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Commando fliers take it to the limit in the Outback
22 August 2024
The wings of the Royal Marines have pushed their machines – and themselves – to the limit over six weeks in the Australian bush.
Venturing where the helicopter has rarely gone before, the flying battlewagons of the Royal Marines have been integral to the commandos’ training in Australia’s Northern Territory.
Three Merlin Mk4s of 845 Naval Air Squadron and 70 personnel have been deployed with RFA Argus, providing support to the Littoral Response Group (South) – spearheaded by the Royal Marines of 40 Commando.
The crux of the deployment has been Predator’s Run, an amphibious/land exercise in northern Australia working with militaries of the host nation and USA.
Flying from the deck of Argus – often and night and always, where possible, out of sight of the ‘enemy’ – the Merlins have been shifting personnel and kit from ship to shore, then, with a foothold established, pushing inland, to prove the squadron’s amphibious specialty.
It’s meant island raids, deep reconnaissance missions and personnel extraction in challenging conditions (bush/semi-desert) for three weeks, which proved both punishing and rewarding for air and ground crew.
“Taking part in an amphibious exercise alongside other nations is the height of what we can train for,” said Merlin pilot Lieutenant Aaron Dempsey of 845 NAS.
“As naval aviators, our speciality is providing lift from ship to shore to allow our marines to take a target.”
Predator’s Run is one of the largest exercises UK forces have taken part in at such a distance – 9,000 miles – from the mother country.
More than 400 Royal Marine and Army Commandos were involved, using both RFA Argus and amphibious support ship RFA Lyme Bay, as their floating bases.Taking part in an amphibious exercise alongside other nations is the height of what we can train for.
Over the six-week exercise alongside 1st Brigade of the Australian Army, the marines pushed over 400 miles into the austere Northern Territory, demanding not merely that the green berets ‘fight’ in challenging conditions – but their aerial support: everything from orientation flying over the bush to flying in dust clouds stirred up on landing/take-off, maintenance in the field and setting up forward refuelling/arming points in the middle of nowhere.
“We’ve often been working at our maximum weight and our furthest range, so this exercise has given us a great opportunity to gain confidence in the aircraft and our ability to get the most of out them,” Lieutenant Dempsey added.
“As an aviator, when you land after a mission where you’ve achieved the maximum you can achieve, and got the job done, it’s extremely satisfying.
“I’ve never been to Australia, so for the first time to be whilst flying a Merlin around the bush was pretty special. Safe to say I managed to spot a few kangaroos while we were flying around, which was a particular highlight.”
Merlins in the Outback? There has to be a ‘wizards of Aus’ pun in there…
Anyway… Argus and her Merlin detachment are now heading west on the next leg of their deployment.