Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Royal Marines lay on specialist boarding training to Kenyan counterparts
30 July 2024
Royal Marines laid on specialist boarding training to counter terrorists and pirates to Kenyan Marines during HMS Lancaster’s visit to the Port of Mombasa.
Experts from Plymouth-based 42 Commando who specialise in board, search and seizure operations – often countering smugglers, terrorists and pirates while embarked on warships – shared knowledge through training and practical demonstrations.
The Kenyan Marine Commando Unit learned about tactics frequently used on front-line operations with Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster, the Royal Navy’s permanent presence in the Middle East which regularly polices the region’s waterways and chokepoints.
Captain Will Hitchcock RM, in command of HMS Lancaster’s Royal Marines Boarding Team, said: “It is a privilege to train with the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit and to be ready for the ‘fight tonight’ as is the focus of both of our Commando units.
“As two proud raiding forces, it is crucial to continue to share experiences and build interoperability to provide solutions to shared problems.”
Commander Chris Sharp, Commanding Officer HMS Lancaster (Port), added: “Our visit to Kenya is a fantastic opportunity for Lancaster’s Royal Marines to train and exercise boarding operations with the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit, contributing to the UK and Kenya’s joint commitment to improve regional stability and security.”
These exercises are in addition to the basic training the Kenyans receive, and show the UK and Kenya’s continued commitment to build a strong, capable, and adaptable Kenya Defence Forces as an anchor of regional stability and security.
The creation of the Kenyan Marine Commando Unit (KMCU) is a five-year partnership between the UK and Kenya to establish a self-sustaining training cycle through which the Kenyan Navy will be able to train their own Marine Commandos.
The KMCU made history in May 2023, when the first-ever cohort of Kenyan Marines completed a rigorous training programme which largely mirrors that undertaken by the Royal Marines.
The US Military have also played an integral role in the creation of the KMCU by ensuring this specialist and formidable force are equipped to the highest standard.
British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the UK and Kenya have taken advantage of this opportunity to add serious value to the Kenyan Marines training programme – a great example of how our security partnership is making a real difference to Kenya’s military capacity and capability. Together, we’re going far - making Kenya, the UK, and the region safer and more secure.”
HMS Lancaster visited the Port of Mombasa for a short operational break from patrols and as part of Combined Task Force 150, where it has recently conducted drug busts and completed other maritime security serials.
Her visit to Mombasa provides an opportunity to demonstrate the close, historic relationship between the UK and Kenyan Armed Forces.
The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership is an ambitious five-year agreement delivering mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya and keeping our people safe; it is underpinned by the Defence Cooperation Agreement that provides the framework for this training programme.