British commandos are ready for war: Military stages exercises aimed at curbing Russian aggression

Royal Marines demonstrated their readiness for war as they staged military exercises in Estonia aimed at curbing Russian aggression in the region.

Dramatic images show armed commandos, joined by their Estonian counterparts, performing an amphibious landing from a helicopter and storming a beach in Kolga Bay, 25 miles east of the capital Tallinn.

The war games, involving specialist soldiers from the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, come amid heightened tensions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the West. 

On numerous occasions in recent weeks, RAF Typhoon jets have been sent to intercept Russian military planes as they flew close to Estonian airspace. 

And last month, a furious Theresa May confronted Putin and told him to stop Russia’s ‘irresponsible and destabilising’ meddling in world affairs during a frosty meeting at the G20 summit in Japan.  

Incredible photos of Royal Marines in the Baltic show the astounding firepower of British forces as Russian military aggression grows in the region. Pictured: The Merlin of the Commando Helicopter Force appeared over the water and eight Royal Marines jumped from the helicopter into the choppy waters below before swimming towards two inflatable raiding craft that sped towards the Baltic coastline

After landing via a rope into the sea, the crack troops jumped the choppy waters below before swimming towards two inflatable raiding craft that sped towards the Baltic coastline

After landing via a rope into the sea, the crack troops jumped the choppy waters below before swimming towards two inflatable raiding craft that sped towards the Baltic coastline

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a UK-led task force supported by eight nations bordering on the Baltic and North Sea, it could be used to reinforce partner nations from the 'maritime flank' during a crisis in northern Europe

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a UK-led task force supported by eight nations bordering on the Baltic and North Sea, it could be used to reinforce partner nations from the ‘maritime flank’ during a crisis in northern Europe

The meeting was already due to be a tense affair after Mrs May vowed to confront Mr Putin over the Salisbury spy attack and demand that he hand over the suspects. Putin has also been at odds with Western leaders over Russia’s intervention in Syria.

There are about 3,850 British military personnel in Estonia as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force, an eight-nation task force that could be used during a crisis in northern Europe.

Crack troops from UK forces were equipped with grenade machine guns and 0.5 cal machine guns as they lived in World War One-style trenches and practiced their aim from dug-outs in the region. 

In  an all-action demonstration put on by the group, spectators saw a pair of RAF Typhoon fighters screaming overhead, missing trees by inches.

At another point, a Merlin of the Commando Helicopter Force appeared over the water and eight Royal Marines jumped from the helicopter into the choppy cold waters below before swimming towards two inflatable raiding craft that sped towards the Baltic coastline.

Silently, they dropped the marines on to the sand before they moved up the beach and up onto shore. 

'We're no longer in the game of opposed landings,' explained Major Sam Hughes, in charge of X-Ray Company, 45 Commando. We now have the ability to land at a time and place of our choosing before hitting the enemy where they least expect it. In this scenario, the Estonians had secured the beach and we moved in to reinforce their position.'

‘We’re no longer in the game of opposed landings,’ explained Major Sam Hughes, in charge of X-Ray Company, 45 Commando. We now have the ability to land at a time and place of our choosing before hitting the enemy where they least expect it. In this scenario, the Estonians had secured the beach and we moved in to reinforce their position.’

In the final stage the deployment, the emphasis on working with the traditional 'Baltic states' to demonstrate how UK forces would be deployed to the region in the event of a possible crisis

In the final stage the deployment, the emphasis on working with the traditional ‘Baltic states’ to demonstrate how UK forces would be deployed to the region in the event of a possible crisis

Troops jet towards shore after being dropped from a helicopter during an amphibious landing at Kolga Bay

Troops jet towards shore after being dropped from a helicopter during an amphibious landing at Kolga Bay

Troops patrol the beach as vessels in the background navigate choppy waters

Troops patrol the beach as vessels in the background navigate choppy waters

Later, two Royal Marines Wildcat helicopters hovered by the beach, using their thermal imagery cameras to scan for enemy units before Army Air Corps Apache thundered in to provide cover for the main landing.

Offshore Raiding Craft, capable of speeds of up to 40 knots, took groups of commandos to shore before bringing back the heavy kit on a large vessel. 

Helicopters flew overhead and commandos ‘fast roped’ to the ground to reinforce the outer cordon – bringing the demonstration to an end.

