29 are based across the length of the country; in Arbroath Scotland,
Poole Dorset and Plymouth Devon. Their dedicated soldiers pass the
arduous Royal Marine commando course and earn the coveted green beret.
Army Commandos, 29 (two-nine) are spearhead troops trained as
amphibious, mountain and arctic warfare specialists. they can equally
operate at the other extreme in the desert or jungle.
The Commando
Gunners are equipped with eighteen 105mm Light Guns and our Fire Support
Teams (FSTs) trained to coordinate their firepower. 29 also coordinate
firepower from mortars, fast jets, attack helicopters and the guns from
Royal Navy ships. The gun batterys operate around the world on ship with
the Royal Marines. They have served in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
The versatile 105 mm Light Gun is used by the Parachute and Commando
Field Artillery Regiments of the British Army.
The Light Gun can be towed by a medium-weight vehicle (such as a
Pinzgauer TUM/HD or Hagglund BV206 all-terrain vehicle) or carried
around the battlefield under slung by a Puma or Chinook helicopter.
Royal Artillery L118 Light Guns are fitted with an Automatic Pointing
System, which enables the gun to be unlimbered and in action in 30
seconds. APS is based on an inertial navigation system; operated via a
touch screen, it replaces the traditional dial sight. New Light Gun
ammunition is in development, with an increasingly lethal round and an
extended range.
29 Commando provide offensive fire support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal
Marines. Army Commandos, 29 (two-nine) are amphibious, mountain and
cold weather warfare specialists and equally operate at the other
extreme of temperature in the desert or jungle. The Commando Gunners
are equipped with eighteen 105mm Light Guns and are trained to provide
and coordinate artillery fire. The Commando Gunners also coordinate
mortar fire, close air support from fast jets, attack helicopters
and guns from Royal Navy ships. The Regiment is based in Plymouth but
has detached batteries in Arbroath (Scotland) and Poole. The Commando
Gunners recruit from the South West of England but also attract Commando
volunteers from all over the UK.
Deployments
Summer 2009 Maritime exercise in the Mediterranean - amphibious
warfare training including landings from Royal Navy ships
July 2009 live firing exercise in the USA
October 2009 live firing exercise in the UK
January to March 2010 Mountain and Cold Weather Exercise in Norway
(Arctic Circle)
Organisation
The regiment consists of an HQ battery, three gun batteries, a Naval
Gunfire Support Forward Observation battery and an attached
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshop which includes a
Royal Logistic Corps stores section. The gun batteries are equipped
with six
L118 105MM light guns and three Observation Posts each.
7 (Sphinx) Battery Royal Artillery - Commando trained L118 gun
battery based at RM Condor,
Arbroath
8 (Alma) Battery Royal Artillery - Commando trained L118 gun
battery based at the
Royal Citadel, Plymouth
23 (Gibraltar 1779-1783) Battery Royal Artillery - The
Headquarters Commando Battery, and Radar Troop, for 29 Commando
Regiment are based at the Royal Citadel, Plymouth
79 (Kirkee) Battery Royal Artillery - Commando trained L118 gun
battery based at the Royal Citadel, Plymouth
148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery - The battery are based
at RM
Poole. Their primary role is as a Naval Gunfire Support Forward
Observation (NGSFO) battery. Roled to direct
naval gunfire support from
Royal Navy ships, air strikes from Royal Navy and
Royal Air Force aircraft and artillery fire from the regiment's
gun batteries, when landed in support of
3 Commando Brigade.
29 Commando Royal Artillery Regimental Workshop Royal Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers - Workshop main HQ is based at the Royal
Citadel, Plymouth with battery fitter sections permanently attached
to, and based with each battery.
Selection and training
Soldiers volunteer for 29 Commando Regiment from the regular units of
the
Royal Artillery,
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and other attached arms
and services (e.g. chefs, clerks etc.) and are required to undergo
Commando training following entry to the Regiment.
Personnel are inducted into Batteries and provided with a
pre-commando schedule, based around a gym assessment. Candidates then
enter Pre-Commando Course Training within the Batteries in Plymouth and
the training concentrates upon physical training, fieldcraft, skill at
arms and personal administration in the field.
The
All Arms Commando Course is an eight-week course conducted at the
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at
Lympstone,
Devon
culminating in the Commando tests and leading to the award of the
Green beret.
Gunners then go on to complete further specialist training as
required.
