Royal Marines

[The Armchair Soldier]

Royal Marines News, Media & Discussion

Internationally renowned, the Royal Marines are the UK's Commando force and the Royal Navy's amphibious troops. They are held at a very high readiness to respond to events around the globe.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organis ... al-marines

[The Armchair Soldier]

Royal Marine Trainee Dies On '30-Miler' March

The Ministry of Defence is investigating the death of the trainee during the so-called "30-miler" march.

A Royal Marine trainee has collapsed and died during a 30-mile march on Dartmoor.

The man, whose name is not being released, was based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the cause of death was unknown.

"This incident is being investigated and the thoughts and sympathies of the Naval Service are with the family and friends of this man," he said.

The trainee died on Thursday during the so-called "30-miler" march - the last major test undertaken as part of the 32-week Commando course.

Those taking part have eight hours to complete the gruelling test while carrying additional safety equipment.

Read More: http://news.sky.com/story/1493955/royal ... iler-march

[The Armchair Soldier]

[The Armchair Soldier]

Against a background of morning mist from the Welsh Valleys a steely group of Royal Marines laid in wait, ready to attack, as part of an early morning exercise called Alpha Fury.

[The Armchair Soldier]

How would you save the crew of a helicopter crashed far behind enemy lines?

That was the question posed, and answered, by an action-packed two-day exercise run by the wings of the Royal Marines on Dartmoor.

More than half a dozen helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps, plus ground crews, commandos and ‘enemy’ troops converged on the forbidding terrain outside Okehampton to practise the art of extracting comrades by helicopter under enemy fire.

[The Armchair Soldier]

The Royal Marines Junior Command Course is where young aspiring marines take the first step on the promotion ladder. It is one of the most challenging courses a marine can expect to attend in his career.

[raven111]

Are Ops-Core lids on issue to the corps then?

[vor033]

Pictured are Royal Marines from 43 Commando demonstrating their extensive military skills and capabilities while conducting low-level training in and around Glen Fruin, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Located at HM Naval Base Clyde, 43 Commando help safeguard the ships and submarines at the Naval Base and those transiting the Firth of Clyde.

Each year the unit conducts dozens of Fleet directed operations around the globe, deploying Fleet Standby Rifle Teams and Maritime Sniper Teams. The 500-strong unit also supports Royal Navy counter-narcotics and counter-piracy missions, boarding and searching suspect ships in hot-spots around the world.

Images by CPOA(Phot) Thomas McDonald

[vor033]

As darkness began to cover their tracks Royal Marine Commandos launched their final assault on a disused submarine base in Albania as part of a long-planned annual exercise.

Alpha and Bravo Companies from 40 Commando were landed ashore by Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) in preparation for the attack on the Porto Palermo Submarine Base, Albania.

As part of Exercise Albanian Lion the Royal Marines joined up with Albanian forces to practise their core amphibious fighting skills, with the objective to recapture the base from opposing forces.

While pushing their way forward the men were met with fierce resistance as the enemy used the tunnels of the submarine pens to their advantage, ensuring a challenging fight. Several hours later and, once the tunnels were cleared, Delta company then launched their own attack on enemy occupying higher ground after being landed on nearby beaches by Chinook (CH47) helicopters.

MOD/Crown Copyright

[vor033]

In the Mojave desert sands of California it isn’t the just the scorpions, spiders and snakes that can deliver a lethal bite.

For it is here that for the last six weeks the Royal Marines of 45 Commando have been honing their skills alongside their Dutch and US counterparts.

Based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre (MCAGCC) in 29 Palms, the Commandos have been living out of accommodation similar to air raid shelters while taking part in the annual exercise – Black Alligator.

Sergeant Paul McShannon said: “Black Alligator is an annual exercise that the Royal Marines use to hone their basic section level tactics all the way up to a live firing exercise and then the final exercise where everything they have worked on is put to the test.”

For the Combined Arms Live Firing Exercise (CALFEX) it was Yankee Company that, under cover of darkness, began a 12km 'yomp' over treacherous ground to form up by 5am and plan their assault.

Then two hours later, 7 Battery of 29 Commando who are usually based in Arbroath, started engaging enemy positions with 105mm rounds. This was followed by 81mm mortar fire from the mortar line using both high explosive rounds and smoke rounds, while snipers were deployed to take up position and take out high value targets as required.

The men of Y Company, who had stood poised and ready for the assault, made the 'break in' at 7.45am by placing an explosive charge. Using the ground to their advantage Y Company were able to put suppressing fire down onto the enemy position as a section of marines swept through, destroying all the enemy. And so, with typical Royal Marine determination, Y Company secured the first objective, leaving it to the Dutch Marines to secure the second.

Finally with supporting firepower from M1A1 Abrams Tanks, the Vikings and marines from W Company took the final position as F16s dropped inert 500lb and a 2000lb bombs – their objective completed.

