Hot on the heels of last month’s large-scale exercise Albanian Lion, which was the first set-piece for the UK’s Response Force Task Group on Cougar 13, elements of 42 Commando have returned to the Balkan country for a further week.

The Royal Marines are the nation’s on-call commando unit, ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice should the government determine their presence is required.

The week-long Exercise Dragon Hammer with the Viking amphibious vehicles of the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group saw the green berets train mainly around the bay of Vlorë – also the setting for Albanian Lion.

Royal Marines taking part in Exercise Dragon Hammer [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Jason Ballard, Crown copyright]

Lima Company used night-vision technology to practise moving through an underground tunnel complex at Porto Palermo, near Himarë, which once served as a base for Cold War submarine operations in the Adriatic.

Their week of Dragon Hammer concluded with a company-level attack on the small island fortress of Sazan, just off the Vlorë peninsula – also the focal point for an assault during Albanian Lion.

Meanwhile, Juliet Company carried out various exercises with live ammunition – including firing the new lightweight Glock pistols being introduced across the Armed Forces – and engaged in close quarters battle. Their week drew to a close getting to grips with working side-by-side with the Vikings.

The Vikings deployed on Cougar 13 hoping to show the rest of the Corps what the all-terrain armoured vehicle, which is based in Dorset, can offer on the battlefield.

Royal Marines Viking amphibious landing vehicles on exercise in Albania [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Jason Ballard, Crown copyright]

Major Chris Samuel, Officer Commanding Juliet Company, said:

The story of close co-operation between Juliet Company and the Viking Troop is one that needs to be read throughout our Corps. Put simply, during this exercise, my commanders at all levels were exploiting the Viking’s capabilities in ways that they would not have envisaged or thought possible even 3 months ago.

The green berets completed Dragon Hammer delighted at the unique training environment offered both by Albania’s landscape and its military facilities.

A Royal Marine looks through his rifle scope from a protected position [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Jason Ballard, Crown copyright]

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Sutherland, Commanding Officer of 42 Commando, said:

Dragon Hammer was an excellent opportunity – and one that the Commando fully exploited. Arduous, complex terrain and a challenging environment provided some fantastic training opportunities. Live firing with Viking fully integrated into one of my manoeuvre companies and close quarters battle in a complex sub-terrain cold war submarine facility, where we fully utilised black light, are but 2 examples of the excellent training we were able to run. Overall, it proved to be superb training for 42 Commando.

Cougar 13

Royal Marines break cover of a wooded area to move in on their objective [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Jason Ballard, Crown copyright]

Cougar 13 is the routine annual deployment of the Royal Navy’s very high readiness Response Force Task Group ( RFTG ). Elements of the RFTG deployed to the Mediterranean and east of Suez, demonstrating their ability to project a highly effective UK maritime component anywhere in the world.

The deployment includes a series of demanding exercises with partner nations throughout the region which will ensure that the Task Group is ready to respond to any contingencies as and when they arise.

The RFTG ships have now passed through the Suez Canal and are carrying out further exercises with partner nations.