Heavy armor in amphibious raid...an unknown UK capability.

A Challenger 2 Tank storms ashore from a Royal Marine Landig Craft during an amphibious capability demonstration in Hampshire.

Members from the 1st Mechanized Brigade were involved in the Maritime Component Power Demo held at Browndown Beach, Gosport on the 28th October 2010. The event took place in October 2010 for the ISCC (Immediate Staff Command Course) which involves Royal Marines coming a shore along with members from the Royal Welsh Regiment.  NOTE: The captions for the following pictures is the same.

 

Remember this raid that the Royal Marines carried out in 2011?

The commandos carried out a dramatic amphibious landing using Viking armoured vehicles launched from landing craft, according to the Daily Mail.

Heavily-armed personnel from 539 Assault Squadron pushed deep inland through the lawless zone to seize the influential clan chief.

He was taken off for talks with MI6 and Foreign Offfice officials aboard a Royal Navy support ship ancored off the coast, centring on issues such as terrror training camps and the seizing of hostages.

The raid in July was the first time British forces have conducted a military operation in the troubled area in 40 years, according to the Mail.

Special Forces have been focusing on the region amid a rise in ships seized offshore by pirates for ransom, the kidnap of citizens from Western countries, and the threat of the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror group.

Well I personally always wondered why the British never deployed any heavy armor from their amphibious ships.  Little did I know.  They have the capability.  Its organic to the British Army and as the USMC has demonstrated, even a Tank Platoon retains shock action...especially in a mechanized raid scenario.

If the British Army is looking for work in the post Iraq/Afghanistan world, it might be to send detachments out with the Royal Marines!