Vertical Assault: Commandos Test New Climbing Equipment

40 Commando stormed County Hall in Taunton to demonstrate their vertical assault capability and test out the latest equipment today.

The requirement to operate in complex urban terrain is an increasingly likely prospect as urban areas continue to grow.

As part of a wider conference involving elements from across 3 Commando Brigade, 40 Cdo demonstrated its current capabilities, using drones and specially developed climbing equipment.

Marine Edward Haskett-Smith said: "We’ve got some new kit today, so we’ve been using something... which is basically a motor.

"You attach that to the rope, winch it up and it just kind of moves you up the rope.

"It’s much easier than having people at the top to pull you up or obviously climbing it yourself."

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Maynard said: "One of the trends in modern operations is the growth of urbanisation of the battlefield. That’s where our adversaries are seeking to pull us."

"We’re seeing that playing out in many of today’s security challenges: in Iraq, in Syria, in Libya and in many other places."