For the first time since the Korean War, Royal Marines have deployed to the Korean peninsula to take part in large-scale exercises, reinforcing bonds between long-standing allies.
Bravo Company of 40 Commando, based in Taunton, Somerset, has been involved in training for crisis response, disaster relief, amphibious landings, and coastal defence alongside the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and the US Marine Corps.
The Royal Navy say here that the exercises precede further Royal Marines deployments across the Indo-Pacific, including planned exercises in Australia this summer. The Royal Navy continues to focus on the strategically important region, where the security situation often proves challenging and complex.
Royal Navy offshore patrol ships HMS Tamar and HMS Spey have been on a long-term deployment across the vast region since late 2021, working with island communities and forging deeper bonds with allies and partners.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Royal Marines of 41 Independent Commando took part in the conflict, engaging in action as far north as Lake Chosin and conducting amphibious raids behind North Korean lines between 1950 and 1951.
The training, known as Exercise Ssangyong, is the largest amphibious activity in five years and took place near Pohang, a port city on the south-eastern coast of the Republic of Korea, approximately 160 miles from the capital, Seoul, in the northwest.
During the exercises, commandos operated as part of a combined surveillance team, aiding exercise commanders in making crucial operational decisions through reconnaissance actions ashore and directing strikes onto targets.
Why are we getting involved in deployments like this far away round the other side of the world , when we have a perfectly good war going on in our backdoor in Ukraine? Who approves this sort of thing?
Must have missed the announcement about deploying to Ukraine🤔 when was that?
45 Commando evacuated the British embassy in Kyiv to Poland then returned later in April to provide protection to diplomats
https://www.forces.net/services/royal-marines/royal-marines-deployed-discreet-operations-ukraine-high-political-and
Which means that getting used to operations in South Korea seems pretty sensible, arguably vital, in case they have to do the same thing there or indeed similar locations in the far east. Not sure having our representatives paraded on North Korean tv telling the World how Britain planned a nuclear attack on them or one of their matey regimes is a particularly great idea.
This is what the RM do. This is what the RM have always done. Take your meds
And theres me thinking Norway was the RM’s patch 🙂
Really? Norway is one of their patches, they have specialist u it’s who take on a range of specialised skills as anyone with half a brain understands that expecting them to be top notch in every particular trainable skill is naive even if troops might move from one to the other over their military career. Honing particular skills is a constant business. Otherwise why would we have specialist troops at all and instead have every one trained to jump from aircraft, slide down ropes from helicopters, drive and operate tanks, repair all military vehicles, master landing from offshore ships and submarines, man all manner of rocket systems and operate behind the lines. Hey why not just use them as cannon fodder like the Russians I guess, then skills beyond expending enemy ammunition are barely required at all.
Did you notice the RM cap badge?
I served with ‘the Royals’ in Afghan in 2008. They were in the Falkands conflict in 1982. They served in NI for many of the Op Banner years. Many other examples abound. Their service is not restricted to Norway.
Well said mate
Global Britain. In fact we have always been Global Britain. Its not just a new Tory slogan.
Look at the size of those LCACs!
Our 4, now sadly discarded, were far smaller.
Trouble is Daniele, in a contested environment they could quickly become LCPC’s…………think about it😂
🙂 !
Were the RMs fond of their hovercraft?
I don’t recall them being a regular feature when Albion/Bulwark went on deployments?
Yes I suspect they look good in training videos mind. Useful in uncontested scenarios I guess or disaster relief but then I guess in contested scenarios little isn’t going to be pretty vulnerable to modern weaponry. As in Ukraine a lot of presumptions would no doubt be tested. Unlike the US I suspect stealthy infiltration will be their priority so if only someone could invent a silent version eh.
I believe they were used by 539 Assault Sqn RM, and not by the RM LC Sqns assigned to the LPDs. So an occasional additional, not a standard feature like a LPDs LCU’s and LCVPs.
Whether they were fond of them I’ve no idea, if Richard is about he will know, he’s ex RM after all.
Hello mate. I wasn’t an LC so don’t have first hand knowledge of how the LCAC’s were received from that perspective, but from what I have gleaned they were never as good as they could have been. There was clearly a lot potential in the platform but funding for development was always an issue.
They were used to good effect during OP TELIC(s) on the river systems in Iraq but it wasn’t until later with lessons learnt, that they were up-armoured & mountings for heavier weapon systems were fitted.
The versatility of the LCAC wasn’t/isn’t in doubt, and they are very useful in so many environments, but with limited numbers and a few reliability issues, interest lay elsewhere with other ship to shore connectors, CB90 and the like, which didn’t come to much either unfortunately.
Alas, I fear it will be a while longer before the ‘little’ matter of getting people ashore with speed, firepower & protection is sorted out….
Cheers for your input mate.
Respect.
My pleasure mate👍
It’s a good run ashore aswell😎
Ahh so that’s why the UK formed the Ranger Boy Regiment!
In WWII, the US used their Marines in the Pacific theatre, and formed their Rangers, to do the ‘rough tough’ stuff in the European theatre.
So the Royal Marines get to go on jollies in farther flung places than usual.
Right I get it now… it’s not enough that UK politicians act in awe of the US, now we are copying them as well.😆
So you don’t think 40 Commando will have got any training benefit from such an exercise?
No.
I’m sure the RM would disagree. They do not take part in such exercises do far from the UK on a whim. Or for a jolly.
They may well disagree, however they take on whatever ‘Jollies’ the UK government tells them to, including the locations. It’s political and nothing at all to do with training and capabilities.
