148 Commando Forward Observation Battery Royal Artillery

148 Battery ('Meiktila') is a unique unit of specially trained men from the British Army and Royal Navy, tasked with calling in artillery and air strikes in support of UKSF and 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines.

The men of 148 are Commando trained and parachute trained and are proficient in stealth insertion via submarine, parachute, boat and helicopter. 148 Battery Fire Support Teams can accompany UKSF teams into action, using their specialist skills in controlling artillery and air strikes. Their particular expertise is in calling in Naval Gunfire Support. Fire control computers and gyroscope guns on modern British destroyers allow for highly accurate shelling of targets.

Operations

During the 1982 Falklands conflict, 148 Battery teams linked up with SAS and SBS units for several successful missions which included the shelling of Argentine positions on West Falklands and in and around Port Stanley on East Falklands..

148 Battery deployed with 3 Commando Brigade as part of Operation Telic, the British component of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Skills

Skills of 148 Fire Support Teams include:

• Covert insertion methods
• Patrolling behind enemy Lines
• Concealment - building camouflaged hides
• Encrypted Communications
  
• Forward Air Control (calling in air strikes)
• Naval Gunfire Control - 148 teams often use pre-planned fire missions, observing and adjusting the gunfire as needed
• Battle damage assessment

Organisation

148 Battery are organised into 8 6-man Fire Support Teams (FSTs). Each FST is typically commanded by a Royal Artilley Captain. If needed, FSTs can split into 2 teams of 3.

148 Battery share a base with the Special Boat Service, at Poole, Dorset.

Weapons

In the past, the men of 148 Battery used the M16A1/A2 as their main personal weapon but nowadays they are reported to have recently switched to the SA80a2. A 148 Bty team member may also carry a Minimi light machine gun or GPMG medium machine gun.

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