US Marines aboard the French ship BPC Mistral during a Joint Exercise.

Pacific Perspective:USMC,ROK Marines and Royal Marines Join Forces

Exercise Ssang Yong 23 brought together Marines from three nations-the US,Republic of Korea and the UK-for ten days of high intensity training in ROK.The US Navy Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and ROK Navy supported the drills.Live-fire ranges,ROKMC ranger training,fast roping and rappelling,military free-fall and subject matter expert exchanges characterised the exercise.The drills culminated in an amphibious assault.According to Captain Jonathan Eaton,combat cargo officer,Amphibious Squadron 7:Conducting an over-the-horizon assault from the ARG is an advanced manoeuvre.Conducting an OTH assault as a multinational unit under a single commander of the Amphibious Task Force,across the same beach,demonstrates advanced capabilities as an Allied force.* Said Captain Christian Thiessen,technical information operations officer,13th Marine Expeditionary Unit:This event rehearsed combined forcible entry operations in the event the ARG/MEU is required to join the ROKMC for combat operations.* For its part,40 Commando Royal Marines deployed to Korea for the first time since the Korean War.Their Bravo Company trained in crisis response,disaster relief,amphibious landing and coastal defence scenarios with the USMC and ROKMC.It was part of ongoing Royal Navy efforts in the strategically important region,where the security situation is challenging and complex,the RN said.* Ssang Yong 23 involved around 28,000 Korean and US Sailors and Marines;30 warships;70 aircraft;and 50 amphibious assault vehicles.It took place near the port city of Pohang,on the South Korean coast about 160 mi/257.49 km from the capital Seoul.40 CDO operated as part of a combined surveillance team,helping exercise commanders make crucial operational decisions through reconnaissance actions ashore,and directing strikes onto targets.* Said Major Aran Sandiford RM,RM exercise commander:This deployment has provided a fantastic opportunity to further the Royal Marines' partnership with the ROK Marine Corps and US Marine Corps;two of the foremost amphibious forces in the world.Ultimately,Royal Marines must be able to deploy,sustain and fight anywhere in the world alongside our Allies and Partners.*

Royal Marines Drill US Marine Security Forces in Europe

US Marines assigned to a Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) of Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSFR) recently trained in European theatre wintry conditions with UK Royal Marines during Exercise Tartan Eagle,a biannual exercise conducted with 43 Commando Royal Marines (43 Cdo RM),a US Marine Corps press release revealed.No location was disclosed,but this blog assesses it was possibly His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde,Faslane,Scotland,homeport of the UK nuclear deterrent.It was a chance for the Americans to expand their horizons in a critical NATO Ally setting.FAST Marine teams are qualified infantry Marines who guard high-value defence installations,vessels and nuclear weapons.For its part,43 Cdo RM protects the UK nuclear deterrent force, which consists of ballistic missile submarines carrying Trident II D5 ICBMs.Such a role requires skill sets of fieldcraft;close quarters-combat;vehicle manoeuvres and so on.These were instilled in the the FAST Marines by RM professional military educators.* The first week of Tartan Eagle was a firing package ranging from simple static shooting to battle sight zeroing and natural points of aim.The FAST Marine Alpha Platoon trained on the Royal Marines' C8 assault rifle,which is similar to Marine Corps weapons such as the M4 and legacy M16 design and build.The FAST Marines also had to pass the RM Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT) in order to train on RM firing ranges.To pass the ACMT,you must fire quickly and accurately from postures including prone,standing and from a defensive position.The second week of Tartan Eagle was a field exercise exposing participants to cold,wet wintry conditions of typical British weather where they learn maintaining themselves,their kit (gear) and equipment in challenging circumstances.Phase 3 of Tartan Eagle was a Forward Operating Base exercise where they conducted security against a simulated enemy and were appropriately pushed and tested. The FAST Marines learned to camouflage paint themselves within the burnt red and yellow fern colours of European countryside.They awoke to morning dew and chilling temperatures with a cool breeze.Indeed,shivering and wet,they exercised stillness for concealment.How to walk,stay alert,await orders,provide security and issue orders outside of garrison were considerations.The Tactics,Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) exchanged with the Royal Marines helped the FAST Marines pass the culminating Marine Readiness Exercise.The Marines of Alpha Platoon,FAST Company,MCSFR surpassed both mental and physical barriers while executing Exercise Tartan Eagle 2022,furthering our partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence forces and honing their overall lethality.At all times,they were under the professional supervision of 43 Cdo RM instructors.

