Tireless lives up to her name on ten-month tour of duty

THIS is something you’ve not seen since July 9 last year: HMS Tireless in sight of Plymouth Hoe.

The submarine returned home to Devonport yesterday after the longest deployment by a Royal Navy submarine in ten years.

Some 150 loved ones and a Royal Marines band welcomed the nuclear submarine home after 307 days away from the UK.

Since sailing Tireless has spent 253 days at sea, mostly carrying out counter-piracy/terrorism/smuggling operations east of Suez – the first time the submarine has passed through the legendary canal.

The nature of much of her work meant her 130-strong crew had no contact with families at home and operated in punishing conditions.

In addition to her intelligence gathering missions, the Trafalgar-class submarine worked with other Allied naval forces in the Indian Ocean.

Swede somethings for Royal Marines

TWO Swedish fast attack craft have been loaned to the Royal Marines as the Navy looks at patrol boats of the future.

The first two of four Combat Boat 90s have been handed over to 1 Assault Group Royal Marines for several months of intensive trials.

The Royal Navy is looking at acquiring a new class of ‘force protection craft’ capable of fending off enemy fast boats and dealing with threats on land. As a secondary requirement, the future boats will be expected to carry up to eight Royal Marines ashore during amphibious operations.

Royal Marines wounded celebrate first social event

ORDINARILY we don’t publish group shots.

But aside from being a rather nice photograph – taken by LA(Phot) Jenny Lodge – this is no ordinary group shot.

In fact, it’s no ordinary group.

This is the first ‘all ranks’ regimental dinner for Hasler Company Royal Marines, hosted by the Sergeants’ Mess 42 Commando.

Hasler Company was formed 18 months ago as a dedicated unit to help seriously wounded/injured commandos on the ‘journey back to business’ – recovery, rehabilitation and re-integration.

New commando action figure unveiled

HE WALKS. He’s cammed up. He’s got a big gun. And now he talks too.

Two years since the launch of the officially-endorsed HM Armed Forces action figures range, a new batch of dolls has been introduced – now with sound effects.

Three figures, one each for the branches of the Services, have been brought out by manufacturers Character Options: an RAF police dog handler (plus dog), an infantryman from the Army and from the Senior Service, a Royal Marines ‘stealth operations’ figure (although quite how stealthy you can be with a Minami machine-gun is questionable…).

Dauntless trio windsurf in the Arctic for injured marines

NOW the amazing thing about this story is that Royal Marines weren’t doing it…

An hour’s windsurfing. 350 miles inside the Arctic Circle. In winter. In temperatures of at best -15°C. In a raging snowstorm.

Three officers from HMS Dauntless – led by the destroyer’s CO Capt Richard Powell – vowed to take to their boards on board the Type 45 when she headed to Norway for cold weather trials and windsurf as far north as possible to help commandos injured in the line of duty.