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Royal Marines spearhead allied force during European drills
18 June 2025
Royal Marines spearheaded a multinational force during amphibious landings in the UK and France aimed at enhancing European allies’ ability to operate effectively together.
More than 3,500 European troops landed at Braunton Burrows in North Devon for the largest amphibious rehearsals in the area since World War Two, before the allied group turned its attentions to the French coast in the Bay of Biscay for further coastline operations.
Over two weeks, three land battalion, four amphibious ships, 14 helicopters and eight warships from France, UK, Italy and Spain were all drawn together to carry out complex landings.
Royal Marines from 40 and 47 Commando were at the heart of the action – carrying out reconnaissance, raiding and helicopter assaults ‘behind enemy lines’.
Their role was to disrupt the adversary, but also relay vital information back to the commanders in the naval task group, including RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus, sat off the coastline.
The Commandos deployed drones, practised dealing with casualties, but also worked with French and Spanish amphibious troops to secure beachheads for the main allied force to bring vehicles and supplies of ammunition, food and fuel ashore.
Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron provided the aerial support required, firstly launching sorties from Argus and later carrying commandos into action in France from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset.
“Braunton Burrows and the amphibious training it allows it so important – it’s one of the most complex operations you can carry out,” said Major Martyn Heenan, a Royal Marines officer on exchange with the French Navy.
“There are very few places you can do it. It allows the French, the Spanish, the Italians and the UK all to get into the same space in a challenging area and work together, which is very, very difficult to do anywhere else in the world.”
He added: “Allowing each other to work together gives you a massive force, which any country would struggle to do on its own.”
Commander Romain from the French Navy said: “Collaboration is very important because we have plenty of competitors now, but together with our allies we are facing the same threat.
“We won’t go alone to war; we will go together. That’s why training together, with our specificities and capabilities, allows us to be stronger together.”
RFA Lyme Bay acted as the platform for the amphibious operations – hosting Royal Marines, French Marines, US Marines and Spanish personnel.
The Bay-class support ship launched boats in all conditions, as well as helicopters from her flight deck.
Talking about Exercise Catamaran, Captain Mark Colley, Commanding Officer of RFA Lyme Bay, said: “It’s given our people a chance to train in amphibious skills so we are ready if we are called upon in a crisis to assist in the security of our nation and that of our NATO allies.”
“It’s been an opportunity to practise craning, dock operations, launching of boats in all conditions.
“Countries will always have coastline and our ability to project force from the sea to the land to protect our nation’s interests is always going to be of relevance.
“Working with France as a NATO ally is extremely important as one of our nearest allies. The ability to work with them seamlessly is always necessary in times of crisis.”
Together, the UK assets involved in the exercise sit under the Littoral Response Group (North) – a task force held at high readiness for a wide range of crises tasking.
Commander Alex Knight, Commander Amphibious Task Group, who commands all ships, helicopters, boat and land forces assigned to the exercise, said: “Exercise Catamaran has been a great opportunity to work with some of our closest international partners.
“We’ve had forces assigned from Italy, Spain, the USA alongside the predominant forces that are UK and French under a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force.
“This union between the UK and France enables the rapid deployment of forces for a range of operations and tasks.”
The job of the ships, aircraft and boats is to get Royal Marines Commandos ashore – where they can inflict the necessary damage on an adversary.
“Those Commandos are part of an advanced amphibious force,” added Cdr Knight. “There are small groups with light kit, often undetected by the opposing force. They can conduct a range of operations, from working alongside Special Forces, disaster relief and humanitarian work, all the way through to large-scale warfighting.”
Catamaran allowed allies to develop an understanding of working together, meaning the command and control of a joint force in an operational scenario would be seamless.