British Royal Marine Commandos ‘storm’ American warship

Royal Marine Commandos have conducted a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drill aboard a United States Navy warship as part of joint maritime security training in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The exercise took place on 23 June 2025 aboard the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. British personnel trained alongside U.S. Navy sailors to practise coordinated boarding procedures, a core element of counter-piracy, interdiction and maritime security operations.

🔱 Side by side at sea💥@RoyalMarines Commandos & @US5thFleet Sailors teamed up aboard USS Wayne E. Meyer for joint exercises.💪

This is more than training — it’s about sharpening skills, building trust, and staying mission-ready together🇬🇧🤝🇺🇸@UKMCCMiddleEast @Commando_Ops pic.twitter.com/1UuMkyw2Eo

— Defence Operations 🇬🇧 (@DefenceOps) July 2, 2025

VBSS missions are one of the Royal Marines’ long-standing specialisms, and the exercise highlights ongoing UK–US naval cooperation in strategically sensitive regions. The Wayne E. Meyer is currently deployed as part of routine U.S. Navy operations in the region, while British forces continue to support allied maritime presence missions.

The Wayne E. Meyer is no ordinary warship. Commissioned in 2009, she is the 58th destroyer of her class and the first to carry the 100th Aegis Weapon System, a major milestone for the U.S. Navy. Built by Bath Iron Works and launched in October 2008, she bears the name of Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer, widely known as the “Father of Aegis”, who pioneered the missile system that gives the destroyer its formidable combat capabilities.

Although designed for high-end warfare, including air defence, ballistic missile interception, and anti-submarine missions, Wayne E. Meyer also supports multinational exercises and cooperative deployments like this one, often in coordination with NATO and coalition partners.

The British Commandos involved in the boarding were performing realistic scenarios that test the ability to take control of hostile or suspicious vessels, a skill that has real-world applications in counter-piracy, embargo enforcement, and counterterrorism operations.

Joint drills like these are a regular feature of UK–US military cooperation and allow both forces to remain aligned in doctrine, communication, and tactical procedures. In short: the stars and stripes still fly over Wayne E. Meyer. No tea was dumped overboard, and all parties went home with their alliances intact.