Magrath Sports Complex basketball court, April 10, 2019, at Fort Drum, New York. Foam darts littered the gym floor during the "just for fun" event as opposing forces fueled by popcorn and cotton candy engaged in a play firefight.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Paige Behringer)