The following article is taken from the latest issue of the Globe & Laurel magazine.
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Upon our return from eastern Med contingency preparations, A Coy wasted no time in engaging in a series of exercises aimed at honing our warfighting capabilities. In the weeks leading up to Ex Dieppe Saint, we underwent a range of specialised training sessions, each focused on enhancing our individual skills before coming together to consolidate them on a collective exercise. We began by mastering essential green skills during Ex Teal Avenger and then progressed to Cdo Team-specific training, which included revisiting Observation Posts (OP), Escape and Evasion serials, a Surveillance and Reconnaissance (S&R) concentration and CQB training; as well as specialist ranges for Snipers and Heavy Weapons.
Ex Teal Avenger was a Coy level exercise on Braunton Burrows training area. The first phase consisted of Cdo Teams conducting Team level attacks to reset the warfighting baseline. All training was initially led by Junior NCOs at the start of the week and progressed to a multi-team level action led by the Tp Comds at the end of the week.
The enemy was played by A Coy Snipers, equipped with thermal optics and RPAS, providing a significant challenge for our Marines to insert onto targets undetected. However, through performing basic skills (such as route selection and multi-domain camouflage and concealment) at a high level and using deception fires from Mortars, one of our Strike Teams was able to insert undetected and effectively fight through the position. The second week consisted of a tactical force-on-force exercise with multiple Cdo Teams on the ground including a Mortars Team and a HQ element.
Utilising the new radio system (MPU-5) and EVE (Enhanced Virtual Environment), the Cdo Teams were easily able to maintain communications and execute tactical functions on the ground. The enemy employed counter-thermal tactics effectively hiding their signature creating a challenging and realistic operational environment. The exercise culminated in a multi-team night attack on in-depth enemy positions. The exercise was a success with multiple Training Objectives being achieved such as: countering thermal, developing Coy TTPs, improving user skills with EVE and executing Coy level attacks with Mortars in support.
A Coy’s deployment for Ex Dieppe Saint initially focused on multi-vector access insertion. The first team successfully yomped into position and established an OP, while the subsequent team was inserted into Dartmoor via RAF CH-47 Chinook helicopter. With the support of 700X, who operated as a Red Force RPAS capability, we were able to test the effectiveness of the concealment measures implemented by the first team at the OP. Despite extensive searches and the use of visual and thermal sensors, the recce team’s OP remained undetected, a testament to their three-week concentration on reconnaissance tasks prior to the exercise.
The purpose of the multi-vector access insertion was to enhance our operational flexibility and test our ability to deploy and infiltrate into different areas of the battlefield. By utilising multiple methods of insertion, we were able to practise and refine our skills in different types of mission scenarios. This type of training also allowed us to assess the effectiveness of our communication and coordination efforts, as well as evaluate our ability to establish Observation Posts and conduct operations from various insertion points. Overall, the multi-vector access insertion served to improve our adaptability and readiness in diverse operational environments.
After the challenging first week on Dartmoor, our teams re-inserted onto Tregantle training area in Cornwall, to carry out S&R in support of an attack……………..
To find out more about 40 Cdo RM and further RM activities across the globe, catch up regularly with all the news in the Globe & Laurel Magazine, the Journal of the Royal Marines.
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