The Royal Marine Rig by Mike

This is a tactical way to use a USGI surplus poncho as a shelter in the field. This method was taught to my old regiment by a Major from the British Royal Marine Commandos, hence the name I have given it. It is easy to set up, takes up almost no space in your pack, and (most importantly) can be taken down in seconds. All you need is a USGI poncho and about 50 feet of paracord.

First, cut the paracord into two roughly equal lengths. Take one of them and tie the ends together with a square knot. Then, pinch the part furthest from the knot and attach it to the CENTER grommet on one end of the poncho, as shown in the picture below.

Next, grab the two strands of cord and tie a series of overhand knots about one hand width apart. Do this for the entire length of the loop you just made. It should look like this;

Repeat the entire procedure on the opposite side of the tarp. Now you have finished the prep work, and you can begin making your shelter.
Select a suitable spot between two small trees about 10-15 feet long. First, remove any sticks, rocks, or pine cones that will jab you in the back when you lie down. You may choose to add a layer of leaves or pine needles for additional cushioning/insulation from the ground. When this is done, take one of the lengths of knotted paracord on your poncho and wrap it around the first tree. You can secure the cord by taking a knot from the running end and tucking it in between the cords on a portion of the standing end, as shown in the pic below.
Note that I did not pull the entire length of cord through, just the one knot. This is important for later. Maintain tension on the cord and it will hold securely. Move to the second tree and do the same thing with the opposite end of the poncho. Now it should look something like this;

You will now want to adjust the height on both ends to however tall you want your shelter to be. I recommend as low as possible while still allowing for you to crawl inside and lie down without touching the tarp. This way you keep a low profile, making your shelter harder to spot.
Once you have the desired height, stake down the corners using the grommets on the poncho. You can use actual stakes if you want, but they’re not necessary as long as there are plenty of twigs lying around. I just snap off the length I want, and push it into the ground at enough of an angle to securely hold the corner down.

If it is exceptionally windy, you may choose to stake down the middle of the sides as well. The finished shelter looks like this;
Once finished, you should have enough room underneath for yourself and your gear. If your poncho has a hood like mine, make sure it is on the outside of your shelter and not dangling inside. All together, setup takes no more than 2-3 minutes if you have the paracord already prepped. Taking the shelter down is even quicker. Remember how you weren’t supposed to pull the entire cord through the loop during setup? To take down the tarp, just pull on the loose end to pop the knot back through.
You can now scoop up the poncho, quickly fold/roll it up, and loop the paracord around it to wrap it up nice and compact.
Teardown takes mere seconds. Throw it into your pack and you’re ready to move.

A few notes on tactical shelters. This is not intended to be a semi-permanent camping setup (though you could use it for that), this is for when you must spend the night in the field and there is a chance of rain. Only put up your shelter when you are about to lie down under it and put it away as soon as you are done. As quickly as this can be taken down, you should always keep your gear as packed up as possible at all times so that you can quickly grab it and go when you need to. Keep your poncho somewhere on the outside of your pack so that you don’t have to dig around for it when setting up in the dark (I keep mine wrapped around my sleeping pad on the side of my pack). When you are lying down in your shelter, position yourself so that your head is facing outward from your position (towards where an enemy attack would come from) and keep your rifle inside with you, muzzle also pointed outwards. This way, if your OP comes under fire while you sleep, you can grab your rifle and engage the enemy without getting up and exposing yourself.
Stay frosty, gents. Train hard and shoot straight.
-Mike

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By Published On: January 12, 2021Categories: AP Staff, Tactical18 Comments on The Royal Marine Rig by Mike

