The green berets of 40 Commando have returned home after fine tuning their skills in the US desert ahead of them taking over as Lead Commando Group next year. For several weeks the men from Norton Manor Camp, in Taunton, relocated to the US Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre in Twentynine Palms, California. With nearly 1,000 miles of hot, arid landscape, the training … [Read more...] about Exercise Black Alligator takes her final bite.
Navy News
HM Naval Base Devonport marks Armistice Day
The Royal Navy marked Armistice Day on Monday 11th, with a short service at HM Naval Base Devonport, Plymouth. The Reverend Bill Gates, Royal Naval chaplain at HMS Drake, conducted the service at the Boscawen memorial in Liberty Square where a wreath had been placed yesterday on Sunday. All Service personnel and civilian employees were invited to attend to mark Armistice Day … [Read more...] about HM Naval Base Devonport marks Armistice Day
Warship hunts Submarine in Eastern Mediterranean
Anti-submarine warfare may not be the usual forte for a destroyer – an air defence warship – but HMS Dragon snapped up the chance to work alongside nuclear submarine HMS Talent. As both were working in the Eastern Mediterranean at the same time, the units practised advanced underwater training with HMS Dragon tasked with hunting Talent down. The Devonport-based submarine … [Read more...] about Warship hunts Submarine in Eastern Mediterranean
Joint helicopter operations on Cougar 13
Army Apache helicopters have joined Navy Sea King, Merlin and Lynx helicopters onboard HMS Illustrious for two weeks in the Gulf as part of the ongoing Cougar 13 deployment. The Apache helicopters from 656 Squadron 4 Regiment Army Air Corps joined Illustrious in the waters off the United Arab Emirates as she took part in Exercise Sea Khanjar before then returning to the UK. … [Read more...] about Joint helicopter operations on Cougar 13
Royal Navy concludes bilateral exercise with Omani forces
The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group, currently deployed on Cougar 13, has successfully completed a six day exercise, Omani Cougar, with the Royal Omani Armed Forces. The maritime exercise tested the full integration of the Royal Navy and Royal Navy of Oman by conducting conventional maritime warfare serials, as well as amphibious training with Royal Marines from 42 … [Read more...] about Royal Navy concludes bilateral exercise with Omani forces
Teamwork helps stop Somali pirates
A group of Somali pirates have been stopped dead in their tracks by a counter piracy task force following recent attacks of two vessels in the Indian Ocean. The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Counter Piracy task force, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, embarked on Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Victoria coordinated the operation. They were supported by HMAS Melbourne and ROKS … [Read more...] about Teamwork helps stop Somali pirates
Replenishment at Sea
Battling rolling waves and high winds a Royal Navy frigate has set a new record for carrying out a full restock of replenishments in just two days. HMS Montrose undertook a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) of ammunition, stores, fuel as well as a vertical replenishment – meaning equipment was transferred by helicopter. The whole operations took just two days in winds of 25 knots … [Read more...] about Replenishment at Sea
Royal Marines deploy on Black Alligator
With nearly 1,000 squares miles of barren, sun scorched desert landscape in which to train, Royal Marines have launched themselves into Exercise Black Alligator. Hundreds of Green Berets from 40 Commando Group have made the journey across the Atlantic to hone their war fighting skills in California’s Mojave Desert, an area that provides excellent training opportunities the … [Read more...] about Royal Marines deploy on Black Alligator
The RFTG completes exercise Sea Khanjar in UAE
The third major exercise of Cougar 13 has just ended on the shores of the United Arab Emirates. The Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group has completed Sea Khanjar – a five day exercise culminating in a large amphibious demonstration for gathered visitors. Watching on were guests including: Major General Ed Davis, Commandant General Royal Marines, Lieutenant General Simon … [Read more...] about The RFTG completes exercise Sea Khanjar in UAE
Royal Navy Lynx lights up Mediterranean sunset
As HMS Dragon patrols the Eastern Mediterranean her Lynx helicopter breathes fire into the sunset sky with a stunning array of decoy flares. This powerful image of Royal Naval capability – both sea and air – was captured by Leading Photographer David Jenkins, the current Royal Navy Photographer of the year. One of the Navy’s newest Type 45 destroyers, HMS Dragon has arrived … [Read more...] about Royal Navy Lynx lights up Mediterranean sunset
