More than 750 Royal Marines and supporting units, plus three warships, Sea King and Chinook helicopters waged war in and around the Galloway Forest in a week-long exercise to prepare 45 Commando for front-line duties.
The Arbroath-based green berets are now the nation’s ‘lead commando group’ – ready to deploy around the globe if required – having successfully completed Exercise Scottish Lion
Pictures: PO(Phot) Mez Merrill, CHF, LA(Phots) Andy Laidlaw, 45 Commando, and Al Macleod, HMS Heron
GET some…
Royal Marines gunners of Yankee Company, 45 Commando let rip with a General Purpose Machine-Gun– firing some of the three quarters of a million blank rounds unleashed during a week-long exercise in south-west Scotland.
Fresh from taking part in the biggest war games in Europe this year, Joint Warrior, the Arbroath-based green berets were thrust immediately into Scottish Lion which saw the entire unit – more than 750 troops – put ashore south of Stranraer.
The exercise was the latest test for 45, who have now assumed the role of ‘lead commando group’ – which means they’re at short notice to deploy around the world should the Government need to call on their services.
Here we go gathering nuts in May… The men of 45 Commando move inland
Scottish Lion ranged from the ranges of West Freugh in the west to the ruins of 16th-Century Edingham Castle, near Dalbeattie, more than 40 miles to the East.
After being based on helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious, flagship HMS Bulwark and amphibious support ship RFA Mounts Bay for Joint Warrior, the entire Commando was landed by helicopters and landing craft on to the sands at West Freugh, a former RAF base now used as a missile test site.
Having established themselves around the old airfield, the Royal Marines moved inland, bound for Kirkcudbright (pronounced cur-coo-bree), three dozen miles away, to attack various objectives, before establishing themselves one more time.
Yankee Company prepare to enter a building in West Freugh
As well as testing the men in the front line, Scottish Lion was a vital test of all the rearward services crucial to any operation such as logistics, transportation and casualty treatment.
Transport was provided by Commando Helicopter Force Sea Kings and RAF Chinooks, while the Royals’ vehicles clocked up more than 5,800 miles moving men and kit around the roads of Dumfries and Galloway.
The Regimental Aid Post was never far behind the action and every ‘casualty’ was evacuated to it within an average of 26 minutes from point of injury.
… and promptly do so…
For added realism, more serious ‘casualties’ were even flown back to Illustrious for notional treatment within two hours of being ‘wounded’.
With Kirkcudbright secured and 45 Commando established in the small town, it was time for the final assault on Edingham Castle with all four rifle companies and supporting echelons of the Commando.
With the dilapidated fortress seized, Scottish Lion was done, bringing the curtain down on 13 separate company-level operations, six helicopter assaults and a move over land by the Arbroath green berets of some 60 miles.
Chinooks from Illustrious come in to drop off more men from Whiskey
Major Richard Wallace, 45 Commando’s Second-in-Command, said the exercise was the perfect work-out for the unit ahead of their front-line mission.
“Scottish Lion allowed 45 Commando to get back to the grass roots of what being a Royal Marine Commando entails,” he added.
“We experienced the full spectrum of conflict during the exercise: from the delivery of humanitarian aid to night-time commando raids against an enemy dug into a fortified position. It has set the unit up for success and we have now taken on the role of the lead commando group.”
Half a dozen Junglie Sea Kings return to Yeovilton, mission complete
