US Marines from 5th ANGLICO train with Republic of Singapore Navy's RSS Endurance at Exercise Pacific Griffin 2017

Lance. Cpl. Patrick Diemer, assigned to 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, communicates with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Endurance Class Landing Ship Tanks RSS Endurance (LST 207) during a live fire exercise while aboard an MH-60 Seahawk, belonging to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25), during Pacific Griffin 2017, off the coast of Guam Aug., 30, 2017. Pacific Griffin 2017 is an exercise between the U.S. and Republic of Singapore Navies, representing the enhanced capabilities of both navies to operate and work together to ensure maritime security and stability. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joan E. Jennings)

Few aboard RSS Endurance had heard of Farallon de Medinilla.

But the tiny Pacific island was the centre of attraction for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) tank landing ship, RSS Endurance.

Orbiting off the coast of Farallon de Medinilla Target Range this morning (30 August 2017), a United States Marine Corps fire control team aboard a US Navy MH-60 Seahawk survey the island intently through binoculars. It’s the designated target area during a live-fire exercise held as part of war games between naval forces from the United States and Singapore, codenamed Exercise Pacific Griffin 2017.

Today's shore bombardment practice forms just part of the Pacific Griffin exercise game plan. Held over several weeks from August 19 to September 2, the war games involved some 850 men and women from both navies who were put through realistic engagements involving anti-surface, anti-air, anti-submarine and ship-to-shore scenarios, conducted day and night and with OPFOR thrown in for added realism. The war games are arguably the most complex ever staged between warships and naval aviation from both sides, and underscore a long-standing defense relationship forged between both nations.  

Eyes on target, the Marines are linked to Endurance via radio. At their call, naval artillery will pound their targets with shells discharged at a rate of two every second.

Marines like Lance Corporal Patrick Diemer are known as ANGLICOs. LCpl Diemer serves with the 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (5^th ANGLICO), which is part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF). Their motto “Lightning from the Sky, Thunder from the Sea” provides a telling hint of the work they perform in shaping the battle, on and from the sea. 

When 5th ANGLICO swings into play, their motto needs no further explanation... or translation into any language. 

Marines, assigned to 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, communicate with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Endurance Class Landing Ship Tanks RSS Endurance (LST 207) during a live fire exercise while aboard an MH-60 Seahawk, belonging to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25), during Pacific Griffin 2017, off the coast of Guam Aug., 30, 2017. Pacific Griffin 2017 is an exercise between the U.S. and Republic of Singapore Navies, representing the enhanced capabilities of both navies to operate and work together to ensure maritime security and stability. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joan E. Jennings)

Their job is precisely as stated in their unit’s name. These Marines provide air and naval gunfire liaison during a shooting match. Few see them in battle. But they lurk close to the frontline or beachhead in small teams and let results speak for themselves. On call is a devastating menu of firepower options for ANGLICOs to reach out and touch their targets and change the landscape. Every frontline commander would welcome ANGLICOs, such is their value as force multipliers. 

At LCpl Diemer’s command, naval artillery from the Singaporean warships will drop shells at a designated target till point of destruction. 

As gun crews aboard the RSN warships will not get to see their target on land, corrections radioed by LCpl Diemer and his team mates form part of what's known in military parlance as the sensor-to-shooter cycle. The sensors in this case are his Mark 1 eyeball. The shooters are the Singaporean navy's 76mm Super Rapido guns. Put bluntly, this is the tighly coordinated no-nonsense kill chain that hostile units dread.

A high rate of fire counts for nothing if gunners are unable to engage a distant target accurately. Here's where the gunfire liaison teams make their presence felt. A well-trained ANGLICO can walk shells to the target and have naval artillery fire for effect once the shells are zeroed in accurately.

It’s not an easy task as the warship may be on the move on the gun line while assigned for naval gunfire support. And unlike artillery emplaced on land, the pitch and roll of the warship and meteorological conditions like wind and rain can affecting the accuracy of naval gunfire.

The ANGLICOs count themselves lucky if their target at the impact area is stationary. If the target is mobile and if there are more targets than gun barrels, the ANGLICOs have their work cut out for them during a fire mission. They will have to quickly prioritise targets and assess where the mobile target(s) might be, taking into account the estimated time of flight for the projectiles, before they bring on the steel rain.

And when working in concert with foreign navies like the one from Singapore, differences in target engagement procedures - even accents and peculiarities in speech on both ends of the comms line - may further complicate matters.

The fire mission conducted off Farallon de Medinilla is valuable for the RSN too. Live-fire ranges in and around Singapore island, a tiny diamond-shaped city-state 12 miles (20km) wide and some 26 miles (42km) long, are unable to accommodate naval guns whose shells can hit targets more than 12 miles away.

So war games like Pacific Griffin are valuable for putting to test tactics, techniques and procedures that enhance the capabilities of personnel from both navies to operate and work alongside one another.

There's another plus for Americans who train with foreign navies. When onboard a Singaporean warship like Endurance, the lucky ANGLICOs may get to sample some local hospitality, like Singaporean food.

All things considered, a win-win solution for all involved.

Good shooting. ANGLICO out!

Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) sailors chock and chain an MH-60 Seahawk, belonging to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25), on board the RSN Endurance Class Landing Ship Tanks RSS Endurance (LST 207) participates in Pacific Griffin 2017, off the coast of Guam, Aug., 30, 2017. Pacific Griffin 2017 is an exercise between the U.S. and Republic of Singapore Navies, representing the enhanced capabilities of both navies to operate and work together to ensure maritime security and stability. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joan E. Jennings)