Royal Marines spearheaded the UK’s largest combined amphibious exercises in years, clearing the way for a formidable joint force to land in Cyprus, say the Ministry of Defence.

In a news release, they say that the exercise was a rehearsal of Joint Theatre Entry – military parlance for the landing of lots of different military elements from air, land and sea into a potentially hostile region.

“Forces launched from the sea from a Royal Navy task force deployed on a European security mission – known as Littoral Response Group North – which is operating across the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa and the Adriatic this autumn. More than a thousand sailors and Royal Marines are deployed with this response force, which is led by amphibious flagship HMS Albion and includes RFA Argus, RFA Mounts Bay, HMS Defender and three helicopter squadrons.

This potent group came together with elements from the British Army and RAF to operate in the waters around the RAF base in Akrotiri, on the southern-most tip of Cyprus. Royal Marines of Arbroath-based 45 Commando led the way, forming a beachhead after launching from landing craft from Albion and Merlin helicopters based on RFA Mounts Bay and RFA Argus. It paved the way for the British Army’s 17 Port and Maritime Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps to offload equipment from cargo ship Hurst Point, with a Royal Navy Puma drone providing surveillance overhead.

After establishing logistics, the joint force was then ready to forge inland and complete further objectives, being tested in a range of real-world scenarios from war fighting to disaster relief and humanitarian aid. As commandos led the way, a range of infrastructure was brought ashore for Royal Engineers to build a camp able to support 500 personnel and designed to house people in the event of a crisis.”

Captain Simon Kelly, task group commander and Commanding Officer of HMS Albion, was quoted as saying:

“Very few Armed Forces have the ability to deliver joint amphibious effect on this scale and at this pace. The landing craft and helicopters of the Littoral Response Group North task group were a key part of supporting the Army and RAF in exercising this key UK capability. Our time alongside in Cyprus also provided a fantastic opportunity to support the British High Commission, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to the island.”

You can read more here.
George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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67 COMMENTS

  1. “At this scale”. Do they mean the use of several arms/branches divisions of the army and navy to achieve a landing, or are they referring to the vast number of troops being landed? I suspect they were very agile.
    AA

  2. This along with our carriers and special forces elevates us to the next level compared to our contemporary peers and must be expanded at least two fold with the increase of budget that’s promised. We should finally be looking at an HMS Ocean type replacement with additional marines, helicopters and possibly the Bae amphibious vehicles the US marines are getting too, could easily be costed say over a ten year plan.

    • Agree. It is these very enablers that should always be enshrined and protected.

      The RAF ATF, SHF, ISTAR aircraft, the RFA, the RM, the paras, the DSF, the QEC carriers, amphibs, the SSN, and the SSBN. Backed with drones and more and more ISTAR and EW assets.

      Let others provide the mass, Britain is excellent with this sort of contribution, which is why it is so galling when these assets get targeted for cuts.

      • Wow. Acronyms and abbreviations party. How many government briefings do I need to attend to decode this secret language you use😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

        • ATF The RAFs Air Transport Force. Atlas, Herc, Voyager, and so on.

          SHF. The RAFs Support Helicopter Force, Chinook, Puma, JHSS!!! ( Joint Helicopter Support Squadron. 😆)

          ISTAR Intelligence, Surveillance Target Aquisition and Reconnaissance.

          DSF Directorate of Special Forces, also Director Special Forces ( a 2* MG ) who commands DSF which is more commonly known as UKSFG UK Special Forces Group.

          I refuse to accept a poster of your calibre and regularity doesn’t know the others!

          Sorry, I love my acronyms. These are kindergarten mate I could really go to town! 😆

          • Bullshit bingo (including acronyms) has definately been a real thing during MoD meetings. Whether or not it contributed to real world, task focused, outputs and outcomes is another matter.

          • Monkey, Daniele is a ninja at this stuff, his knowledge is immense, and on occasion, the odd acronym I have to Google! Shhhhhhhhhh don’t tell anyone 👍

          • Nooooo, not you mate! 😆 I’m a nobody, just a anorak researcher. Nothing beats experience. But thanks for the complement.

            Seriously though, we really do have some brilliant contributors here, all SMEs, from you, to Davey, to Ian M, Supportive B, G Buster, Farouk, Graham, Richard, Lusty and Lee H( both sorely missed, not seen them for months) and others.

          • Mate I have learnt a lot on this site, from you certainly ORBATS and so much more (remember my knowledge is now coming up to 7 years out of date) other lads also, GB and deep32 about the strange behaviour and odd requirements of the RN (😂) DaveyB pretty much everything lol and certainly Farouk with his knowledge, well researched answers and posts and of course his little dits, and so many more! And of course we have all had a laugh at the sad trolls and no mates wankers! Also I will take this opportunity to thank you ALL for not giving me a hard time, when I grip the various well known trolls, knowing I should really ignore them and let them stew in their own sad juice! 👍

          • And don’t forget get all us Aussies, Aussie-Brits, Kiwis, down here… keeping things honest….lol 😁 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇧
            Can’t believe 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 are 2-0 in the T20 🏏

          • All part of the entertainment. I take it you “griped” enough “crows” in your time. I think that’s the term for newbie para reg before P coy?

