Night missions and capsize drills: Royal Marines gear up for first deployments with 47 Commando

Royal Marines from 47 Commando have been conducting training exercises in the Solent to prepare some of the youngest marines for their first deployment with the corps.

The exercise, part of the Landing Craft 3s Course, involves operating offshore raiding craft and inflatable raiding craft and culminates in a close target reconnaissance mission conducted at night.

The course spans 12 weeks and covers various aspects, from checking the mechanics of the craft to understanding tidal streams and their impact on missions at sea.

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One crucial aspect of the training is the capsize drill, which teaches marines how to right an upturned inflatable craft.

They also have to get used to wearing a Frisbo suit, which stands for Fire Retardant Immersion Suit Boating Operations.

Each suit is custom-made to fit the marine who wears it, as the neoprene collars and cuffs must be fitted tightly to prevent water from getting in.

The suits come in green or black and are worn by the marines on the offshore or inflatable raiding craft.

The final exercise of the course involves going out at night on a tactical scenario in the Solent, where the marines put their skills into practice.

Marine McIntyre, 47 Commando Royal, said: "It's been intense, that's for sure. It's been really good. I've really enjoyed it, we've been doing sort of tactical serials, safety serials, everything that's basically needed to make us operationally deployable, so when we get into 47 we can support the wider brigade with their operations."

At the same time, another course is run for Royal Marine lieutenants, known as the Landing Craft Officers Qualification.

The course teaches the officers to develop a plan of action for their troop, based on a fragmentary order (or Frago) they receive early in the morning.

The mission could involve beach reconnaissance, overwatch, or neutralising adversaries.

The course focused on teaching Royal Marines in a junior rank to make critical decisions for themselves and developed their confidence on the water.

For the lieutenants and marines on this course, the skills tested in the Solent are built upon operations that could take them to seas in the Arctic or rivers in the jungle.