Royal Marines operated for a month in sweltering southern Mississippi carrying out riverine and jungle raiding in an immersive test of modern warfare as they prepare for NATO ops.
Around 85 commandos, led by Royal Marines from 42 Commando’s Mike Company, completed 19 missions across a vast 209-square mile training area – around the same size of Tyne and Wear – during a highly valuable warfighting development exercise – codenamed Raven – in the United States.
The commandos trained across airfields, mock-up towns, coastal and riverine areas – all part of the vast combat facilities at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg – sharpening and developing their famed skillset, while experimenting and increasing their use of Puma and FPV drones to find and destroy targets on the ground.
All of this was done alongside United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command – and encompassed an impressive range of training opportunities for the UK’s Commandos, including working with swarms of drones and aircraft – Blackhawks, Cobras, Hueys, Chinooks and AC-130 gunships.
Major George Eatwell, officer in charge of M Coy, said: “As a Company Commander in the Commando Force, you could not ask for a better opportunity than that which is provided through Raven Exercise with MARSOC.
“From exceptional, realistic and challenging tactical training through to complex asset integration and exquisite capability development, Raven genuinely makes you better, from marine to major.”
The contingent from 42 Commando were joined in Mississippi by pan-Commando Force specialists from 29 Commando Royal Artillery, 539 Raiding Squadron 47 Commando, 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group and drone operators from 700X Naval Air Squadron.
These commando specialists were brought together under one group for Raven, with 539 Raiding Squadron deploying their organic raiding craft for riverine missions during the exercise – together, they developed covert riverine insertion methods for the jungle-like bayou of southern Mississippi.
The commandos were operating in a Special Operations Maritime Task Group (SOMTG), which are designed to maintain high levels of readiness to deliver maritime special operations around the globe.
SOMTGs are designed to be deployed around the globe, operating from hubs on land or from ships.
They are able to operate independently or integrated with partner forces. Each SOMTG can provide one force protection team, two boarding teams and can be bolstered with specialist capabilities, such as scout snipers, uncrewed systems, dive teams, explosive ordnance disposal and electronic warfare.
After a period of acclimatisation in 30C heat and 90 per cent humidity, the commando group were thrust into mission rehearsals in ground, boat and helicopter assault, adding layers of complexity in both targets and planning to prepare the group for the tactical exercise to come.
They conducted day and night fast roping drills from 45ft, practised evacuating casualties winching from 50ft and stopping and searching vehicles, later moving into closed-quarter battle techniques.
There was also a Blackhawk helicopter assault that saw the commandos close in on a convoy carrying two target individuals. The Blackhawks blocked the path of the vehicles, while precision fire from a 42 Commando Maritime Sniper Team denied any escape routes.
Commandos then swooped in on the targets in a swift, well-executed scenario.
A strong feature of Raven was the air power at the commandos’ disposal.
“Over a 4-week period we had over 30 hours of dedicated aviation assigned to Mike Company Group – from Blackhawks, Cobras and Hueys, to CH47s and AC-130 Gunships,” added Major Eatwell.
“There isn’t an exercise that comes close to this level of air integration. And it’s not just air. Fires, small boats for riverine missions, uncrewed aerial systems, space and electronic warfare assets are all supporting to deliver genuine combined arms effect.”
The commandos later carried out a ten-mile infiltration using 47 Commandos small raiding craft to discreetly and methodically move into position to capture two ‘high value’ individuals.
“Raven allowed a Company Group to prepare, deploy, execute, and recover in a way that no other exercise in the Commando Force does,” Major Eatwell said.
“If we want to get better at warfighting, and if we really care about the moral component, we will fight hard to retain opportunities like Raven. We hope to be back for the next iteration in October.”
Image provided by Royal Navy
