Royal Marines sharpen skills needed as guardians of UK's nuclear deterrent

The Royal Marines who guard the UK's nuclear deterrent have trained alongside their US counterparts to sharpen the skills required for their vital role.

Personnel from 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group are tasked with stopping unauthorised access to the UK's nuclear weapons and the Vanguard-class nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines that carry them.

Based at Clyde Naval Base – where the submarines operate from – they must maintain extremely high standards of combat skills, including fighting in tight and closed-quarters environments.

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The yearly exercise, named Tartan Eagle, tests US Marines from the USMC Security Force Regiment and Royal Marines to ensure they stay razor sharp for their duties.

The exercise is split into two phases, with the first conducted in the US in the summer.

The second phase, which has now been completed, is held in the UK with two weeks of training taking place at Clyde naval base and the Northumbria Range complex.

The first week looks at tactics, while the second focuses on executing the marines' lethal abilities and weapons systems.

The personnel use short-barrelled rifles designed for use in the close confines of a submarines or in buildings/urban environments.

Major Jon Attrill, of 43 Commando, said the exercise is "really important" to develop mission-specific tactics.

Captain Anthony Rossi, of the USMC's Recapture Tactics Platoon, said the US and UK personnel can both learn from each other.

"In the States, we have the same mission as 43 Commando, so when we do Tartan Eagle we learn each other's tactics and we look at how we modify them," he said.

"Tartan Eagle refines our tactics to make sure we're as mission-ready as possible.

"It's a great exercise which allows us to bond with the 43 Commandos, so we can see our differences and similarities.

"It's great for the marines to see somebody else from across the pond doing the same mission and likewise for 43 Commando."

Next year, both 43 Commando and the USMC Security Force Regiment will take part in the exercise, with a closed-quarters battle course added into the mix.