A new wave of Royal Marines small boat and landing craft operators has completed intensive training with 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, qualifying them for front-line amphibious roles across the UK Commando Force, according to a Royal Navy news update.
The 14-week course, conducted across the South West of England, trained marines in operating and commanding various landing craft, including Offshore and Inshore Raiding Craft (ORC and IRC), Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP), and the larger Landing Craft Utility (LCU), which is capable of transporting Challenger 2 tanks.
Training culminated with practical instruction and assessments in Barnstaple Bay, RM Chivenor, the Solent, and Plymouth Sound. While some classroom instruction is required, the course is heavily focused on hands-on skills, including beach approaches under difficult conditions, known as “surfing drills”, which are central to the Landing Craft Branch’s amphibious capability.
At their passing-out ceremony at RM Tamar in HM Naval Base Devonport, Brigadier Jamie Norman, Commander of the UK Commando Forces, addressed the graduates. “You are joining the Landing Craft Branch which is central to the Commando Force,” he said. “Your future will see you working alongside autonomous and uncrewed systems, as well as using your reconnaissance, surveillance and striking skills from the sea to achieve your mission successes.”
He was joined by the outgoing Commanding Officer of 47 Commando (Raiding Group), Colonel William Norcott, who presented certificates to the successful marines on the LC3, LC2 and LC1 courses. Among those recognised were Marine Morris (LC3), Marine Howe (LC2), and Corporal McLeary (LC1). Marine Johnson received top student honours from Master Plaisterer John Telling, representing 47 Commando’s affiliated City of London livery company.
The ceremony concluded with Colonel Norcott formally handing over command of the unit to his successor, Colonel Karl Gray, through the traditional passing of the unit trident.
Graduates will now be posted to assault and raiding squadrons at Devonport and other bases across the UK, where their specialised skills will be integrated into high-readiness amphibious operations.
According to the Royal Navy news update, 47 Commando continues to build on its World War II legacy, training in-house landing craft crews capable of deploying in hostile surf conditions and contributing to upcoming operations, including D-Day 80 commemorations in Normandy.
I just know what comments are coming next ! 😁
#TriggerWarning
#happy hour
47Cdo is home to some of the best coxswains in the world but without the larger Amphibious shipping to transport them into theatre they are going to have to reliant on either the US of possibly the French to get them within striking distance of their objectives for at least the next 10 years that “if” the MoD can pull their fingers out and get Belfast building the next generation of Amphibious shipping this year, a tall order given the inept approach we have seen from MoD’s procurement for the last 20 to 30 years.