Royal Marines bring ‘fire and fury’ to Scottish beach

300 Royal Marines brought their “fire and fury” onto the beaches of Scotland as they refreshed amphibious warfare skills ahead of deployment around Northern Europe this spring, say the Royal Navy.

The marines of Arbroath-based 45 Commando crashed ashore from assault ship HMS Albion, perfecting their amphibious warfare skills using a range of landing and raiding craft.

According to a news release:

“This is all in preparation for operations around the North Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic this spring on the Littoral Response Group (North) deployment. HMS Albion was used as the headquarters for the exercises, deploying a variety of landing craft from her carnivorous dock full of commandos and their equipment to the coastline.

The training, known as Wader, is the cornerstone of amphibious operations and helps to prepare sailors and commandos for any eventuality. It includes capsize drills into the freezing cold water, beach landings in the dead of night and the transporting large vehicles onto the beach from landing craft.”

Yes, we know it says “carnivorous dock” above, this isn’t our mistake. It’s safe to assume that the Ministry of Defence meant to say ‘cavernous dock’, however.

The Royal Navy add here that more than 300 Royal Marines completed this training, as well as personnel from the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, 24 Commando Royal Engineers and Commando Logistics Regiment.

“This intensive training is treated as a mission rehearsal and provides personnel with the core skills and confidence to conduct an amphibious assault, even in the most arduous conditions.”

The Royal Marines will be further tested in Exercise Highland Dagger, an 11-day a tactical exercise before the Littoral Response Task Group moves into Northern Europe and the Baltic region for operations with NATO allies, you can read more here.