MORE than 80 Royal Marines, from Norton Manor Camp-based 40 Commando, have stormed Browndown Beach, in Gosport, as part of an exercise demonstrating their amphibious capability.

They were supported by troops and hardware from 29 Commando Royal Artillery, 24 Commando Royal Engineers, King’s Royal Hussars and Royal Dragoon Guards, and dog walkers and beachgoers stopped to admire the dramatic display.

Somerset County Gazette:

 

Somerset County Gazette:

 

The exercise, Browndown Battle II, started nearly 24 hours earlier in the waters south of the Isle of Wight with Royal Navy flagship HMS Bulwark at the helm, supported by HMS Argyll an RFA Black Rover.

Ships were attacked by ‘enemy’ aircraft and bombarded their coastline with high explosive shells from HMS Argyll’s 4.5in gun before the Task Group moved closer to the Hampshire coastline.

Somerset County Gazette:

 

Somerset County Gazette:

From an anchorage in the Solent, Royal Marine Commandos made swift use of Bulwark’s 8 landing craft to go ashore in Viking amphibious vehicles and a Challenger II tank, supported by Merlin helicopters from 28 Squadron RAF to neutralise the ‘enemy’.

Browndown Battle II was staged as part of the Advanced Command and Staff Course for over 350 UK and international military students, for them to experience and evaluate the breadth of the Royal Navy’s capabilities within a joint operational environment.

Somerset County Gazette:

 

 

Somerset County Gazette: