NORTON Manor Camp-based 40 Commando Royal Marines were due to into Exeter Airport at 7pm today after being deployed on Operation Cougar since April.

Operation Cougar has been the deployment of the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group.

It comprised ships from the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxillary and Marines from 40 Commando.

The ships and embarked Commandos demonstrated operational contingent capability for UK defence - the ability to respond to short notice tasking across a diverse range of defence activities such as maritime security operations, non-combatant evacuation operations, disaster relief, humanitarian aid or bespoke amphibious operations.

All are capabilities regularly required of a modern, versatile operational maritime force.

At the end of May, 40 Commando completed a training Exercise with the Albanian Army.

In a demonstration of their amphibious role, 40 Commando landed on the islands of the Vlore Peninsula.

Alongside the Albanians, they then undertook tactical training including Fighting in Built Up Areas - the first time the UK Armed Forces had worked with their Albanian counterparts.

Subsequently the RFTG sailed through the Suez Canal with Delta Company 40 Commando embarked, who then undertook training in Saudi Arabia while at the same time Charlie Company 40 Commando, having flown from Cyprus, were training in the United Arab Emirates. Working together, Charlie Company and the UAE forces conducted urban combat and weapon training.

The two companies finally travelled to Oman to complete the exercise ‘Omani Cougar’, part of the UK’s long standing relationship with Oman and demonstrated the cordial and effective defence relationship between the two countries.

A 40 Commando spokesman said: "This has been an extremely busy period for 40 Commando in which they have demonstrated their versatility and value to the UK’s Armed Forces."