          • Was curious where I’d seem that, “Brit Airborne Forces in the 90s ” by Ted Nevill and Mike Roberts. A Europa Militaria title.

          • Ah the 90s, 5AB Bde was a bit of a mish mash, old L/R 3/4 tonnes, 1 tonne’s, random V8s with home made mounts, and the 90s/110s coming in, with DIY gimpy mounted L/R 90s made by the LAD for PF! And still had the Balloon whoop whoop lol. But, at least the Brigade was a full Brigade with all the required CS and CSS, and able to drop the LPBG from 10 plus C130s. Not as modern but, in my opinion more capable! Cheers mate!

          • Was just looking at the LPBG, 1 Para into Corsica.
            Some of the CS CSS is to be reinstated in the last review, I think 7 RHA gets a battery back, and you’ve got a 4th Bn again in a “recc Strike” role, which is I intriguing.
            This books so old there is a troop from the HCR running about with 5 AB.

          • Yes mate HCR lads with Scimitar! 8 wagons if memory serves me! Changes need to be made throughout the mil, and we are all hoping Putins efforts in Ukraine makes the bean counters, and the Army head sheds (who have let the army down for many years) wake up and take stock!

          • 😊
            Just finished working on this one. Month long maintenance period. Was at less than 48 hrs notice for sea throughout. Some outstanding work by my engineers. Left in a better condition that she arrived in which is always the aim.

          • Nice work GB. I’ll try and take a photo soon of the one that got away to down here in Sydney and became HMAS Choules. It’s a darker shade of grey than above.

          • Hahaha. I work in medicinw. We could easily beat the military abbreviations and acronyms.
            BIpap, cpap, psv, ippv, simv, aprv, svi, cmv, nhfo2 Those are just some of the modes of breathing/ ventilation.
            There are similar codes for cardiology, hepatology, renal, upper and lower GI surgery. The list is endless.

          • Guessing a wind up. Funnily enough I know of PCRs and DRTA is very similar to acronyms of various army 1 or 2* posts.
            Do tell me to shut up Geoff….😂

          • Complete wind up Daniele. “Daniele reaches the acronyms other posters cannot reach” Play on an old advert from Carlsberg I think. Take care. 😃

          • Some if those ads were fantastic compared to today’s dross. Like the ( Carling black label was it ? ) that was 3 separate scenes which you thought were 3 separate adverts but in fact the same )

      • Not going to happen. I beat defence budget gets pegged at a maximum of 2.5% gdp.
        Jeremy Hunt is back as chancellor. Recommrnding usual Tory policy of austerity. £50 billion in cuts planned to pay for incompetence.
        Where the hammer will fall is anyone’s guess. Probably defence, international aid and the social security bill and recipients.

        • He supported defence increasing its budget, as did Truss, so I’d be surprised. The 3 % is gone but even a lower rise is a rise. Wait and see.

          • Agree. The only thing that the Tories do get wound up about, left and right, is defence cuts. Things are bad enough with the MP’s without trying to scrap this one altogether. Three per cent may be a long way off but a lesser amount? He’ll have to do something I think.

          • Yes. It’s speculation. He cannot commit yet just like with the benefits rises and NHS budget. I’ll wait and see.

        • 2.5% seems highly doubtful. The entire economic situation makes it extremely unlikely as does the fact that polls are suggesting that the change in government is quite probable in the years ahead.. One needs years of consistency to get to 2.5%, let alone 3% and that does not seem to be in the cards now.

    • Our glorious new chancellor has said that forthcoming “efficency savings” will be across all departments including defence, so I wouldn’t put anyone’s life on a promise of increased defense spending.

    • Now the Orcs are finished and it’s only china to worry about we should look at substantially increasing our amphibious capability. Two LHD to go with 6 Multi role amphibious vessels would be very achievable.

  3. Not sure – D Day landings it wasn’t, that’s for sure and was it the whole Cdo or elements of.

    Should it be the whole, impressive and I note we are not doing opposed landings any more and Cdo are evolving, but, we used to land a Bde with FULL supporting arms.

    If there is one of many systems I would love for to have it is the M777.

  4. About time we invaded Cyprus. Far too long it’s been a party island and a retiree haven. No longer will we allow these pensioners to offshore their pension income to this island in the sun.
    Charles the 3rd coronation present is in hand.

  5. I wonder what happens when they cut the defense budget again? Is there anything left to cut? Sell an aircraft carrier, or two? Abandon main battle tanks and artillery?

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