[vor033]

U.S. Marines with the Force Reconnaissance Detachment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and British Royal Marines shoot downrange while conducting bilateral training during realistic urban training aboard Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Dec. 11, 2014. RUT prepares the 15th MEU's Marines for their upcoming deployment, enhancing their combat skills in environments similar to those they may find in future missions.

[vor033]

40 Commando Royal Marines are currently taking part in Exercise Black Alligator in the Mojave Desert, California. Oct. 20, 2013.

They are in the USA to hone their warfighting skills alongside their US colleagues at the sprawling US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre, which has nearly 1,000 sq miles of ideal training ground.

In order to retain their annual marksmanship qualification, the men of 40 Commando have to undergo a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX), the final part of the live fire training package.

The impressive CALFEX dawn raid on the enemy village saw two Companies fight alongside US Marine Corps battle tanks, with fire support from mortars, artillery, and Humvee-mounted heavy weapons.

They are in the USA to hone their warfighting skills alongside their US colleagues at the sprawling United States Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre, which has nearly 1,000 sq miles of ideal training ground.

Black Alligator is a two-month long exercise during which 40 Cdo will undertake: live firing with heavy machine guns and mortars; perfect their urban combat drills; and conduct a Battlegroup sized live fire commando raid, whilst working side-by-side with their US and Dutch colleagues.

The remaining weeks will see the Commando Group galvanise their live fire skills and drills and then demonstrate these during a final exercise.

Next year will see the men of 40 Cdo take over the nation's high readiness Lead Commando Group - a contingency force able to deploy anywhere in the world at very short notice - so training and validation of this nature is vital to ensure their combat readiness.

Black Alligator 13 forms the first element of a multi-environment training package the Group will undertake in the run up to becoming the Lead Commando Group.

Other training includes Cold Weather and Jungle training which they will undertake early next year while maintaining their commitment to core amphibious tasks.

Exercise Black Alligator will continue into November when 40 Cdo return to their headquarters at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset.

Video: MOD/Crown Copyright

[arfah]

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[shark bait]

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /71634872/

News on Merlin HC4, BV206, LCU.10 and the Griffon hovercraft

The BV206 is an interesting one, makes me wonder if the marines and army for FRES UV should aquire the same kit, some kind of amphibious 6x6.

[arfah]

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[shark bait]

BV206 is an unarmoured general service vehicle that has an amphibious and over-snow ability. It also serves as an FFR

It is not part of FRES.

At present, it looks like a straight forward competition between BAE Systems and Singapore Technologies for its replacement.

I doubt it will be this: http://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_ ... 08152.html

I know its not part of FRES.

However the army's requirements and the marines requirements could align quite nicely. It looks pretty certain the army will aquire a 6x6, and there are some who think the marines would benefit from such a machine. Perhaps in the iinterest of commonality the 2 could be joined together.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Nor this....

[arfah]

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[shark bait]

Answer to FAIL01: A tracked unarmoured over-snow vehicle will not be replaced by a wheeled APC. The RM have no need for the FRES design as they do not operate CVR(T) which FRES is designed to supersede.

Answer to FAIL02: The RM are a light, agile force akin to Light Infantry but with certain specialisms (artic & mountain warfare, amphibious operations, heli assault, raiding, etc.). They are not an armoured battle group. They are already equipped with the armoured Viking BV210 for manoeuvre support which is amphibious and designed with movement over snow in mind.

Who are the "some who think this is a good idea?"

Read , FRES UV, it has nothing to do with CVR(T)

[ArmChairCivvy]

How did the 6 x 6 become a fact, eliminating 8 x 8s from consideration?

[arfah]

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[arfah]

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[ArmChairCivvy]

Meant that it is not a fact at all.

If the Dutch Marines use AMV, if the derived Havoc was taken seriously by the USMC... and if the army chooses an 8x8, then the commonality of requirements (or not so, with the RM I mean) should be a decision factor? In both services

[shark bait]

Meant that it is not a fact at all.

If the Dutch Marines use AMV, if the derived Havoc was taken seriously by the USMC... and if the army chooses an 8x8, then the commonality of requirements (or not so, with the RM I mean) should be a decision factor? In both services

Yep, I meant an 8x8 vehicle in the first instance, my mistake.

It's something that should be considered for both services, there would be some substantial commonality benefits and a swimmable vehical would be a nice bonus for the army.

[shark bait]

no thank-you, I'd be wasting more of my time.

You're comparing salt with sugar, apples with oranges.

BV206 has nothing to do with FRES, either.

No my comment was about FRES UV, not FRES SV which has now become scout.

Scout if of no interest to the marines but the upcoming FRES UV could be. They both would like a light, manoeuvrable swimmable vehical, just one desires tracks the other wheels, perhaps in the interest of commonality, (especially if the marines join in with the army again) they could find such benefits very nice .

Marines have also been experimenting with driving there vehicle straight from Albion to the beach, no landing craft, similar to the US marines ambitions to speed up landings. However articulated cabs and tracks make this a painfully slow process so the thought is a single cab wheeled vehicle could be very rapid in such a situation, and deployable from more ships. It depends how much they want the capability though.