Specialist commando gunners covertly patrolled deep behind ‘enemy lines’ in Scotland on experimental exercises with the US Marines designed to “shape the operations of tomorrow”.
Commandos directed fire from warships, 105mm howitzers and U.S. Marines HIMARS rocket artillery.
According to a news release that you can find here:
“It’s up to Royal Navy, Royal Marine and British Army commandos from 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery to bring a rain of fire and fury down upon enemy positions by guiding the guns of the Fleet – their own 105mm howitzers of 29 Commando Royal Artillery – or USMC HIMARS with pinpoint accuracy.
During exercises in Western Scotland alongside the US Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 101 Regiment Royal Artillery, elite reconnaissance strike teams operated deep behind hostile lines to call in precision guided munition and airstrikes.
Using small raiding craft and exploiting new kit and ways of working to identify enemy targets and call in fire to destroy them, the stealthy teams used a digital network to communicate quickly so a variety of munitions could be unleashed, paving the way for allied air, ground and naval forces to move in and control the area.
Among the impressive firepower and tech at the disposal of the observers: Osprey tilt-rotors, drones, mobile rocket systems and the deep reconnaissance teams from the US Marine Corps Force Recon.”
The intensive training – dubbed Exercise Fleet Battle Problem – took place at the Kirkcudbright Training Area, in south-west Scotland.
‘US Marine Corps Force Recon’ – Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway has all the toys > Osprey, M777, MLRS, LCAC.
We come dawdling in with the 8kt LC 5’s & 10’s and old faithful 105, lets hope the enemy is patient and short gunned.
Probably came tanking in in an ORC.
I’m surprised that I’ve not heard of any plans to adopt a version of Himars. Basically, half a MLRS mounted on a wheeled vehicle, if we incorporated it on the standard HX Army vehicle, it would provide the long range precision fires that the future Boxer forces will need.
LIMAWS was the UK effort 20 years ago, got canned. We wanted to put the HIMARS launcher on a different truck.
Curious to know how 148 and wider 29RA fit into FCF.
148 I can see as they call for fire from anyone who can put down ordinance on a target. So Ships, Arty and aircraft.
I see your concern regarding 29RA where would they fit in a raiding structure?
148 a dead cert to stay current in the new structure, as for 29, mmmmmm as you know mate that will depend on wether the Army wants 29 back in the Army structure in order to amalgamate 7 and 29 and make a “raiding” type Airborne/Air Assult/Cdo Regiment with one Bty allocated to each. But while the 105mm is still a decent bit of kit, not exactly a raining type weapon. Cheers
I can see an argument for Commando trained FSTs, but not necessarily gun lines.
Still got the Norway commitment and if that stays so should the 105mm, but the raiding concept does reduce the need and the ability to utilize the 29 gun line correct.
Just seen new Tweets on FCF over on Gabs blog mate. Have a butchers. Covers 29RA and 30Cdo, new vehicles too.