148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery: NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT

I served in 148 Battery from 1996-1998, with a tour in Bosnia in 1997 on peace keeping duties
.
It's hard graft for a sailor emulating a soldier, it was a tough 3 years.
The majority of the Royal Navy personnel don't make it through the 'All Arms Commando Course' so their time at the battery is brief. (Talking of brief, a quick appearance at 11.50 in this video).
Found this description on the internet -
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 parachute, boat and helicopter. 148 Battery Fire Support Teams (FST) 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.
The battery supplies FSTs for the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), 3 Commando Brigade.
148 Battery share a base with the Special Boat Service, at Poole, Dorset.
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 Falkland and in and around Port Stanley on East Falkland.
From Wikipedia
148 (Meiktila) Commando Forward Observation Battery is a specialist Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observation (NGSFO) unit within 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines.
The unit provides Fire Support Teams (FST - formerly called Forward Observation parties) to control and co-ordinate Naval fires[1] (naval gunfire support, naval air delivered guided and unguided munitions) from Royal Navy and allied ships, land based air delivered munitions and artillery fire from the gun batteries of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, when ashore in support of 3 Commando Brigade. In support of this role, the battery provides FSTs to the Royal Navy when conducting training on a variety of gunnery ranges around the world.
148 Battery's FSTs comprise gunners of the Royal Artillery, already qualified members of the regiment when posted into the battery, augmented by Royal Navy communications personnel (signallers) who are required to undergo the All Arms Commando Course. All personnel within the battery are also parachute trained. The battery is supported by a Battery Fitter Section from 29 Regiment's attached Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Workshop, also commando qualified. The battery and its Battery Fitter Section are based at RM Poole in Dorset.
History
Formation
Originally formed during the Second World War, the unit eventually evolved into the 95 Forward Observation Unit (95 FOU). In 1975 the unit was reduced to its current size and co-located with the SBS at RM Poole. It was tasked with providing FO teams to the Royal Marines, the Parachute Regiment; the ACE Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)) and the SBS.

[@cdo29mike]

Obviously the good looking guy at 14:35 was probably one of the most switch on soldiers 148 ever had..

[@neilsbs8273]

Good friend of mine was in the Battery back in the mid 80s, when was onboard he mentored me as I had a plan to join. I am not ashamed to say I didnt make the cut, the training is brutal both physically and mentally so hats of to all who did make the grade. Said friend then went on to SBS, obviously will have retired by now as he was a few years older than me.

[@wilco148]

No one in 148 has ever gone on to join the SBS..

[@neilsbs8273]

@@wilco148 I beg to differ

[@wilco148]

@@neilsbs8273 I'll tell you what I will do.. let me check with the SBS Association and the Battery. I will get back to you.

[@habichiblah7534]

I did it - this is more or less correct x