Royal Marines

News and discussion threads concerning defence personnel and their units.
PapaGolf
Member
Posts: 46
Joined: 13 Jun 2017, 21:43
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by PapaGolf »

Complimenting

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Royal Marines

Post by SKB »


User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Royal Marines

Post by SKB »


(Forces TV) 30th September 2019
Royal Marine Commandos have been on Salisbury Plain practising tactical training. Personnel from 42 Commando, 45 Commando, and Commando Logistics Regiment have been taking part in Exercise Blue Steel. The mission? To take control of a mock village from the enemy.

RunningStrong
Senior Member
Posts: 1304
Joined: 06 May 2015, 20:52

Re: Royal Marines

Post by RunningStrong »


J. Tattersall

Re: Royal Marines

Post by J. Tattersall »

See also https://www.joint-forces.com/features/k ... o-multicam

Of course the real interesting questions are what the Future Commando Force reorganisation will look like, and what lessons can be drawn from this for reforming the wider armed forces in the light of the integrated security, defence and foreign policy review.

topman
Member
Posts: 771
Joined: 07 May 2015, 20:56
Tokelau

Re: Royal Marines

Post by topman »

Anyone would think an sdsr is coming soon.

Lord Jim
Senior Member
Posts: 7314
Joined: 10 Dec 2015, 02:15
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by Lord Jim »

If it is being done right then we shouldn't see any results until the first half of 2021 at the earliest.

Little J
Member
Posts: 973
Joined: 02 May 2015, 14:35
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by Little J »

Other than making them feel special... What is the point of this new uniform?

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Text lifted from The Telegraph:
"It is envisaged one LRG will be permanently east of Suez, with the Royal Navy facility in Bahrain acting as a staging post.

The second Group will focus on Nato’s northern flank, working closely with Norwegian amphibious forces, and the Mediterranean.

The three Bay-Class Landing Ship Dock Auxiliary ships, crewed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, will be the likely hosts, initially at least, with additional medical and aviation facilities developed in the near future."

So that will be all the three Bays taken up (incl. MCM in the Gulf)...while waiting for any LSSs to emerge
- the drawings that were displayed on these pages now need a dusting off, to assess how much superstructure would need to be added to have not just "the hotel" for 200-ish, but aviation and medical facilities as well
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

Lord Jim
Senior Member
Posts: 7314
Joined: 10 Dec 2015, 02:15
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by Lord Jim »

Reconfiguring the Bay's is an option I have always advocated, well the idea of suing one as a test bed for future platforms. Look how RFA Argus evolved over its lifetime, from a platform with basic capabilities to one which the Navy is going to sorely miss if no replacement is found. Adapting the Bays to a modular platform, able with the use for adapted ISO containers to be used as everything from a auxiliary LHA to a hospital vessel, HADR platform or simply its current role would be a useful force multiplier.

Tom8
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 15 Feb 2020, 07:59
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by Tom8 »

With rumours that RM numbers will be reduced and their new emphasis on raiding, is there a possibility that 3 Commando brigade will be disbanded, with 40 and 45 Commando reforming as independent raiding formations and the logistics and artillery units being reassigned within the army?

If this was to happen, I guess any long-term presence following raiding will need to be covered by the Army as the RM will lack the support for long-term missions.

Also if the brigade was disbanded, how much additional pressure would be put on 16 Air Assault Brigade for rapid reaction deployments?

With the move towards raiding, do you think that the RM will no longer be the Uk force to deploy to Norway and that one of the light brigades within 1 Division should become the UK's arctic/alpine specialists?

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Royal Marines

Post by SKB »


(Forces TV) 14th August 2020
The Royal Marines are preparing to deploy to the Caribbean during hurricane season. Exercise Merlin Storm is an annual exercise but this year it is focusing on testing the Commando Helicopter Force's (CHF) ability to operate in disaster assistance. The CHF is on standby to head to the Caribbean, bolstering a Royal Navy-led task group already on patrol in the region. Merlin Storm has been held in both Wales and the south-west, and also involves troops from the British Army.

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 7931
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: Royal Marines

Post by SKB »


(Forces TV) 4th August 2020
A new helmet-mounted camera system, capable of sending live footage from the frontline, is being created for the Royal Marines. The system will allow vital information to be passed on to commanders, allowing rapid tactical responses. It is being developed by the Royal Navy's innovation team, MarWorks, which is based in Plymouth.