Then, with that attitude, they might as well not bother conducting any overseas exercise with our Allies. Political or not, they are all important training opportunities. And to deploy that far from home is an experience that a great deal of training value will have been taken. As well as integrating with allies.These exercises are planned months in advance. We do not take part if it isn’t worth it.
“With that attitude”? Dude… it’s a difference of opinion that’s all. No need to get stroppy! The situation with the Marines and that particular ‘Exercise’, is that it is Political. It is all about sending messages and political statements, to potential adversaries in that particular geo-political area.
So there is nothing wrong with it then, and they will get great training alongside allies.
As said… it is purely political.
Well to be fair the Rangers were originally a British North American unit that they copied the name of in recent times, a bit like at least one of famous uk regiment of old the Kings Royal Rifle Corps part of the Green Jackets having its origins in North America too.
Very true… the Rangers go back as far as the 1670’s.
I don’t follow, as the RM Commando’s form no part of the Ranger Regiment, which is part of the British Army.
40 and 45 Cdo deploy as “Green” Commandos in conventional roles, with 45 especially as an arctic trained outfit. 42 Cdo is used for other maritime tasks.
Erm… I never suggested that the RMC’s had anything to do with the Rangers.
Erm, I then don’t get why you mentioned the Rangers when the article concerned the RM.
Over to you. 😉
Erm, read what was posted, not what you thought was posted.
I did. And you’re still not making much sense, to me at least.
Regards.
Hi folks hope all is well.
Got to agree with Daniele, the article is about RM. The rangers are Army formed I think 2021, and obviously takes on a different form of activity to that of RM.
Cheers,
George
I was merely drawing attention to the fact that US Pacific Forces were spearheaded by the US Marine Corps, and that their European Forces were spearheaded by the Rangers.
The UK may be looking to do similar with our Royal Marines (Indochina pacific areas) and the UK Rangers spearheading UK forces in Europe.
Kind Regards.
Got you, Tom.
The Ranger Bns are allocated different regions, from Europe to the M East to East and West Africa.
The RM with LRS (S ) are more M East orientated, I myself cannot see them venturing far to the east. But maybe they should, with the Rangers having the ME commitment.
What initially concerns me about the Rangers, is that they have been syphoning off trained Infantry from other Battalions, including the Guards.
Thus far, those losses in personnel have not been replaced with new recruits. I read in Forces News last week I believe, that recruitment across the Armed Forces is down by 25%.
The cynical politician in me, wonders how much the government, and its pet private recruitment company, has to do with this downturn.
Maybe this downturn has been deliberately manufactured, to same money?
Well no matter what you might think of South Korea they don’t forget the soldiers who fought in the war! My dad is a Korean War vet and they still send him all sorts of stuff as a thank you for his service👌
I never knew that fella! What a marvelous gesture that is, you don’t see that too often these days.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/184399311@N08/52791280924/in/dateposted-public/
This plaque is an example👍
A very dear friend of mine was in the Glosters who were involved in the Korean War.
You missed the ‘Glorious’ bit 👍 my old chap was in the Royal Norfolks.
Hi jacko. My grandad was also in the Korean war and your spot on they sent him things for years until he died, he always liked the Koreans always said their a lovely people. 👍
Significant geopolitical statement: “For the first time since the Korean War, the Royal Marines have deployed to the Korean Peninsula…” Message transmitted to Pyongyang, duly noted and logged. This news has probably disturbed some residents, how unfortunate an occurrence. 🤔😳😁
I think some need to understand the geo political facts of life that like it or not our whole way of life and economic and thus civilised existence, is now dependent upon that area. If both Taiwan and South Korea, and god forbid Japan too were taken out, life as we know it would be gone for good and very likely any stability in this Country and the West generally, would make the 30s depression look like Northern Rock, let alone the military implications.
The Aussies will be quite pleased to host RM for participation in exercises planned for this summer. As a matter of fact, willing to bet virtually all countries in the Indo-Pacific would appreciate a visit from/exercise w/ elite troops. Interesting how governments begin to make serious calculations when there is a gathering storm in the neighborhood.
So the best remedy is to reduce our dependence on countries at risk or potentially hostile. Britain has a government whose policies include rewilding incentives, increasing reliance on imported food; and net zero with ever tighter limits on oil and gas licences, leading to growing dependence on imported energy.
I would like to see some joined up thinking from our leaders but just thinking would be an improvement.
Not sure Pyongyang can read the tea leaves honestly. But a useful exercise for the RM & UK generaly I suspect. Any hot action in that part of world the UK will be a niche player compared to say US forces etc. UK subs & elite ground recce/raiding forces (as in RM) and such would no doubt be welcomed by our allies there.
An absolute guarantee that the US will be requesting all hands on deck and every man jack at action stations/battle stations, if it hits the fan in the SCS. Even now, the wargame simulations yield staggering casualty estimates; the next 5-15 years of PLA/PLAAF/PLAN expansion could prove to be very dire indeed. 🤔😳😱
I do wish we would stop parading around the world spending a small fortune pretending we are a world power. I can understand spending money in support of NATO and British Overseas Territories and maybe Australia and New Zealand but that should be all.
I rather agree that if there is insufficient money for enough of the capabilities we absolutely need to have, token presence in areas in which we are effectively powerless is doubly dubious. First, it requires resources we could use better elsewhere. Second, it tends towards a new commitment, exactly the political message mentioned by several commentators. So either the UK is willing to send significant forces to help defend S Korea or this is a largely pointless exercise.
These guys seem to be making good progress.
The second KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft prototype launches a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile during the aircraft’s armament testing flight on 28 March 2023. (DAPA)
LINK