Amazing night-time pictures show Royal Marines raiding beach in Estonia

Royal Marine commandos have raided a beach in Estonia as part of a major Nato exercise.

Images show the marines, who launched from HMS Albion under the cover of darkness, landing on the beach in inflatable raiding craft – capable of speeds of up to 20 knots.

The raid saw the personnel, from 45 Commando, then face off against Estonia's armed forces with an Estonian naval missile unit acting as the marines' target.

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The marines are exercising as part of Exercise Spring Storm, which sees 1,500 British personnel take part alongside 14,000 personnel from across 11 Nato countries.

Captain Marcus Hember, Commanding Officer of HMS Albion, said the "exercise has been a great proving ground in demonstrating the flexibility of amphibious ships like HMS Albion, enabling fast and lethal strikes by our embedded Royal Marines".

"We've demonstrated our ability to exercise with our regional partners adding significant capability and shown we can 'turn up when needed'," he said.

The exercise provided an opportunity for the Royal Marines to practise an amphibious deployment, swiftly infiltrating hostile territory to secure information, confuse the enemy, or strike a high-value target.

Major Lee Stewart, Officer Commanding X Company, Royal Marines, said the integration between the Navy and marines "working as a team make amphibious warfare so effective".