Viking Squadron

Viking Squadron is an element of the Royal Marines and the armoured component of the UK Commando Force. It operates the Viking BvS10, a protected, tracked and amphibious all-terrain vehicle used for troop transport, command and control, logistics, mobility and other supporting tasks. The unit is based at Bovington in Dorset and operates under the overall control of the Commando Logistic Regiment. The squadron is the modern successor to the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, a name with roots in the Second World War. The wartime group was created to provide armoured fire support to British and Commonwealth forces during the opening phase of the Normandy landings. It operated Centaur IV tanks armed with 95 mm howitzers, supported by a smaller number of Sherman tanks used mainly as artillery-observation or command vehicles. Its formations landed on Gold, Juno and Sword beaches, with two armoured-support regiments and an independent battery distributed among the assault beaches. The wartime organization was disbanded shortly after D-Day, although related Royal Marines armoured-support formations continued to evolve after the invasion. A post-war successor formation, the 34th Amphibian Support Regiment, Royal Marines, was formed from part of the wartime organization and later moved to India for training connected with planned operations in Malaya. It was disbanded in 1948. The modern armoured-support capability was developed much later in response to the introduction of the Viking vehicle and the need for specialist Royal Marines who could operate it in demanding terrain and operational conditions. The Royal Marines Armoured Support specialization was established in 2005. The specialization recognized that the BvS10 required dedicated crew training and a professional career structure for armoured-support personnel. The modern group was formed in December 2007 from the Royal Marines Armoured Support Company (Afghanistan) and the Royal Marines Viking Training Squadron, which had been associated with the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines at Bovington. Major Jez Hermer MBE RM, who had taken Viking vehicles on operations in Afghanistan in 2006, was associated with the development of the specialization and the formation of the modern group. Operational experience in Afghanistan was a major driver of the unit's expansion. Vikings had supported 3 Commando Brigade during Operation Herrick 5, and their effectiveness led incoming forces on Operation Herrick 6 to request that the vehicles and trained crews remain in theatre. Because the British Army did not have an equivalent pool of Viking-trained drivers, the Royal Marines created an expanded organization capable of sustaining the vehicle capability across successive operational rotations. The resulting unit experienced a particularly demanding operational tempo. In 2018, the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was renamed Viking Squadron. The squadron continues to center on the Viking fleet and specialist armoured-support expertise. Its vehicles can carry personnel, provide protected mobility and perform command, control and support functions. They are fitted with a 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Gun, while some crew members carry the L22 carbine variant of the British SA80 family. The Viking fleet has also been considered in the context of vehicle replacement and modernization. A Ministry of Defence requirement published in 2008 examined a new amphibious, armoured all-terrain support vehicle to complement Viking and replace older BV206 vehicles, but the initial procurement notice was cancelled after internal review. In the same year, the Ministry announced the urgent purchase of 100 Singapore Technologies Kinetics Bronco vehicles for Afghanistan; these entered British service as Warthog vehicles. Vikings returning from Afghanistan were intended to support Royal Marines training, and 99 Vikings were subsequently upgraded with improved mine-blast protection and restored amphibious capability. Later reporting identified a continuing requirement to replace older Bv 206D vehicles, while Viking remained a core Royal Marines capability.

