Royal Marines Hone Their Skills in the Desert Heat

In the Mojave desert sands of California it isn’t the just the scorpions, spiders and snakes that can deliver a lethal bite. For the last six weeks the Royal Marines of 45 Commando have been honing their skills alongside their Dutch and US counterparts from there. 
 

Based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre (MCAGCC) in 29 Palms, the Commandos have been living out of accommodation similar to air raid shelters while taking part in 'Black Alligator.'

Sergeant Paul McShannon said: “Black Alligator is an annual exercise that the Royal Marines use to hone their basic section level tactics all the way up to a live firing exercise and then the final exercise where everything they have worked on is put to the test.”

For the Combined Arms Live Firing Exercise (CALFEX) it was Yankee Company that, under cover of darkness, began a 12km 'yomp' over treacherous ground to form up by 5am and plan their assault. 

Then two hours later, 7 Battery of 29 Commando who are usually based in Arbroath, started engaging enemy positions with 105mm rounds. This was followed by 81mm mortar fire from the mortar line using both high explosive rounds and smoke rounds, while snipers were deployed to take up position and take out high value targets as required.

The men of Y Company, who had stood poised and ready for the assault, made the 'break in' at 7.45am by placing an explosive charge. Using the ground to their advantage Y Company were able to put suppressing fire down onto the enemy position as a section of marines swept through, destroying all the enemy. And so, with typical Royal Marine determination, Y Company secured the first objective, leaving it to the Dutch Marines to secure the second.

Finally with supporting firepower from M1A1 Abrams Tanks, the Vikings and marines from W Company took the final position as F16s dropped inert 500lb and a 2000lb bombs – their objective completed.

Sgt McShannon added: "It has been a long and arduous trip with temperatures reaching nearly 40 degrees. It is good to see the young marines stepping up to these challenges and performing and adapting the skills that they learnt in basic training into a real life scenario."

45 Cdo are now preparing for their final exercise which will use a £400m complex at 29 Palms that offers training for close combat and urban fighting scenarios.