Royal Marines

Vehicle seizures and helicopter raids sharpen Royal Marines ahead of US deployment

They practised how to stop, intercept, and seize a hostile vehicle - in this case, a white van — They practised how to stop, intercept, and seize a hostile vehicle – in this case, a white van (Picture: Royal Navy)

The commando to the rear provides covering arcs, while the other proceeds to detain and secure the individual (Picture: Royal Navy)

Stopping and securing a vehicle is highly coordinated and designed to prevent the occupants from escaping or initiating an attack — The process of stopping and securing a vehicle is highly coordinated and designed to prevent the occupants from escaping or initiating an attack (Picture: Royal Navy)

The commandos then formed a helicopter assault force (Picture: Royal Navy)

It allows for rapid, vertical insertion into combat zones behind enemy lines (Picture: Royal Navy)

Exercises of this nature come as the UK Commando Force prepares to deploy to the United States (Picture: Royal Navy)

Where they will operate alongside their counterparts, the US Navy Special Operations Force — They will operate alongside their counterparts, the US Navy Special Operations Force (Picture: Royal Navy)

Royal Marines from 42 Commando have been conducting vehicle seizure drills and fast-paced helicopter raids in preparation for upcoming operations.

The exercise on Salisbury Plain gave personnel from two Special Operations Maritime Task Units (SOMTU) – specialist teams designed to carry out maritime counter-terrorism, vessel boarding operations and covert coastal raids – the opportunity to sharpen their skills.

The commandos first rehearsed vehicle interdiction tactics, practising how to stop, intercept and seize hostile vehicles, before inserting behind enemy lines aboard Wildcat helicopters as they refined their tactical insertion techniques.

Tip of the spear

An officer in command of Special Operations Maritime Task Unit 1 said: "The ability to insert forces tactically from air, land, or sea enables the rapid deployment of commandos into complex, contested, and dynamic environments at short notice."

Exercises of this nature come as the UK Commando Force prepares to deploy to the United States, where they will work alongside their counterparts, the US Navy Special Operations Force.

"Through the continued development of allied and regional partnerships, we enhance our warfighting capability and deepen our understanding of a strategically vital and increasingly contested operating area," the officer added.

"Lima Company routinely delivers world-class military assistance to priority partners and stands ready to support freedom of navigation and maritime security operations."

The process of stopping and securing a vehicle is highly coordinated and designed to prevent the occupants from escaping or initiating an attack (Picture: Royal Navy)

Initially tasked with stopping and seizing an enemy vehicle – in this case, a white van – the commandos moved in to detain occupants and search their vehicles while Wildcat Helicopters from 847 Naval Air Squadron provided overwatch.

They then formed a helicopter assault force, fast-roping onto multiple landing sites, including high-rise buildings and key transport routes.

This technique allowed the commandos to quickly establish a foothold and engage time-sensitive targets – routine practice for the SOMTUs – but operations that could just as easily be carried out for real.

Designed for rapid global deployment, the unit operates from hubs on land or at sea, either independently or integrated with partner forces.

Each SOMTU can provide one force protection team and two boarding teams, and can be bolstered with specialist capabilities, including scout snipers, uncrewed systems, dive teams, or explosive ordnance disposal.