The history of Viking Squadron combines a Second World War armoured-support tradition with a modern Royal Marines vehicle-specialist role. The original Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was established during the Second World War to provide close and direct fire support during amphibious assaults. For the Normandy invasion, it was equipped mainly with Centaur IV tanks fitted with 95 mm howitzers. Sherman tanks were also assigned, principally for artillery observation and command duties. The wartime group comprised two Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiments and an independent armoured-support battery. The 1st Regiment supported the landings at Gold Beach, the 2nd Regiment supported Juno Beach, and the independent battery supported Sword Beach. The organization provided armoured fire support to troops coming ashore during the opening stages of the Normandy campaign. It was disbanded approximately two weeks after D-Day. A related formation was reorganized as the 29th Infantry Battalion, Royal Marines, and later moved to Aldershot, where it became the 34th Amphibian Support Regiment, Royal Marines. That regiment moved to India in 1945, collected amphibious equipment and trained for operations planned in Malaya. It was ultimately disbanded in 1948. The modern capability emerged from the Royal Marines' adoption of the BvS10 Viking all-terrain vehicle. In 2005, the Royal Marines established an Armoured Support specialization because Viking operations demanded advanced vehicle skills, dedicated training and a stable professional career path for crews. The modern Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was formed in December 2007 by combining the Royal Marines Armoured Support Company associated with Afghanistan and the Royal Marines Viking Training Squadron. The latter was linked to the Royal Marines' training establishment at Bovington. The formation was shaped by operational experience in Afghanistan. Viking vehicles had performed successfully with 3 Commando Brigade during Operation Herrick 5. When the next operational rotation requested that the vehicles stay in theatre, the Royal Marines faced a personnel and training problem because the Army did not possess a comparable body of Viking-trained drivers. The new group therefore provided a larger and more sustainable pool of specialist crews capable of supporting successive rotations. Its drivers and vehicle crews operated at a high tempo in a demanding environment. Viking Squadron operates under the Commando Logistic Regiment and forms the armoured element of the UK Commando Force. The Viking BvS10 is a protected, articulated tracked vehicle with amphibious and all-terrain characteristics. Depending on configuration, it can transport troops, support command and control, carry equipment or perform other mobility and logistics functions. The vehicle's armament includes a 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Gun, and crew members may carry the L22 carbine variant of the SA80 family. Vehicle procurement and modernization have been recurring issues. In June 2008, the Ministry of Defence described a possible requirement for an amphibious armoured support vehicle to complement Viking and replace the older BV206. The original notice was withdrawn the following month because the requirement was undergoing internal review. In December 2008, the Ministry announced an urgent purchase of 100 Bronco vehicles for Afghanistan, designated Warthog in British service. Vikings returned from Afghanistan were intended to be used for Royal Marines training. Ninety-nine Vikings were later upgraded with enhanced mine-blast protection and returned to their original amphibious standard after adaptations for land operations. In 2018, the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was renamed Viking Squadron. Although the name changed, the unit's central function remained the provision of specialist armoured mobility and vehicle expertise to the UK Commando Force. Reporting in 2016 also identified a requirement to replace older Bv 206D vehicles, but Viking continued to represent the core armoured vehicle capability associated with the Royal Marines.

• 2018

  Unit renamed Viking Squadron

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  The Royal Marines Armoured Support Group adopted its current name, Viking Squadron.

• 2007

  Modern Royal Marines Armoured Support Group formed

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  The modern group was formed in December from the Royal Marines Armoured Support Company (Afghanistan) and Viking Training Squadron.

• 2006

  Viking deployed operationally in Afghanistan

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  Royal Marines took Viking vehicles on operations in Afghanistan, demonstrating the need for a sustained specialist crew capability.

• 2005

  Royal Marines establish Armoured Support specialization

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  A dedicated specialization was created to support professional training and career development for Viking vehicle crews.

• 1948

  34th Amphibian Support Regiment disbanded

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  The post-war amphibious-support regiment was disbanded.

• 1945

  34th Amphibian Support Regiment moves to India

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  A successor formation moved to India, where it collected equipment and trained for planned operations in Malaya.

• 1944

  Royal Marines Armoured Support Group supports the Normandy landings

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  The wartime RMASG used Centaur IV tanks and Sherman support vehicles to provide fire support on Gold, Juno and Sword beaches during the D-Day assault.

• 1944

  Wartime group disbanded after D-Day

  [1]Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org

  The original RMASG was disbanded about two weeks after the Normandy landings.

A specialist Royal Marines armoured-support capability combining protected amphibious mobility, all-terrain vehicle operation and commando-force logistics support.

