Littoral Response Group(South)
The following article is taken from the latest issue of the Globe & Laurel magazine.
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On 9 October 2023, 47 Cdo RG RM deployed its operational Boat Group to join the LRG (South) Task Group, having been activated at very short notice to respond to an emerging Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) crisis in North Africa. The Boat Group, consisting of LCs from 539 Raiding Sqn and a Support Element from Logistics Sqn embarked RFA Lyme Bay with an LCU, the newly upgraded Commando Raiding Craft (CRC) and IRCs and set sail. Some of the team sailed with the ship from Devonport, the rest flew forward to Gibraltar. The first RV was ‘The Nelson’ in Gib, where we managed to catch the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup, and prepare for the obligatory ‘Rock Run’ the following morning.
Once back onboard and at sea, we were quick to get to work, ensuring that our craft, weapons and personal kit were ready in all respects for operations. Our original HADR task was put on pause owing to the activity in the eastern Mediterranean, and so our next destination was Cyprus. As we sailed, we enjoyed a few topless PT sessions on the flight deck to maximise vitamin D and once we arrived in Cyprus, we had plenty of opportunity to explore Limassol by day and night and venture further afield to Larnaca during our down time.
One of our main objectives as a Boat Gp was to prove the new Concept of Employment (CONEMP) of the Commando Raiding Craft. Whilst Lyme Bay sat off the coast of Cyprus, we trained for weeks, perfecting our new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), identifying how we are to operate in a much more dispersed manner than ever before. We covered everything from craning and dock operations, towing IRCs at speed, launching RPAS (aerial drones) from CRCs and also helo winching drills with 845 NAS. The latter at speeds of up to 25 knots which, whilst an important capability to maintain, it is also fantastic for morale!
The IRC team were kept busy conducting several recce tasks within the Sovereign Base Areas. We also worked closely with X Coy, the Royal Gurkha Regiment (RGR) and the Navy Divers throughout our time in Cyprus. The LCU has been used extensively since being deployed for mass pax transfers, stores and vehicle moves. Whilst not commonly known as the ‘vessel of morale’, it has been the go-to platform for barbecues and ‘hands to bathe’ in the crystal-clear, warm waters.
The Boat Gp also had the opportunity to disembark the ship for a week to catch up on some green skills on the ranges at RAF Akrotiri. We were lucky enough to have a skilled instructor who ran us through various pistol shoots, managing to get through a good amount of rounds in a few hours.
In late December a small handful of the lads had the opportunity to deploy operationally to conduct a civilian profile recce to pave the way for a potential operational tasking, which then followed with a decision to return the majority of the Boat Gp to the UK for Christmas leave, leaving the LCU onboard as a skeleton crew. By chance, as soon as the majority had gone back to the UK, those left behind headed with the ship to load vital aid destined for Gaza, which was subsequently delivered over the Christmas period. We were fortunate enough to sail to Malta for Christmas to link up with the local RMA lads, who came onto the ship for a full tour. In return, they invited us out ashore.
We set sail from Malta………
To find out more about Boat Group LRG(S) and 47 Cdo RG RM’s activities, catch up regularly with all the news in the Globe & Laurel Magazine, the Journal of the Royal Marines.
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For more information, and to read similar stories, visit:
Globe & Laurel – RMA – The Royal Marines Charity (rma-trmc.org)
