Avenger 1–1, cleared hot
Royal Marines guide the first-ever live bombing run from F-35’s in the UK — here’s how it went down
Lt Savage: Avenger 1–1, cleared hot.
F-35 pilot: Avenger 1–1, cleared hot.
F-35 pilot: Avenger 1–1, one away. Time away: 30 seconds.
F-35 pilot: Ten seconds.
F-35 pilot: Hulk [call-sign for the 148 Battery Observer], laser on.
BOOM!
F-35 pilot: Avenger 1–1, splash.
Lt Savage: Observing good effects on target.
Those were the moments right before two 500lb bombs were dropped onto the uninhabited outcrop of Garvie Island in the north of Scotland. The bombs hit their ‘target’ which represented an ‘enemy’ warship.
In a rocky outcrop, just off Cape Wrath at the north-west tip of Scotland, US Marine Corps pilots operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth dropped two 500lb Paveway bombs.
The pilots were guided by 847 Naval Air Squadron, whose Wildcat helicopters provide wide-ranging battlefield support for commandos on the ground.
847 is the only helicopter squadron in the UK military’s inventory capable of acting as spotters for ground-based and naval gunfire and calling in air strikes.
In this case Lieutenant Savage was in a Wildcat acting as the airborne Forward Air Controller, directing the F-35s of the “Wake Island Avengers” operating from the flight deck of the UK’s new aircraft carrier, alongside Royal Navy and RAF F-35s from the “Dambusters”.
- In Pictures: Dambusters take to the skies with US Marine Corps
- Wake Island Avengers arrive in the UK
- This is Joint Warrior
Working hand-in-hand with the Wildcat crew was a specialist commando unit, 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery, who ‘paint’ the target by pointing a laser beam at it for the bomb to aim at.
“The opportunity to drop live ordnance from F-35Bs hasn’t happened before, so to be a part of the first live control is a privilege “ — Lt Dom Savage, 847 NAS
The fliers have been working with 29 Commando Royal Artillery and NATO nations to enhance and strengthen working relationships as well as tactics, techniques and practices.
“Working alongside our US Marine Corps brethren as well as the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers of 148 Battery has been extremely rewarding,” — Lt Dom Savage, 847 NAS
The training in Scotland was part of the latest Joint Warrior exercise hosted by the UK, it concludes with the Wildcats directing the guns of participating British and NATO warships against targets on the Cape Wrath range, known as Naval Gunfire Support.