• Protected amphibious all-terrain vehicle

  Viking BvS10

  The Viking BvS10 is an articulated, tracked and amphibious military vehicle used as the squadron's principal platform. Its modular configuration supports troop transport, command and control, protected mobility, logistics and other operational tasks. The vehicle is fitted with a 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Gun, while its crews may carry L22 carbines from the SA80 family. A substantial portion of the fleet received improved mine-blast protection and restoration to amphibious capability after Afghanistan-related adaptations.

• Armoured support tank

  Centaur IV

  The Centaur IV was the principal armoured-support vehicle of the wartime Royal Marines Armoured Support Group. Armed with a 95 mm howitzer, it was used to deliver direct fire support during the Normandy landings. The historical vehicle is associated with the Second World War RMASG rather than the modern Viking Squadron.

• All-terrain tracked carrier · 2009

  Warthog

  Warthog was the British service designation for Bronco all-terrain tracked carriers purchased as an urgent operational requirement for Afghanistan. It was introduced to supplement or replace Viking vehicles in that theatre, while returning Vikings were intended to support Royal Marines training.

• 2006Operation Herrick

  Afghanistan

  Royal Marines Viking vehicles supported 3 Commando Brigade and subsequent British operational rotations in southern Afghanistan.

  Outcome. Operational demand for continued Viking deployment helped drive creation and expansion of the modern RMASG.

  Source
• 1944Normandy landings

  France

  The original RMASG provided armoured fire support during the D-Day landings, with formations assigned to Gold, Juno and Sword beaches.

  Outcome. The wartime group was disbanded approximately two weeks after D-Day.

  Source

• 2018

  Rename the Armoured Support Group as Viking SquadronOther

  Background

  The modern unit's principal identity and operational expertise were closely associated with the Viking vehicle.

  Action taken

  The Royal Marines changed the unit's name to Viking Squadron.

  Aftermath

  The squadron continued as the armoured element of the UK Commando Force under the Commando Logistic Regiment.

  Source

• 2008

  Examine a replacement for older all-terrain support vehiclesStrategy

  Background

  The Ministry of Defence identified a potential requirement for an armoured, amphibious all-terrain support vehicle to complement Viking and replace existing BV206 vehicles.

  Action taken

  The Ministry published an ATV(S) requirement, then cancelled the initial notice after internal reviews and indicated that a revised requirement might follow.

  Aftermath

  The initial procurement route did not proceed, while Viking remained central to Royal Marines armoured mobility.

  Source

• 2008

  Purchase Bronco vehicles for AfghanistanProduct launch

  Background

  Operational requirements in Afghanistan created a need for additional all-terrain tracked carriers.

  Action taken

  The Ministry of Defence announced an urgent purchase of 100 Singapore Technologies Kinetics Bronco vehicles, designated Warthog in British service.

  Aftermath

  The procurement provided an Afghanistan-focused alternative while Vikings returning from theatre were assigned a continuing training role.

  Source

• 2007

  Form the modern Royal Marines Armoured Support GroupStrategy

  Background

  Afghanistan operations created a need for a larger, dedicated pool of Viking-trained Royal Marines capable of sustaining successive operational rotations.

  Action taken

  The Royal Marines combined the Armoured Support Company associated with Afghanistan and the Viking Training Squadron to form the modern group.

  Aftermath

  The new formation supported the continued operational use of Viking vehicles and developed into the unit later known as Viking Squadron.

  Source

• 2005

  Create a dedicated Armoured Support specializationStrategy

  Background

  The Viking vehicle required specialized driving, vehicle-handling and operational skills that were not adequately represented by a generalist approach.

  Action taken

  The Royal Marines established an Armoured Support specialization with dedicated training and career progression.

  Aftermath

  The specialization provided the personnel foundation for the modern Royal Marines Armoured Support Group.

  Source

1. 1Viking Squadronen.wikipedia.org