'Largest test in 15 years' for Royal Marines as Commandos train on German submarine in North Atlantic
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More than 2,000 personnel from six nations are involved in the large-scale military exercise
Determined Royal Marines Commandos are in the midst of one of their biggest challenges.
Personnel emerged from the depths of the North Atlantic on a German submarine as part of large scale military drills under Exercise Strike Warrior. The Royal Navy said the daring operation was “part of the largest test of all arms of the UK Commando Force in 15 years”.
Green Berets were seen surfacing from Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point in mainland Great Britain, aboard an attack submarine. More than 2,000 personnel from six nations - UK, Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Norway and the USA - are deployed across Scotland for the commando-led workout. Drills are designed to rehearse allied crisis-response operations in the High North and North Atlantic.
Expert Navy and Army commandos from 148 Battery Commando Forward Observation Battery – part of specialist units trained to carry out reconnaissance and direct naval gunfire from behind enemy lines – slipped silently away on inflatable raiding boats to establish an observation post on the cliffs, from which they directed the guns of Portuguese warship NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida onto ‘enemy’ positions.
An Operations Officer from 148 Battery, who cannot be named for operational reasons, said: “This level of complexity and coordination of live assets has not been achieved by 148 Battery for nearly 30 years. We wanted to demonstrate to our partners across the United Kingdom Commando Force, wider UK Defence and NATO Special Operations Force community the type of missions we are prepared to execute against future threats. Warfighting is our focus, and we are prepared to employ specialist assets to deliver Multi-Domain Fires and Targeting.”
The German U-boat was in charge of identifying targets. British Commandos were tasked with discreetly landing ashore, with Portuguese personnel conducting firepower drills. Earlier in the exercise, 148 Battery controlled the naval gunfire of warships from NATO’s premier task group in Northern European waters, Standing NATO Maritime Group One.
Dutch frigate HNLMS Van Amstel and Royal Canadian Navy Frigate HMCS St. John’s both linked up with the commandos in their observation posts to bring gunfire down onto ‘enemy’ positions. A total of eight warships and 19 aircraft care involved in Exercise Strike Warrior.
The rehearsals have also included amphibious landings, boarding operations, intelligence and surveillance missions, logistics and sustainment work, maritime security and anti-submarine warfare. Commandos have conducted drone missions, including strikes and resupply to troops in combat, as well as building underground medical facilities.