The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Marines at cutting edge
Data-driven exercise tests commandos’ modern warfare
They are world-renowned for their brawn, but Angus-based Royal Marines have been part of a cutting-edge exercise demonstrating the brainpower needed to win future wars – with Superman’s brother in a starring role.
The men of 45 Commando embraced the digital age during the largest foray into data-driven warfare the Royal Navy has ever made, Exercise Information Warrior.
Miniature helicopters, satellite and streaming technology, low-energy-use computers, live camera feeds and wireless headquarters were all utilised as the elite personnel of 3 Commando Brigade tested their ability to direct a real-time raid on an old fort in Plymouth by landing craft.
Spearheading command of 30 Commando IX Group’s involvement in the exercise was Lieutenant Colonel Nik Cavill, the brother of Superman actor Henry Cavill, who has proved himself a strong supporter of his sibling’s services role in the past.
The Royal Navy said that like last autumn’s Unmanned Warrior used to showcase robot/drone technology and how it might be used by the navy of tomorrow, Information Warrior was run side-by-side with the twice-yearly international war games of the UK armed forces, Joint Warrior, staged in and off western Scotland.
The task of Plymouth-based 30 Commando IX Group – a 21st-Century successor to a specialist unit established by James Bond creator Ian Fleming in the Second World War to obtain intelligence behind enemy lines – was to keep the main assault groups of 3 Commando Brigade at least one step ahead of their foes.
In three weeks and with 2½kms of cabling, they established a digital HQ featuring more than 30 screens operated by personnel from all three services, plus industry and educational experts.
Nearly 450 miles away in Arbroath, an entirely wireless HQ was set up by the men of RM Condor to feed real-time information directly into the hi-tech operations cell.
Another outstation on Dartmoor at Okehampton camp, and some cuttingedge cameras and minute drones, ensured 42 Commando’s storming of Victorian fortifications in Plymouth after coming ashore on landing craft was streamed live.