The following article is taken from the latest issue of the Globe & Laurel magazine.
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On 19 August 2024, A Coy deployed on Ex Ssang Yong 24 (SY24), a major international exercise involving the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) that runs annually on the Korean Peninsula. For the duration of Ex SY, a Commando Team (CT) from A Coy was attached with both US Marine Recon and Korean Recon Teams due to their similar mission set to develop interoperability. During the first few days of the exercise, the teams integrated with the US and Korean teams by exchanging various SOPs and CQB tactics in the urban environment; it was clear to see all three elements worked well together and already had near identical approaches to urban clearance operations. Once the teams were acquainted, a composite Strike Company was formed of one UK CT and two mixed US/Korean teams and began rehearsals for a long-range aviation raid later in the exercise.
After a week of mission rehearsals, the multinational Strike Company was deployed by four MV-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft and inserted 180km north to just shy of the De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) to assault a target compound. A Coy’s CT was responsible for leading the route from the HLS to the target over arduous mountainous terrain and on arrival to the target the CT was responsible for setting the cordon and allowing the assault to go in without any interference from the enemy.
During the second phase of the exercise, the CT was split over two separate mixed multinational teams which contained a mix of all three Partner Forces. We were tasked with the reconnaissance of buildings on a live fire range in order to conduct Close Target Recces (CTR) and route reconnaissance to enable the mass of a USMC Armoured Cavalry Unit to amphibiously offload and strike the targets based on our planning guidance. Following a vehicle move, both teams set off on separate routes (one commanded by the UK and the second commanded by the US); due to the steep terrain and dense jungle-like foliage the insertion took six hours to move 2km to the Lay Up Point. Once in location both teams dispatched CTRs and short-term OPs during the remaining dark hours. The daytime was spent exchanging various reconnaissance SOPs with the US and ROK forces. After 36 hours on the ground both teams extracted from the target and moved back to Camp Mujuk (Korean for ‘Camp Invincible’) via vehicle.
Whilst the CT was busy conducting the exercise, two JTACs from 29 Cdo Regt RA headed north to complete a fires package alongside their USMC and ROKMC counterparts. Here they were able to exchange SOPs for Close Air Support (CAS), utilising multiple fixed-wing and rotary aircraft to strike targets safely and proficiently. Mortars ranks from 40 Cdo had the opportunity to act as untrained observers and call-in fires with supervision from the JTACs.
Upon the successful completion of the exercise, a Professional Military Education (PME) package; Ex Seoul Scholar, provided the opportunity for personnel from A Coy to visit multiple locations along the DMZ, as well as to participate in a comprehensive battlefield tour of the historic Imjin River site, a pivotal location in the Korean war for the Gloucester Regiment.
In addition to this, a small element from the Coy HQ had the privilege to assist the Defence Attaché in briefing and hosting a delegation of Ministers and MOD personnel during their visit to the DMZ’s Joint Security Area (JSA). The visit offered a rare glimpse into the complexities of the region and the ………………………
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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