Cold Response 22 : Huge NATO Drills Aim to Defend Norway

On 10 March 2022,NATO Exercise Cold Response 22 (CORE 22) began,the largest cold weather operations drills in 30 years.About 200 aircraft,20 warships and 35,000 troops from 28 countries,including US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers in Europe on a Bomber Task Force mission,will participate.The exercise integrates Land,Sea and Air assets which will execute Air-Land and Air-Sea combat manoeuvres,with Allied fighter aircraft practising bomber escort procedures,highlighting the Alliance's dynamic capabilities.Traversing vast wilderness,Allies and Partners will conduct live-fire drills and leap into freezing lakes,honing arctic warfighting skills to ensure our armed forces can respond to any threat or crisis in the extreme and rugged arctic environment of Norway,which ranges from fjords to seas and mountains.Norway has a 195.7 kilometer/121.6 mile land border,and a 23.2 kilometer/14.4 mile sea border,with Russia. Said US Air Force General Jeff Harrigian,Commander,Allied Air Command: Integrating and training with our Allies and Partners allows us to exercise our combined capabilities while deterring aggression against NATO.* The exercise scenario will show how a unified mutilateral force would defend Norway and Europe's Northern Flank from a modern adversary.Some 900 Royal Marines will spearhead UK involvement from Royal Navy assault ship HMS Albion.UK Merlin and Wildcat helicopters will patrol the skies,supporting commando operations under Brigadier Rich Cantrill alongside a wide range of warplanes from across NATO,including F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.The drills,which run through 10 April,will prepare for any contingency while providing the chance to learn how to work together.Besides the UK,other particiapnts include Finland,France,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands,Norway,Sweden and the USA.The flotilla of NATO warships is led by the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and includes a British attack submarine,the name of which is classified.Also in the flotilla is the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80);Royal Navy frigates HMS Richmond and HMS Northumberland;and Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender.In the course of the exercise,UK commandos will raid positions along the coast to prepare the beachhead for larger amphibious forces.* The biannual drills were planned eight months before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.*

National Emblem March | The Bands of HM Royal Marines

Thousands of NATO Troops Assembled for Saber Strike 17 - preparing for Baltic warfighting

NATO Exercise Saber Strike 17 is currently underway in the Baltic States and Poland.The longtime drills emphasise cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region by NATO Allies and partners.The key objective of this year's exercise is training and exercising the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence,or eFP,Battle Groups with the aim of promoting interoperability and improving joint operational capability in a variety of missions,US Army Europe said.The drills are being held in multiple locations throughout Estonia,Latvia,Lithuania and Poland from 28 May to 24 June.*
Key evolutions of SS 17 include:
1.Convoy by Battle Group Poland from Orzysz,Poland to Southern Lithuania;
2.Maritime prepositioned offload of pre-staged supplies and equipment in Latvia;
3.Marine amphibious assault in Latvia;
4.Combined arms live fire exercises in Poland and Lithuania;
5.Air assault by UK Royal Marines at the Polish/Lithuanian border;and
6.River crossing there as well.*
Participating nations include:Belgium;Canada;Croatia;Denmark;Estonia;Finalnd;France;Germany;Italy;Latvia;Lithuania;Luxembourg;the Netherlands;Norway;Poland;Portugal;Romania;Slovakia;the UK;and the US.At least 11,000 military men and women were deployed.*
At one point in SS 17,US and Polish Soldiers and UK Royal Marines trained as a platoon for two days,rehearsing movements before being flown to a nearby location the day before an evacuation evolution.They then put their battle plan into action as they overcame the defensive forces,demonstrating skill and speed,the Pentagon noted.The drills test the capability of multiple nations to act together against a threat.
The ground assault was then transitioned into a comprehensive medevac training evolution with mock casualties.*
US Army Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Meidema pointed out that a common foundation of knowledge is necessary to communicate,build combat power,assemble swiftly and with agility bring combat forces against the enemy,or to reassure Allies.

