Royal Marines benefit from technology that is used to find fish in shallow waters to perfect beach reconnaissance for their landing craft to move in safely and put troops and their kit ashore without mishaps. The Royal Navy tests the Hummingbird 10 system.
Specifically, the technology has already helped the marines for for sniper rifles and alterations to ORCs to carry smaller inflatable raiding craft.
For the time being, the technology assists the ‘black magic’ – as 1AGRM’s C/Sgt John McDonald calls it – of recce’ing a beach.
As Colour Sergeant John McDonald commented
The great thing about this kit is that you can see the obstacles in real time and therefore don’t waste valuable time on beaches that are unworkable.
An advantage on the kit is that you can see the obstacles in real time and therefore don’t waste valuable time on beaches that are unworkable.
Ten years back the marines moved into the digital age with the Rapid Beach Profile System, which is a beam sonar that measures depth, meaning beach reconnaissance could be carried out from a zodiac and without the need for a swimmer. Yet, it still left room for mistakes.
On the other hand, Hummingbird 10 is used in waters in three metres depth or shallower. Thus, the sonar is able to ‘see’ 30 metres.
Furthermore, the sonar can scan 36.000 square metres of seabed in 40 minutes – eight times the size of the area surveyed with the previous equipment, and with far more comprehensive sonar coverage.
The data collected are sent bavk to Lyme Bay to be analyzed, so that commander can opt for safe lanes into the beach dependent on the height of tide – ensuring the shortest wade for the troops and vehicles.
Finally, trials are continuing, yet Hummingbird 10 has some limitations as it can not be used for conjunction with a tactical recce swimmer.
