The Royal Marine Commandos have taken delivery of Viking – one of the MoD’s most advanced armoured land vehicles and the first armoured vehicles to be operated by the Corps for over fifty years.
The amphibious Vikings are armoured, all terrain vehicles capable of operating anywhere in the world in temperatures from -46oC to +49oC, and were selected for their ability to be deployed in jungle, desert or arctic conditions quickly.
A fleet of 108 Viking have been bought for the Royal Marines following a gruelling two-year trial and development programme.
The first prototype Viking vehicles were delivered in June 2001. The vehicles successfully completed a 24 month series of trials in Norway, the UK, Sweden and Oman. In Norway, the vehicle successfully completed a winter deployment inside the Arctic Circle. In September 2001, Vikings were transported to Oman and took part in Exercise SAIF SAREEA 2, where full operational testing was carried out in the extreme hot and dry desert conditions.
The Vikings consist of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. They can be lifted by Chinook helicopters, driven into a C130 Hercules aircraft or carried on a landing craft. They can also be split into two sections in just 20 minutes to be carried by the Merlin helicopter.
There are three variants of the Viking with the Royal Marines: the Troop Carrying Variant (TCV), the command variant (CV) and the repair recovery vehicle (RRV). Its 5.9 litre Cummins turbo diesel engine is capable of producing speeds of 50mph on roads, and the Troop Carrying Variant can carry four people in the front unit and eight fully equipped marines in the rear cab. Alternatively, the rear cabin can carry a heavy machine gun section, or a fully equipped anti-tank detachment with Milan anti-armour missiles and firing posts. Both cabins are air-conditioned.
The body of the Viking is of armoured steel construction. The rounded edges and smooth contours of the profile assist in minimising the radar cross-section which gives the platform a ‘stealthy’ profile. The vehicle design allows for upgrades and for the installation of modular subsystems to suit specific operational requirements, including add-on armour, a range of weapon mounts, load changers, and standard platforms. Steering is by hydraulic rams that articulate the front and rear cabs in response to the driver’s inputs. Steering does not require one track to be braked as in other tracked vehicles. This gives great advantage in increasing the vehicle’s over-snow, over-sand and over-soft ground capabilities.
The fully laden weight is 10 tonnes but the Viking maintains excellent mobility on soft terrain, such as snow, mud or sand, because the ground pressure is minimised by the even load distribution over the four tracks, all of which are driven. The vehicle retains mobility even of a track is damaged by a mine.
The Viking can ford through water up to a depth of 1.5m without preparation. The vehicle is also fully amphibious, being able to swim in deeper water, fully laden with marines and stores, with less than two minutes’ preparation by the crew. The water speed is 5km/h.
The arrival of Viking requires a not insignificant culture change within the Royal Marines, an organisation more used to yomping (marching) or skiing to it’s objectives than to using armoured vehicles. Viking represents a huge capability enhancement for the Royal Marines. Its introduction is part of a wider re-organisation of the Corps designed to make the force more flexible, whilst increasing its protection and firepower. Overall Viking will ensure that the Royal Marines are better able to provide the UK MOD with a fast, flexible amphibious force.
In order to train Viking crews and marines destined to be transported in the vehicle, the Royal Marines have established a new training organisation at the Royal Armoured Corps Armour Centre in Bovington, Dorset. The Armour Centre was chosen as it is an establishment specifically designed for training the crews of armoured vehicles. The area boasts one of the most advanced armoured vehicle crew training facilities in the world, with an all-weather driving circuit, cross country routes designed to replicate the conditions found in different parts of the world, river and obstacle crossing points and superb gunnery ranges. In addition the support infrastructure is first class and has been made fully available for use by the Royal Marines.
Although based in Dorset, the Royal Marines Viking Training Company is commanded by the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), which is located in Lympstone, Devon.
Over thirty-five Viking crews have already completed training and 42 Commando Royal Marines commenced conversion to the new equipment in September – December last year. The new vehicles are currently being fitted with the new Bowman radio system and once complete 42 Commando will be operationally ready to deploy with Viking in May 2005.
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