Albanian Lion – the first major exercise of the Royal Navy’s Cougar amphibious deployment – ended with Royal Marines storming through a disused Cold War naval base.
Local forces provided the ‘opposition’ as the green berets of 40 Commando swept through the complex at Port Palermo – above and below ground.
Pictures: PO(Phot) Sean Clee, RNPOTYx3, and LA(Phot) Will Haigh, 40 Cdo
HEAVY metal thunder.
Not much of a highway though for the Royal Marines’ Armoured Support Group as they splash and rumble through the boggy terrain of Albania’s Kepi i Palit peninsula, about 20 miles northwest of the Albanian capital of Tirana.
The group’s Viking vehicles – fully amphibious, they don’t just wade through rivers, streams, lakes and the sea, but ‘swim’ – were given a full run-out among the Palit marshes as Exercise Albanian Lion reached its climax.
And while the Yeovilton-based Vikings were throwing up the Albanian mud, their 40 Commando comrades were moving around a Cold War submarine base 100 miles to the south.
Carved into the rock south of the town of the Himarë, Port Palermo is a warren of tunnels built for Soviet Whiskey-class diesel submarines in the 1970s.
Now abandoned, the tunnels – and the derelict barracks and buildings above ground – provide the perfect playground for troops.
And Royal Marines can never turn down a playground…
40’s Alpha and Bravo Companies were put ashore by landing craft from HMS Bulwark and RFA Lyme Bay, while their Delta company comrades were landed by RAF Chinook.
While pushing their way forward the men were met with fierce resistance as the enemy used the tunnels of the submarine pens to their advantage, ensuring a challenging fight.
Several hours later and – once the caverns had been were cleared – Delta company then launched their own attack on enemy occupying higher ground.
Albanian commandos joined the green berets for the final part of the exercise – fighting their way through a network of trench systems which gave their colleagues (acting as the enemy), plenty of opportunity to hide.
“It was tough – due to the mountainous terrain. As marines we are expected to be able to operate in any condition and climate and this was no exception,” said 21-year-old Mne Dillon Wade of Delta Company.
“The attack went really well. We have had lots of new marines join straight from training so it was good that they have become an integral part of the troop.”
The exercise was the first of this year’s Cougar deployment involving the UK’s Response Force Task Group and more than 2,000 sailors, commandos and airmen – and the fourth time the Albanians have hosted the group on its annual autumn workout.
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