Royal Marines Mission Goes Underground In Cold War Nuclear Bunker

Royal Marines have tested their skills in a vast underground complex of tunnels ahead of a deployment to the Mediterranean.

The Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) of Juliet Company, 42 Commando, trained in the subterranean, Cold War-era world of Corsham Tunnels, below the town of Corsham, in Wiltshire.

The tunnels became a facility for the potential relocation of the British Government in times of crisis during the 1950s as the threat of nuclear war loomed large.

Royal Marines made the most of the complex of tunnels, pushing themselves in the art of close-quarters combat training, testing their techniques and procedures in a tricky environment.

"Training such as this, in unfamiliar training areas, with an enemy provided from outside of our own unit, is of exceptional value to driving the FCT capability and to honing our skillset within the UK," said Captain John Morrow, second in command of J Company.

The Fleet Contingency Troop worked in small teams against simulated 'enemy' forces to hold a network of corridors and rooms that would require great skill to liberate.

They entered the tunnels, using experience and intuition to conduce estimates of how best to proceed.

The 'enemy' were tasked with firing simulated munitions at the advancing marines and causing havoc, providing the FCT with a tough test as they worked methodically through the dark and tight corridors to achieve their objective.

The training took place ahead of the deployment to the Mediterranean to join 42 Commando comrades from Support Company, as well as elements from 40 Commando, 47 Commando and 30 Commando IX, on the Littoral Response Group (Experimentation) deployment.

Members of 42 Commando's Juliet Company 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.

The Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) are experts in a range of security missions and are the UK's only force trained in opposed boarding operations outside of Special Forces.

They are held at very high readiness for Level 3 (Opposed) maritime and land-based operations around the world.

Cover image: Royal Navy.