NNAAVVY VY NEWS,NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009 VEMBER 2009 77
FAST food for thought
IF YOU’RE going to take down a boat swarming with boat swarming with
terrorists, you can do no better than having the world’n having the world’s
two pre-eminent boat-swarming-with-terrh-terrorists stoppersorists stoppers
on hand.
Enter R Squadron, Fleet Protection Group Rooyal Maral Mariines and their US nes and their US
Marine Corps counterparts, the Fleet Anti-terroriism Secursm Securiity ty TTeam eam (F(FAAST).ST).
The two joined forces for two weeks of training in Scotland,in Scotland, the latest round
of combined training under the banner of Exercise e TTartan tan Eagle.Eagle.
The two marine corps take it in turns to arrange combined exge combined exercises either
side of the Pond.
This year it fell to FPGRM to do the hosting – and they divided their g – and they divided their
visitors into two groups.
One enjoyed life at Faslane, the other headed to the ranges aaded to the ranges at
Kirkcudbright, 100 miles to the south of the Scottish natish naval base.
The Americans staying in Faslane took part in boarding training on boarding training on
the Clyde, accompanied by the Royal Marines’ BoaBoat t TTroop and roop and
practised the art of taking down a suspicious vessel by boarding ssel by boarding
tug boats.
They also conducted rope training from gantrgantries (which
admittedly probably look a lot like American gantrgantries), and
just in case they were feeling homesick, there was a US nuclear s a US nuclear
submarine visiting Faslane at the same time.
Meanwhile in Kirkcudbright camp 100 miles to the south… o the south…
The Dumfriesshire ranges are a regular haunt of marof marines northth
of the border – they were used by 45 Cdo in the rrun-up to its recent
deployment to Afghanistan.
The ranges can be used for live fi ring exercises,es, which is which is
exactly what the RM and USMC did, staging a sera series of ies of
attacks with live ammunition to practise fi re team assaultsassaults.
The Royals also got to show their US cousins the fithe fi ne
art of speed marching. Several American faces dropping ropping
as they realised that there was no bus and it wwas four as four
miles back to camp. Everyone made it back in one piece,e piece,
although a number of the US Marines seemed deterermined
to show the FGP guys what they had for lunch.
One of the highlights for the both sides on the ranges e ranges
was the chance to conduct some cross training: the USMC e USMC
picked up British SA80s, while the commandos trtriied out ed out
the legendary American M16 rifl es.
As well as training during Tartan Eagle, there was a chance as a chance
for the Americans to immerse themselves in British – and US h – and US
– history.
The Royals took them to Spean Bridge – site of the imposing e imposing
Commando Memorial and a museum to the forebearebears os of f
today’s green berets. In WW2, nearby Achnacarry Castle
was the hub of training for British commandos and US and US
Rangers.
Tartan Eagle ended with a barbecue, allowing eveveryone one
to let down their very short hair after a challenging serng series of
activities.
● (Left) Prepare to board... FPGRM bring the FAST boarding party
alongside a tug in the Clyde and (right) an American marine enjoys rapid
roping at Faslane Pictures: LA(Phots) JJ Massey and Gaz Weatherston, FRPU North
TALK TO SOMEONE
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WHO UNDERSTANDS
No.
(Scotland)
Charity
Our Bereaved Support Group is run by
Registered
people who know the heartache of losing
1885,
a loved one in the Forces.
Est.
It’s one more way that SSAFA Forces
210760
Help is here when you need us.
No.
Charity
Registered
ssafa.org.uk
020 7403 8783
007_NN_Nov.indd 1 20/10/09 17:11:37
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