Marines test skills in desert

ROYAL Marines based in Angus have been pitting their elite skills against their American counterparts on the arid expanse of the Mojave desert.

Normally brothers i n arms who have combined against foes in the hostile terrain of Iraq and A f g h a n i st a n , the UK commandos have been pitched against the US Marine Corps (USMC) on a near-1,000 square mile military exercise area.

Such training has been out of fashion for 15 years as both corps concentrated on dealing with i nsurgency-driven warfare.

The desert “playground” at Twentynine Palms – roughly twice the size of Greater Manchester – has allowed troops to unleash live firepower on a scale impossible in the UK.

45 Commando are about to take on the mantle of lead commando group for the next two years.

The Arbroath marines formed the bulk of the Exercise Green Dagger workout group in preparation for the role which could see them sent anywhere i n t he world at immediate notice.

They were joined by the gunners of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Bravo Company from 40 Commando and the Royal Marines’ Viking armoured vehicles from North Devon.

The US Marines threw two battalions, plus Harrier j ets, Huey and Cobra battlefield helicopters and drones into the “battles”.

Tw e n t y n i n e Pa l m s’ piece de resistance i s Range 220, a mock town. It features grocery stores, shops, petrol stations and a hospital, with more than 100 civilians bringing the town to life to make the training more realistic and also more challenging.