Exclusive: UK Special Forces train for ship boarding operations during Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia.

During Talisman Sabre 2025, which takes place in Australia from July 13 to August 4, 2025, elite special force operations units from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Japan, and Singapore executed high-intensity maritime counterterrorism exercises across Sydney Harbour, focusing on rapid response tactics to evolving threats in the Indo-Pacific region. The drills were centered around integrated maritime interdiction operations, emphasizing coalition force readiness in countering sea-based terror threats near critical urban infrastructure and international shipping routes.
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Troops fast-rope from a U.S. Army MH-60 helicopter of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in New South Wales, Australia. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The British Royal Marines from 42 Commando, operating as part of the UK Commando Force, partnered with Australian Commandos and U.S. Naval Special Warfare teams in a series of coordinated training missions that included Japanese and Singaporean Special Forces. The multinational task force rehearsed boarding operations on various vessels in high-visibility areas, including near the Sydney Opera House. These scenarios simulated real-world threats, such as the hijacking of civilian ferries or the use of commercial ships by terrorist cells, and tested rapid reaction under complex maritime and urban conditions.

The British 42 Commando, based at Bickleigh in the United Kingdom, is a specialist unit within the British Royal Marines tasked with high-readiness maritime operations. As part of the UK’s Future Commando Force concept, 42 Commando focuses on littoral strike operations, close-quarters combat, and ship interdiction missions. The unit is trained to deploy rapidly aboard Royal Navy platforms or allied vessels, often serving as the spearhead for maritime counterterrorism and amphibious raids. Their primary roles include hostile ship boarding, port seizure, critical infrastructure protection, and support to coalition special forces during expeditionary operations. 42 Commando maintains high operational readiness and routinely integrates with international naval task forces, making it a critical asset in any multinational maritime security framework.

In Sydney, British 42 Commando operators performed fast-roping insertions from helicopters onto vessels, executed precision boarding drills in confined spaces, and worked closely with Australian and U.S. maritime raiding teams. The unit’s presence in the exercise reinforced the importance of the UK’s contribution to Indo-Pacific stability and demonstrated its ability to deploy combat-ready forces thousands of miles from home in support of allied objectives.

The training culminated in a dramatic joint-force recapture of a New South Wales green and yellow ferry, a symbolically significant asset in the scenario. Using U.S. MH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters for fast-rope insertions, and supported by Australian inflatable raiding craft and U.S. Naval Special Warfare boats, the assault demonstrated seamless coordination between air and maritime elements. Operators performed synchronized insertions onto a moving target, showcasing proficiency in close-quarters battle tactics and ship-clearing procedures under high-threat conditions.

These exercises take place amid increasing concern over maritime terrorism in the Indo-Pacific, where extremist networks have shown interest in exploiting vulnerable maritime corridors. Recent global incidents, such as Houthi rebel boat attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and successful interdictions by allied forces under Operation Prosperity Guardian, underscore the urgency of building special operations capacity for maritime threats. In Southeast Asia and the Pacific, groups with transnational ambitions continue to use small boats, port access, and coastal concealment to transport weapons, launch attacks, or attempt vessel hijackings.

Allied naval forces have responded by intensifying joint exercises focused on special operations. U.S. forces have supported operations such as Blue Pacific and Kurukuru to enforce maritime law across the South Pacific, while regional allies have enhanced their maritime domain awareness and rapid interdiction capabilities. The Talisman Sabre 2025 maritime component aligns with this broader strategic posture, offering a proving ground for integrated special forces response in populated coastal environments.

With over 30,000 personnel participating from 15 nations, Talisman Sabre 2025 marks the largest iteration of the exercise to date. The extensive involvement of special operations forces highlights a deliberate shift toward counterterror and anti-piracy readiness at sea. By simulating operations in a real-world urban maritime setting, the exercise sent a clear signal that allied special forces are prepared to counter non-state maritime threats with precision, speed, and multinational unity.