Marines find it's a lot less bother with new hover

IT'S not unusual to hear city Royal Marines moan about their equipment.

But you won't hear them complaining about their latest bit of kit – a £1million hovercraft.

ABOVE: The new Landing Craft Air Cushioned (Light Replacement), which is known as LCAC (LR) is put through its paces in the freezing climes of Gratangen in northern Norway – but it is just at home in the scorching heat of Africa and Iraq. LEFT: Capt Billy Beaumont (left) and Sgt Rob Lamerton (right) who helped with the concept of the new improved hovercraft

Boasting increased armour plating, thermal imaging cameras, machine gun turrets and the latest in specialist technology, the marines claim it is a "massive upgrade" in capability.

"It's like going from a Mk1 Escort to the latest Cosworth," joked Sergeant Rob Lamerton, of Turnchapel-based 539 Assault Squadron, who helped with the design concept.

"It offers us a technical advantage and flexibility because we are able to take it on water, mud, or ice."

The hovercraft, officially known as the Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light) (LCAC), was designed and constructed by Southampton-based Griffin Hoverworks with the input of the 539 marines.

Capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots, the 585hp LCAC replaces the older 385hp hovercraft and was built largely to meet 539's specifications.

The unit began trialling the craft in October, officially taking it in December.

3 Commando Brigade's Norway training deployment, entitled 'Lupus' is providing the first real test for the hovercraft, which is capable of carrying 16 marines in full winter kit.

To date it has been used in temperatures as low as -60 degrees during the unit's winter training deployment in Gratangen in northern Norway.

Three more hovercrafts are now being built.

"The old hovercraft we have has done 17 years now," Sgt Lamerton said.

"They had their heyday during the Iraq war and we have been waiting for these to arrive.

"It has taken two years for them to be designed and we were involved from its infancy.

"We now have exactly the boat we have been waiting for. Everyone has been really positive so far about the craft.

"There was a lot of responsibility to get it right so I am really pleased."

Sgt Lamerton said while much of the unit deployed to Afghanistan with the rest of Stonehouse-based 3 Commando Brigade in 2008/09, its rear party began finalising design concepts.

So much has been made of the LCAC that the Swedish military has now ordered one.

"It's a fantastic bit of kit," said the Officer Commanding Landing Craft, Captain Billy Beaumont.

"It's perfect for use in Africa, Iraq or wherever we want to use it."

The unit is planning to take it to the US in the coming months for further training.

Hundreds of Royal Marine and Army commandos are currently taking part in cold weather courses and associated specialist training as part of the Lupus exercise.

The training is taking place in the run-up to Exercise Cold Response – a huge exercise involving 12 countries and thousands of servicemen and women from Plymouth.