45 Commando RM

Ex Merlin Storm

by Lt J Price RM, Y Coy

Ex Merlin Storm was a joint Commando Helicopter Force and Y Coy training opportunity which served as the final test for pilots from 846 Naval Air Squadron. It involved two weeks of covert infiltration, exfiltration, fast-roping and winching for the Merlin pilots who had to facilitate any and every wild idea that the Coy put before them. We exploited this opportunity and took it a step further by developing our surveillance, reconnaissance and direct-action capabilities on several complex objectives.

The exercise kicked off with a covert insertion into the area of Kinloss Barracks, current home of 8 Engineer Bde. They then simultaneously conducted reconnaissance of breach and entry points into the airfield. This involved establishing the guard force pattern of life, vulnerable points in the perimeter fences and CCTV blind spots that we could exploit. We then extracted undetected, still under the cover of darkness.

Fast-roping onto the target

During the daylight hours, the teams conducted discreet reconnaissance while at night, simultaneously conducting close target reconnaissance on separate target buildings disaggregated across the airfield. Reconnaissance reports were generated alongside invaluable thermal and night imagery which would inform planning ahead of the direct-action phase of the exercise. This was a unique opportunity to face a real-world guard force whilst operating in a discreet military profile to minimise our chance of detection and maximise our intelligence collection. Conducting real-time surveillance and reconnaissance against live targets fits into our wider warfighting role in the High North.

The direct-action phase of the exercise started with a simultaneous landing of three Merlin helicopters on the target building in Kinloss Barracks. Surprise and aggression saw the Coy land on the mark and, under a barrage of supporting firepower, storm the target buildings. With strong momentum, the Coy cleared through the objective, before establishing it as a staging post for further targets.

S&R image of the objective

Once set, intelligence injects pointed us to further objectives on the northern tip of Scotland. Hasty planning and preparation cycles commenced before we were out the door again and flying on to our next target. This time, the target was an early warning radar station pointed towards the North Sea at Cape Wrath. The training on RM Condor that had gone into preparing for this exercise meant that weapon manipulation, room entry techniques and deconfliction procedures in close quarter environments had been well drilled. It paid off with the radar stations cleared and secured only 13 minutes after touching down.

Members of Y Coy on Ex Merlin Storm