Troops from Marchwood's 17 Port and Maritime Regiment have played a key role in securing and establishing a beachhead in Albania during the British Army's Exercise Austere Wolf.

Repurposing a run-down military base - built by the Soviets in the 1960s with the hope of becoming the Gibraltar of the Balkans - to simulate a real-world landing, soldiers have been sleeping on the floor under ponchos as their equipment is ferried gradually from ship to shore.

As part of the wider Operation Chelonia, which will also see troops operating in Romania, Kosovo, Moldova, Croatia and Georgia, the full-time regulars of the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment have been working hand-in-hand with reserves from the sister 165 Regiment.

The Echo has travelled to the Pasha Liman base to witness the Mexefloat's capabilities, ferrying armoured combat equipment and logistics vehicles across the 611-metres-long path from the roll-on roll-off vessel that is anchored offshore.

READ MORE: Marchwood Regiment in Albania for large military exercises

Soldiers from the 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade have helped to establish a fully operational field kitchen, medical centre, engineering workshops and living quarters designed to enable the British Army to amass on the beach before driving in-land - all from gear unloaded via the Mexefloat.

Deputy Chief of Staff at the 104, Mark Player told the Daily Echo: "We are enabling the training of our units and controlling how they are being tested from an artificial perspective, and then managing that dynamic against the real-time challenges.

Deputy Chief of Staff Mark Player, of 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade, is among the most senior leadership on the groundDeputy Chief of Staff Mark Player, of 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade, is among the most senior leadership on the ground (Image: Alfie House)

"We are practicing what I term as the last nautical mile of delivering a force into theatre. We first perform reconnaissance, then you secure the ground - often using the Royal Marines - and we then bring in the logistics component of the forces. Then the force that drives in comes next.

"It starts small and then gets bigger and bigger once we have established our hold on the beach. The transition from maritime to land is one that the vast majority of our troops will be familiar with but very few will have operated here."

The British Army started the operation with one building assigned by the Albanian forces for use as a headquarters, before erecting their field headquarters.

They faced challenges from the beginning owing to the two potential areas for soldiers to form living quarters identified by satellite images rendered as unusable on arrival.

An example of where soldiers have been living since landing on the beach during this simulation of a real-world scenarioAn example of where soldiers have been living since landing on the beach during this simulation of a real-world scenario (Image: Alfie House) One was sloped to such a degree it could not be slept on and the other was too boggy - neither problem was visible on the reconnaissance images, meaning soldiers had pitched up wherever they could across the landing site. Khaki-camouflage patterned sheets were hitched to anywhere soldiers could find comfortable enough to sleep under. 

A small group of young men from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers had repurposed an old fire hydrant, hose and plastic water bottle with holes cut into it to create the only working shower on the shore. Other soldiers insist if you want something done, ask REME.

An improvised shower unit created by soldiers on the ground as they establish living quarters in an austere environmentAn improvised shower unit created by soldiers on the ground as they establish living quarters in an austere environment (Image: Alfie House)

But it is Marchwood's 17 Port and Maritime Regiment Port Operators and Vehicle Support Specialists, and the majority of their equipment used for the landing, that make the British Army's deployment possible.

The commanding officer of the 17 Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Wilcox said: "This is the first time 17 has operated in Albania and it's a long time coming. 

Commanding Officer of Marchwood's 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Wilcox spoke to the Echo in Albania Commanding Officer of Marchwood's 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Terry Wilcox spoke to the Echo in Albania (Image: Alfie House) "If it is an important deployment, then I may be required to deploy my headquarters - and that is what we have done. The UK is investing long-term in the Balkans and this is part of that ongoing story of UK defence presence in the region.

"This exercise, Austere Wolf, is unique. We are exercising that we do not need a port - only a small number of nations can do that. It poses a real dilemma for our adversaries because UK defence can pop up anywhere at a time of its choosing.

"Just 24 hours ago this place was empty and now we have got some significant presence here. We are turning a beach into a fort and will be able to discharge sea and land forces from here - that's what your local unit - the 17 - does all around the world."

The star of the show is the Mexefloat, making possible the transfer of thousands of tonnes of gear from the massive cargo ship to a beach or jetty no wider than the vessel itself. The power of the Mexefloat is demonstrated by the water displaced in waves even upon its approach.

Armoured vehicles and trucks prepare to drive on land after they have been ferried across the sea by the MexefloatArmoured vehicles and trucks prepare to drive on land after they have been ferried across the sea by the Mexefloat (Image: Alfie House)Operations Warrant Officer Anthony Beaney, of the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, took a break from instructing young troops operating the Mexefloat and joked: "I never used to like it because the mariners would never stop talking about it.

"It takes the limelight away. But it's the most direct approach that we have got to providing this capability - and the most robust as well.

"I have been lucky enough in my career to sail in all kinds of conditions, I have seen situations where one of the engines has failed and the operators have to manage it. It can be quite difficult."

The Army enjoyed favourable conditions on this occasion and the Echo travelled on the Mexefloat across the Vlore Bay to the Ro-Ro vessel. Although you can put up limited improvised cover, it becomes apparent how exposed soldiers operating the Mexefloat would be from all four directions if they came under fire from enemy forces.

A reservist in the 165 Regiment, Southampton-based Steve Young, 51, was among the troops assisting with the unloading via the MexefloatA reservist in the 165 Regiment, Southampton-based Steve Young, 51, was among the troops assisting with the unloading via the Mexefloat (Image: Alfie House) We then travelled back on a combat support vehicle, which escorts the Mexefloat and other amphibious operations to the safety of the shore.

While the Mexefloat can take up to 198 tonnes, the combat support vehicle carries just three crew and eight passengers - but it made for a speedier passage back.