The
author served for 32 years in the Royal Marines, working with (and often commanding)
amphibious vessels from all the NATO countries. He has held various appointments
in four Commando units. His career included active service operations in Aden,
Northern Ireland, Oman, the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong and thirteen winters
in the Norwegian Arctic developing the use of fast raiding and assault craft
for supporting commando operations. He also served in the US, West Indies, the
North Sea (oil-rig protection), Cyprus, Corsica, Malta, Bahrain, the Yemen,
Kuwait and the South Atlantic (before the Falklands (Malvinas) War). He was
attached to the USMC in 1977 in the eastern Mediterranean and, earlier for six
months, to the French Commando Hubert in Toulon with which he attended their
combatant nageur course. He was seconded for two years as a reconnaissance platoon
and company commander with the Sultan of Muscat's Armed Forces during the Dhofar
War. During the Falklands (Malvinas) War he was the navigation adviser to 'the
command' as well as commander of the Task Force Landing Craft Squadron. His
final four years were spent on the staffs of the Commandant General, Royal Marines,
and the Director General Surface Ships (Amphibious Group), helping to design
and procure the next generation of amphibious shipping and craft, most notably
the LPH, LPD, LCVP Mk 4 and the LCU Mk 10. On retirement he was employed by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for duties in the Republic of Serbian Krajina
and, subsequently, in Croatia along the Dalmatian Coast. He is retained by ABS
Hovercraft Limited as their amphibious and military adviser.
In 1991, he established an Amphibious Consultancy that advises builders and
governments on the design of amphibious vessels and the procedures for their
operation. He has published five books on amphibious related subjects and is
a commercial yacht skipper and amateur explorer.
The
author served for 32 years in the Royal Marines, working with (and often commanding)
amphibious vessels from all the NATO countries. He has held various appointments
in four Commando units. His career included active service operations in Aden,
Northern Ireland, Oman, the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong and thirteen winters
in the Norwegian Arctic developing the use of fast raiding and assault craft
for supporting commando operations. He also served in the US, West Indies, the
North Sea (oil-rig protection), Cyprus, Corsica, Malta, Bahrain, the Yemen,
Kuwait and the South Atlantic (before the Falklands (Malvinas) War). He was
attached to the USMC in 1977 in the eastern Mediterranean and, earlier for six
months, to the French Commando Hubert in Toulon with which he attended their
combatant nageur course. He was seconded for two years as a reconnaissance platoon
and company commander with the Sultan of Muscat's Armed Forces during the Dhofar
War. During the Falklands (Malvinas) War he was the navigation adviser to 'the
command' as well as commander of the Task Force Landing Craft Squadron. His
final four years were spent on the staffs of the Commandant General, Royal Marines,
and the Director General Surface Ships (Amphibious Group), helping to design
and procure the next generation of amphibious shipping and craft, most notably
the LPH, LPD, LCVP Mk 4 and the LCU Mk 10. On retirement he was employed by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for duties in the Republic of Serbian Krajina
and, subsequently, in Croatia along the Dalmatian Coast. He is retained by ABS
Hovercraft Limited as their amphibious and military adviser.