EXERCISE ROYAL DAWN, SCOTLAND, MARCH 1994 [Allocated Title]

Scenes from the first day of Exercise Royal Dawn in the Outer Hebrides.

(Tape 1) Beach landings - Royal Marines (3 Commando Brigade) storm ashore. Landing craft sets off back to sea. Lynx helicopter flies overhead and lands. Marines advance inland across moors. Scenes with various helicopters including Sea Kings delivering Land Rovers and 105mm guns as underslung loads and Lynx landing behind barrier of camouflage netting. Shots of airfield (RAF Benbecula ?) - two Tornado aircraft take off. Silent sequence showing Marines coming ashore in small assault boats and landing craft.

(Tape 2) Amphibious landings and ABU (Amphibious Beach Unit). Mexeflote approaches shore, bringing in men (3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines ?) and vehicles (Hagglund BV206 tractors). Tracklaying vehicle is offloaded and begins laying Class 30 trackway - the mat spools off the bobbin untidily. Cut to track after laying - heavy plant vehicles drive off Mexeflote along the track. Mexeflote departs. Large landing craft approach shore and disembark vehicles and vehicles and men (three sequences).

(Tape 3) Helicopter operations over bay. Three small landing craft (each flying the White Ensign) come to shore and Royal Marine Commandos disembark - local houses in background. Lynx helicopter lands on beach. Further sequences on beach (sound here intermittent) with shots of hovercraft - Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light) - and series of small assault boats. Inland, Marines use available wood and corrugated metal sheets with camouflage netting to conceal vehicles.. General views of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Sir Tristram (L3505) resupplying landing craft from its stern loading bay.

(Tape 4) Royal Marines (3 Commando ?) and vehicles advance inland; they rest en route (one smokes a cigarette). General views of coastline with various vessels in distance. Camouflaged 105mm guns (manned by members of 29 Commando ?). Inspection of RM Gazelle helicopter. Brigade CP (Command Post): camouflaged vehicles etc. RFA Sir Tristram and other vessels in harbour.

(Tape 5) Scenes at 45 Commando harbour position; camouflaged gun position, Marines relaxing and preparing food and drink. Marines advance across moorland. Setting up of camouflaged machine gun post. Chefs of B Echelon cook meal in camouflaged trucks. Shots of various craft including beached LCAC hovercraft, RFA Sir Tristram and Mexeflote.

(Tape 6) Extended sequences showing Royal Marines hovercraft - Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light) - passing RFA Sir Tristram and coming to land ("Red Beach" according to label). General views of camouflaged emplacement (one is a communications post) and Gazelle helicopter. Marine trains Javelin anti-tank missile on multiple launcher.

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