UK to Keep Nuclear Deterrent,Build New Ballistic Missile Submarines

The British House of Commons voted yesterday to preserve the UK's independent nuclear deterrent and take the necessary steps required to maintain its current posture by replacing the Vanguard-class submarine with four of the new Successor-class ballistic missile submarines.The Conservatives,led by new Prime Minister Theresa May,secured a strong majority vote of 472-117 to approve the motion.The UK will now proceed with the building of the new Trident II D5 missile submarines by the BAE Systems Barrow shipyard at a cost of 31 billion dollars with a contingency of an extra 10 billion over 35 years.It is one of the largest expenditures in the history of the UK,besides also being a project of great complexity and scale,involving hundreds of subcontractors in addition to prime BAE.*
Two parliamentary Strategic Defence and Security Reviews approved the Successor programme in 2010 and 2015.For her part,Mrs.May said it would be sheer madness to contemplate even for a moment giving up Britain's independent nuclear deterrent.We cannot abandon our ultimate safeguard out of misplaced idealism.That would be a reckless gamble,a gamble that would enfeeble our allies and embolden our enemies.The nuclear threat has not gone away.If anything,it has increased,the new Prime Minster pointed out,citing a newly assertive Russia and countries such as North Korea who are seeking nuclear weapons.We will not leave NATO and our European allies behind,Mrs.May promised.*
Construction of the Successor-class is to begin in late 2016,with the first of the four vessels entering service in 2028.A minimum of four submarines is required to sustain the continuous at sea deterrence (CASD) posture which Britain has today,according to the formula of,at any given time,one armed submarine being on patrol;one in maintenance;and two in port or on training manoeuvres.All UK ballistic missile and nuclear powered submarines are based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane,Scotland,which is 25 miles/40 kilometers west of Glasgow.The base is secured by Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines.*
As a crucial element of their special relationship,the US and UK now coordinate both nuclear strategy and hardware.Both countries endorsed the Trident II D5 Service Life Extension Programme that extends the life of the missiles out to 2042.Both will also be installing a common 12-missile compartment in the Royal Navy Successor-class and the US Navy SSBN-X successor to the Ohio-class submarine.*
BAE Systems PLC (London:BA/),BAE Systems PLC ADR (OTC:BAESY)

BALTOPS 2015:NATO Allies,Partners Stage Amphibious Assault

On Wednesday 17 June,allied troops from NATO and partner nations staged a massive amphibious assault as part of Exercise BALTOPS 2015.The successful Baltic Sea drill was based on the scenario of trying to defeat enemy forces occupying the coast of Northern Poland,NATO said.It took place on a beach near Utska,Poland.In the exercise,several waves of amphibious assault craft and 2 US Navy hovercraft brought about 700 British,US,Finnish and Swedish Marines ashore,aided by close air support from US and Swedish fighter aircraft and attack helicopters.*
We saw an amazing exercise out on the water today,said Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Philip Breedlove,US Air Force.It was a great example of interoperability and the capability that NATO forces have together,and demonstrates that the Alliance is ready for the new security situation.*
The amphibious landing was commanded by Royal Navy Fleet Flagship HMS Ocean (L12),a landing platform helicopter ship,and the US Navy's USS San Antonio (LPD 17),an amphibious transport dock ship.Embarked on HMS Ocean were a series of Royal Navy,Army and Royal Air Force helicopters.*
In all,17 countries,includng 14 NATO allies and 3 NATO partners,participated in BALTOPS 2015 with 49 ships and 5600 troops.The annual exercise ended on Friday 19 June.

Royal Navy Submarine Joins MH-370 Search

Perhaps the last,best hope of the MH-370 search is the Royal Navy nuclear submarine HMS Tireless(S88).The Tireless brings to bear the most advanced sonar technology to scan the depths of the Indian Ocean for wreckage of the near-hopelessly lost airliner.Launched in 1984,she is one of five Trafalgar class subs still in Service.She was the third of her class and was built by Vickers at Barrow,according to the Royal Navy.
HMS Tireless underwent an extensive overhaul of her propulsion,weapons systems and sensors.She was deployed to the Middle East in 2010 for 11 months in support of British interests in the region.With 130 personnel,the refurbished Cold War era attack sub will use advanced sonar to add a new dimension to the search,and is already at work in the search area.
With 130 personnel,Tireless is 85.4 meters in length,and has a beam of 9.8 meters.She has a top speed of 32 knots.Her commanding officer is Commander Hywel Griffiths.Educated by the monks of Belmont Abbey,Hereford and in Sixth Form College,Winchester,he joined the RN in 1992 and had initial training appointments in HMS Brilliant,HMS Walney and HMS Avenger.CDR Griffiths volunteered for Service in submarines in 1994 and previously served in HMS Vengeance and HMS Talent,as well as in the Directorate of Navy Resources and Plans in the UK Ministry of Defence.He is a fan of the Welsh rugby team,as well as a surfer and a skier when he has the time.*
On the way to the Indian Ocean from Europe to aid in the search for the aircraft's black boxes and debris is the Royal Navy warship HMS Echo(H87),a multirole hydrographic survey ship that can collect an array of military hydrographic and oceanographic data,but is also equipped for mine warfare and amphibious operations.She carries a small detachment of Royal Marines,the RN says.The Echo packs an impressive array of force protection weapons while improving seafarers' charts for the UK Hydrographic Office.*
The search could drag on for a long time,warned retired Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston,head of the Joint Interagency Coordination Centre in Perth,Australia.It's not something that's going to be resolved in the next few weeks.Still,CNN Perth correspondent Kyung Lah described the search crews as being cheery and seeming to be on task.They are very determined.This is special to them as they all have families and can relate to the mission.