Royal Marines showcase their amphibious force in newly released YouTube film
The Royal Marines have released a new film which showcases the skills of their Commando Force.
The video starts with Royal Marines from 47 Commando (Raiding Group) in Pacific 24 rigid hull inflatable boats transporting Marines from 42 Commando to intercept a vessel.
42 Commando are specialists in maritime operations and provide boarding parties around the fleet.
The 42 Cdo troops are armed with SIG MCX rifles, which have shorter barrels and are more suited to clearance ops in the close confines of a vessel.
Previously the unit has used the L119 Colt Canada C8 carbine for this role.
They are also seen wearing specialist drysuits and lightweight body armour with attached emergency buoyancy aids on the waists.
The film then shows a raid to free a kidnapped British hostage and destroy some air defence missile launchers.
Throughout the film, an operations room is shown, presumably on HMS Queen Elizabeth where the Marines commander is co-ordinating the assault.
The enemy location is being observed by a Marines sniper team equipped with an L115A3 Accuracy International rifle – the weapon system used by most UK snipers.
Commando Force teams are then shown being transported ashore on Offshore Raiding Craft, known as ORCs, and then on smaller inflatable craft for stealthy insertion.
The Commandos then carry out cliff assaults. This is a skill they have practised since the Second World War, normally training on the cliffs in the north west coast of Cornwall.
They use improvised roping-up methods and boarding ladders with safety lines as back-up.
The raiding force is from 40 Commando RM based in Taunton. These troops are part of the Littoral Strike Group (South) whose operational focus is south of Suez.
These Marines are armed with the KS-1 rifle which is distributed across the Royal Marines. SA-80 rifles are still used by the corps however with the KS-1 focused on operational activities. 40 Commando clear through a building and blow up a missile launcher so friendly air can be called in.
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) from 29 Commando Royal Artillery then call in air support from F-35 aircraft operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth.
The Gunners are shown using laser rangefinders and chest-mounted android tactical awareness kit (ATAK) which allows them to receive information from their headquarters and drones.
Finally, the commando raiding party extracts on foot to a safe location where they are picked up by Wildcat helicopters.
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