BlueD954
Member
Posts: 233
Joined: 02 Oct 2020, 05:11
Singapore

Re: Royal Marines

Post by BlueD954 »

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... do-mortars

New mortar carrier for Future Commando Force.

BlueD954
Member
Posts: 233
Joined: 02 Oct 2020, 05:11
Singapore

Re: Royal Marines

Post by BlueD954 »

Suggestion: Shouldn't this thread be moved to the 'Equipment' Section?

Little J
Member
Posts: 973
Joined: 02 May 2015, 14:35
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by Little J »

Marine's from 43 show off their skills...

Question: Are the L119 A1's just hand-me-downs, or would they have needed to buy new A1 spec rifles to fill a whole unit?

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

BlueD954 wrote:https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... do-mortars

New mortar carrier for Future Commando Force.
The CanAm story had made it to The Times of yesterday:
- one sentence only, about the CanAm
- and then a picture without it

BTW, the trailer looks quite oversized in relation to what is towing it
... not that great in rougher (than around Salisbury ) terrain?
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

J. Tattersall

Re: Royal Marines

Post by J. Tattersall »

ArmChairCivvy wrote:
BlueD954 wrote:https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... do-mortars

New mortar carrier for Future Commando Force.
The CanAm story had made it to The Times of yesterday:
- one sentence only, about the CanAm
- and then a picture without it

BTW, the trailer looks quite oversized in relation to what is towing it
... not that great in rougher (than around Salisbury ) terrain?
Interestingly the article infers these vehicles are 6x6. I've had a look at the Can Am website and can't find such an offering https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/us/en/

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Unlike Polaris https://atv.polaris.com/en-us/2020/spor ... /features/ they haven't intro'ed their military 6x6 into the civvy market
- I think the (for the military) ruggerised 6x6 Sportsman is for sale under the label 'Big Boss'
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

User avatar
whitelancer
Member
Posts: 619
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:19
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by whitelancer »

BlueD954 wrote:https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... do-mortars

New mortar carrier for Future Commando Force.
Frankly I am rather underwhelmed.
Surely having to fire the mortar from the ground is going to reduce reaction times, in particular moving after completing a fire mission to avoid counter battery fire.
Wouldn't using the Supacat ATMP be a much better option than an overgrown quad bike. Its robust, has a good load carrying capacity, and can tow one or two trailers with a self loading capability. I could never understand why it was never used more widely especially by light infantry units. Or why it was taken out of service with nothing capable of replacing it.
As I see it a pair of ATMPs could have the mortar mounted on the rear deck of one of them, (stabilising legs may need to be fitted ,but that shouldn't be much of a problem), and with each towing a trailer that's potentially 3 pallets of ammunition. For more ammunition or other equipment add further trailers and/or more ATMPs.

TD has a good(as usual) article on the ATMP for those interested.

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

I guess that to pre-empt such comments, a couple of piccies of BVs with mortars on the back uni were included
- are they too flimsy to take a 120 mm, without wasting time with a stabilising plate/ legs? https://maavoimat.fi/documents/1950813/ ... 6388484000
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

User avatar
whitelancer
Member
Posts: 619
Joined: 05 May 2015, 22:19
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by whitelancer »

While the ATMP would have no problems towing a 120mm mortar, (it has been used to tow the Light Gun), the problem of mounting it on the back deck would be one of space. I'm not sure their would be the room for the crew to effectively operate the mortar, leaving aside any problems of recoil.
Mind you a towed 120 mortar would probably be quicker into and out of action than an 81mm having to be unloaded from a trailer.

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Rather than recommending the vehicle US Rangers have adapted (from gardeners) https://milsysgroup.com/atvs/ for a mortar carrier, click on the first picture panel, and an inventory of what is needed for a limited mission comes up:
- starting with 4 men, makes for two vehicles
- if the ammo carrier gets bogged down, there are 6 ready bombs on the other, but together they still only carry 27 between them
- a big plus is that all of it can be loaded onto a Chinook and delivered right where they will be needed (so the Rangers can move by other means). 6 hrs worth power for quiet operation also takes space and adds weight.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

BlueD954
Member
Posts: 233
Joined: 02 Oct 2020, 05:11
Singapore

Re: Royal Marines

Post by BlueD954 »

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... the-desert

Small teams of Royal Marines were unleashed on the Mojave Desert in California on exercises with the US Marine Corps that helped shape commando tactics of the future.

