News

On 9 October 2023, 47 Cdo RG RM deployed its operational Boat Group to join the LRG (South) Task Group, having been activated at very short notice to respond to an emerging Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) crisis in North Africa. The Boat Group, consisting of LCs from 539 Raiding Sqn and a Support Element from Logistics Sqn embarked RFA Lyme Bay with an LCU, the newly upgraded Commando Raiding Craft (CRC) and IRCs and set sail. Some of the team sailed with the ship from Devonport, the rest flew forward to Gibraltar. The first RV was ‘The Nelson’ in Gib, where we managed to catch the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup, and prepare for the obligatory ‘Rock Run’ the following morning.

Ushering in the New Year, Shore Reconnaissance Tp (SRT) found themselves stood down from Winter Deployment 24 due to enduring operational commitments. We instead commenced planning and execution of Exercise Black Fish 24, a three-week training exercise, spread across the UK training estate.

The privilege to join a Commando Company as it embarks on an operational deployment is one few are granted on completion of training at CTCRM. This was further heightened as it was to be part of LRG(S)’s preparation for the inaugural deployment to the Indo-Pacific Region. We were aware of the unprecedented regional instability at the time of joining our first Unit and what a deployment to this region of the world could possibly entail.