‘We’re no longer in the game of opposed landings,’ explained Major Sam Hughes, in charge of X-Ray Company, 45 Commando.

Troops in full gear armed with heavy machinery ran down the beaches in an incredible display on military might

Troops in full gear armed with heavy machinery ran down the beaches in an incredible display on military might

Offshore Raiding Craft, capable of speeds of up to 40 knots, took groups of commandos to shore before bringing back the heavy kit on a large vessel before they ran onto the beach

Offshore Raiding Craft, capable of speeds of up to 40 knots, took groups of commandos to shore before bringing back the heavy kit on a large vessel before they ran onto the beach

Among those watching the set-piece (pictured) was Estonia's President Kersti Kaljulaid who was 'very pleased with the course of the exercise, the co-operation and lessons already learned'

Among those watching the set-piece (pictured) was Estonia’s President Kersti Kaljulaid who was ‘very pleased with the course of the exercise, the co-operation and lessons already learned’

The display was the curtain-raiser to the final exercise of the two-month-long Baltic Protector deployment which has tested the Royal Navy-led task group in the North Sea, working with the Danes and Norwegians, and central Baltic, working with the US Navy and NATO

The display was the curtain-raiser to the final exercise of the two-month-long Baltic Protector deployment which has tested the Royal Navy-led task group in the North Sea, working with the Danes and Norwegians, and central Baltic, working with the US Navy and NATO

‘We now have the ability to land at a time and place of our choosing before hitting the enemy where they least expect it. In this scenario, the Estonians had secured the beach and we moved in to reinforce their position.’

Among those watching the set-piece was Estonia’s President Kersti Kaljulaid who was ‘very pleased with the course of the exercise, the co-operation and lessons already learned’.

The display was the curtain-raiser to the final exercise of the two-month-long Baltic Protector deployment which has tested the Royal Navy-led task group in the North Sea, working with the Danes and Norwegians, and central Baltic, working with the US Navy and NATO.

The display was the curtain-raiser to the final exercise of the two-month-long Baltic Protector deployment which has tested the Royal Navy-led task group in the North Sea, working with the Danes and Norwegians, and central Baltic, working with the US Navy and NATO

The display was the curtain-raiser to the final exercise of the two-month-long Baltic Protector deployment which has tested the Royal Navy-led task group in the North Sea, working with the Danes and Norwegians, and central Baltic, working with the US Navy and NATO

In the final stage the deployment, the emphasis on working with the traditional 'Baltic states' to demonstrate how UK forces would be deployed to the region in the event of a possible crisis

In the final stage the deployment, the emphasis on working with the traditional ‘Baltic states’ to demonstrate how UK forces would be deployed to the region in the event of a possible crisis

'This exercise demonstrates our continuing commitment to Estonia and the security of the Baltic Sea Region,' said task group commander Commodore James Parkin

‘This exercise demonstrates our continuing commitment to Estonia and the security of the Baltic Sea Region,’ said task group commander Commodore James Parkin

'We are partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force and allies in NATO, the Royal Marines, along with other British troops, fought alongside Estonian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Royal Navy fought to assist Estonia in winning its independence 100 years ago' he continued

‘We are partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force and allies in NATO, the Royal Marines, along with other British troops, fought alongside Estonian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Royal Navy fought to assist Estonia in winning its independence 100 years ago’ he continued

When the deployment ends later this month, it will have involved 4,000 personnel from the JEF nations – the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – and seen nearly 40 ships join the kernel of the task group formed around HMS Albion

When the deployment ends later this month, it will have involved 4,000 personnel from the JEF nations – the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – and seen nearly 40 ships join the kernel of the task group formed around HMS Albion

In the final stage the deployment, the emphasis is on working with the traditional Baltic states to demonstrate how UK forces would be deployed to the region in the event of a possible crisis.

‘This exercise demonstrates our continuing commitment to Estonia and the security of the Baltic Sea Region,’ said task group commander Commodore James Parkin.

‘The Royal Navy and Royal Marines – and British Armed Forces more generally – have a long and deep relationship with the Estonian Defence Forces.

‘We are partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force and allies in NATO, the Royal Marines, along with other British troops, fought alongside Estonian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Royal Navy fought to assist Estonia in winning its independence 100 years ago.’

When the deployment ends later this month, it will have involved 4,000 personnel from the JEF nations – the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – and seen nearly 40 ships join the kernel of the task group formed around HMS Albion.

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