Marines from 40 Commando’s Charlie Company were formed into teams of 12 commandos and were tasked to work ‘deep in the battle space’ to wreak havoc on opposing USMC forces in a challenging training scenario.

This was part of the unscripted warfighting exercise for which Charlie Company were acting as unconventional enemy forces, tasked and equipped to disrupt their adversary at every turn.

The commando teams operated around Hidalgo City, a huge town otherwise known as Range 220 that was purpose-built for desert urban training exercises and is one of the largest such facilities in the world.

There, they blended into their environment and created chaos, destroying advancing enemy armoured vehicles, mortar lines, command posts and aircraft using a range of weaponry and developing Future Commando Force tactics to great effect.

Alongside a US Army Special Forces team, the commandos held Hidalgo City – near Twentynine Palms in California – until their mock enemy had exhausted all options and combat power.

Warrant Officer (Class Two) Nige Quarman, C Coy's Company Sergeant Major, said: “Working independently at reach provided a host of challenges, not only for the deployed teams but for the headquarters element.

“The operations room for a Company Group has become a beast - now more reflecting a unit formation. With disaggregated teams on the ground, the amount of information that is processed from various sources should not be underestimated.”

The commando teams – named Teal 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 – were mobilised after a period of battle preparation, which saw everything not matching the desert palette painted tans and browns, from fuel cans to camouflage nets.

WO2 Quarman, said: “Intelligence gathered from unmanned air systems pilots suggested that they can pick out dark shadows with ease – the black silhouette of a weapon for example. The time spent on camouflage was to pay dividends later.”

Teal 31 and 32 were dispatched first into Hidalgo, with the former spotting a patrol of light armoured vehicles from their observation posts and destroying two of them with their anti-tank weapon, the Javelin missile launcher.

The team soon turned their attentions to a mortar line and command post, destroying both, with observers – who collect data on the exercise – giving a 75% kill ratio.

A staggered deployment saw three further mobility teams move to establish observation posts and explosive ambush sites.

The desert battle ramped up as the might of the USMC punched forward into Hidalgo, enveloping the observation posts on the surrounding higher ground.

This saw Lieutenant Harry Manson and Sergeant Ellis Alamio’s teams burrow deeper, remaining undetected and continuing to inflict damage by calling in fire support to hit the enemy’s flanks.

Teal 33 caused havoc of their own, ‘shooting down’ two AH-1V Cobra gunships with the Javelin, before ambushing enemy armour in which three light armoured vehicles, two Humvees and four trucks were ‘destroyed’ along with dozens of mock casualties.

After further ambushes and a night surrounded by enemy forces, all teams set up for the defence of Hidalgo.

“The exercise was a very successful run out for a company group developing small team concepts and skill sets,” added WO2 Quarman.

“Overall a great deal was learnt as best practice for Future Commando Force teams.”

This main exercise followed intensive training 7,000ft up in the mountains at the Mountain Training Warfare Centre at Pickel Meadow, northwest of Bridgeport, California.

There, the marines headed on long range reconnaissance patrols to assess the practicalities of communications and logistics for small teams spread out across a wide area, building on exercises in Wales earlier in the year.

As is standard practice, the marines used mules to travel deep into the mountains with their Javelin and machine gun kits, as well as supplies for survival.

Once into the training areas, the teams embedded a Fire Support Element from 29 Commando Royal Artillery to establish observation posts around enemy targets.

During this phase the commandos developed their reconnaissance skills and co-ordination of fire support, before switching their attentions to Twentynine Palms and the exercises with the USMC.

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: Royal Marines

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

BlueD954 wrote:the marines used mules to travel deep into the mountains with their Javelin and machine gun kits, as well as supplies for survival.
Good to hear that there are some real ones (mules) around, to be used as an 'interim' measure
... as interim as the Stryker vehicles :)

The ability to call in fires is of course a huge multiplier for small teams. To be able to do this 'main job' means that half of the team will have to be able to hold approaching OpFor (ducking & diving infantry included) at risk
... which aspect nicely takes us back to the Section Weapons thread and the discussion we have been having about an emerging 'new class' of support weapons: with the range and punch of a sniper weapon, but with the option to go semi-auto [ ref. .338]
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

Post Reply