Members of the Republic of Korea Navy’s Special Warfare Group have trained in the United Kingdom for the first time, working alongside Royal Marines from 42 Commando on counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics skills across South West England, according to the Royal Navy.
The two-week exercise brought the Korean operators together with UK personnel from 42 Commando, which specialises in maritime operations including counter-smuggling, piracy and terrorism, supported by 47 and 29 Commando. The Royal Navy said the training was designed to sharpen tactical skills on both sides while confirming responses for future operations.
The two forces worked through a series of scenarios using raiding craft from 47 Commando and aircraft from the Commando Helicopter Force, carrying out boarding drills, close quarters combat training and fast roping from helicopters. Over the fortnight they planned and executed opposed vessel seizures, special reconnaissance missions and raiding operations.
Organised into assault, sniper and rapid reaction teams, the group conducted a maritime interdiction exercise in Portland Harbour before moving to Scraesdon Fort in Cornwall, where they carried out a raid from the sea, infiltrating the 19th-century fort under cover of darkness. They also boarded the German replenishment tanker Rhön in the waters off Plymouth and conducted abseiling drills at Foggin Tor on Dartmoor.
The deployment follows Royal Marines participation in exercises on the Korean Peninsula last year during Operation Highmast, the UK Carrier Strike Group’s 2025 global deployment.
Major George Eatwell, officer in command of M Company, 42 Commando, said: “Having worked alongside RoK NSW off the Korean Peninsula last summer during Op Highmast and the Carrier Strike Group deployment, it was a privilege to host a team from the Special Mission Battalion at 42 Commando.”
He added: “The chance to train once more with such a professional and dedicated Special Operations Force in the UK, rehearsing complex, integrated boarding operations and warfighting scenarios, truly demonstrated the strength and depth of our partnership.”
On the wider value of the training, Eatwell said: “The cross-training showcased our capability to plan and execute complex, high-end missions seamlessly integrated at the operator level, addressing shared challenges. While some threats may be geographically distinct, the nature of these challenges and the capabilities required to counter them are undeniably joint. We gained invaluable insights and lessons from each other throughout this collaboration.”
Lieutenant Colonel Oh Hyun-seok, commander of the Special Mission Battalion, said: “This training has confirmed the solid cooperation framework between Korean and UK special operations units and provided an opportunity to raise our practical coalition capability to a higher stage.” He added: “We will continue to maintain the tactics capability to perfectly counter any terrorist threat in the future.”
The Royal Marines involved came from Special Operations Maritime Task Unit 10, which the Royal Navy said is required to maintain exceptionally high levels of readiness to deliver maritime special operations globally.
ROK troops had a reputation in Vietnam war. Don’t mess with them. They’d attack villages if shot at from nearby. As a deterrent it worked. Could we contract some to police the Channel. Any complaints -please fill out a 600 page form ( in Korean) by hand and personally deiiver to Army HQ Seoul 😁.