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

18 Comments

  1. Anonymous January 12, 2021 at 06:34

    5

  2. Matt Bracken January 12, 2021 at 07:21

    Entire books can be written about the many uses of the poncho, poncho liner, and green or brown paracord.
    Besides becoming an overnight pup tent, ponchos can be very useful as a temporary “patrol hooch” that you can sit under in wet rainy woods. Set it up about 4 feet off the ground, slanted at an angle to shed raid, with the square poncho tied to 4 small trees or saplings. A buddy pair can sit under one poncho, facing both directions, while still keeping all around watch. Small shock cord hooks at the ends of your paracords allow you to strike the poncho hooch in just seconds without fumbling with knots.
    Another tip: a poncho liner can be rolled up tight and it will fit right into a canteen cover on your belt. Four guys with four ponchos and poncho liners can sleep in 30* weather. One poncho on the ground, one poncho hooch above them all in the air, 4 poncho liners and one poncho on top of them for a blanket. One guy is on watch with the last poncho. Three guys sleep snuggled together. You will be happy when it’s your turn in the middle. Change the watch once an hour. Depending on the weather, you can also make 2 ponchos into a pretty big pup tent.
    Why all this detail on such a mundane topic? Because even in pretty cold weather, you just can’t patrol fast and light while also toting tents and sleeping bags. But 4 guys (for example) can pool and share their 4 ponchos and poncho liners and get decent sleep even in pretty cold or wet weather. All of you former SFs and Rangers and frogmen already know this, I’m just posting this for guys who might find themselves living in partisan conditions in the future. You don’t need to carry tents and sleeping bags for a 2 or 3 day fast recon patrol or demo raid. Ponchos and poncho liners are invaluable. It’ll also work in survival situations. Combine your ponchos and poncho liners, and snuggle tight to share body heat.
    “Travel light, freeze at night.” Actually, you won’t even freeze when it’s your turn in the middle. When the watch is changed, everybody might wake up and roll over together. It sounds funny as hell, but it actually works.

    • Johnny Paratrooper January 12, 2021 at 09:23

      And you put your arms around each other and tell your buddy things you would only tell your girlfriend.
      But maybe that’s just me.

      • James January 12, 2021 at 11:26

        Uh Johnny,please stay away from me sleeping quarters,your starting to scare me!

      • James Carpenter aka "Felix" January 12, 2021 at 11:37

        Johnny – one sick pup? Nahhh, funny as all get-out. And humor is a warmth all its own. Big shoutout to Mr. Bracken for the shelter/watch tips. It’s this “Institutional Wisdom” that the great unwashed will be needing in spades. Thanks for sharing. All of it.

  3. Rooster January 12, 2021 at 08:48

    Great tips, thanks for posting up!

  4. James January 12, 2021 at 08:51

    Thanks for article and Matt’s comments,have poncho and will give this a test run/try a couple of times till I get right.

  5. BLACK January 12, 2021 at 08:53

    who makes a usgi poncho and what weight of material is used and what demensions? nobody is consistant and what i picked up already. i would not attempt on some things, but it is larger than most others, for a 6 foot guy.
    had a miltech poncho and it was ok at best.
    picked up a ORC industries a few days ago. it will go mid calf on me , but feels super lite weight in UCP 96″ X 66″) 1.6 ounce polyurethane coated ripstop nylon .
    i know ORC makes the marine tarp and th at is much heavier and well made.

    • NC Scout January 12, 2021 at 09:00

      My favorite one is actually a German basha made by Mil Tec and is larger & lighter than the poncho. BushcraftUSA makes a similar one in multicam.
      That’d probably work a lot better for you- I can keep all my gear under it as well or cover a fighting position.

    • Romeo Foxtrot January 12, 2021 at 10:27

      I own and use these Aqua Quest Guide Tarp – 100% Waterproof Ultralight Ripstop SilNylon Backpacking Rain Fly – 10×7, 10×10, 13×10, 20×13 Green or Olive Drab https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VBJXV1Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

    • (((Doc B))) January 12, 2021 at 17:07

      If you are into DIY and have a minimum of sewing skills, you can make one to your exact requirements for less than 50 dollars.
      Check out http://www.ripstopbytheroll.com for materials. I have been using them for a while. Good materials,good prices, and fast shipping.

  6. Razorback Trapper January 12, 2021 at 10:54

    Great post. I’m sure everyone already knows this, but just incase someone doesn’t- If you are going to use this set up where there are ticks and chiggers you may want to treat all your gear(to include all clothes) with permethrin. Failure to do that where I live would get you eaten alive by ticks and chiggers in above freezing weather. I’ve already had Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It sucks!!! It can be fatal without access to modern medicine. Just my opinion.

    • Mike January 12, 2021 at 12:13

      I use 100% deet bug spray. A few squirts at each end of the shelter and one or two along the sides, and I’m able to sleep in my underwear with no coverings in the height of tick season without getting bit once. And I live at the coast in near swampland.

  7. William Watermore January 12, 2021 at 13:50

    Any tips for those of us who live in areas without many trees/cover? How to set up a low profile shelter with minimal/low vegetation? Thanks

    • Mike January 12, 2021 at 14:41

      If you’re talking desert-type terrain, an e-tool (folding shovel) is your friend. You generally don’t need overhead protection in a desert at night, but you do sometimes need protection from wind. In that case, dig a shallow “grave” just big enough for you to lie down in. Use whatever micro-terrain and vegetation there is available to conceal your position. Military camouflage netting is quite effective in the desert, just cut whatever dimensions you need so you’re not carrying unnecessary weight. Hope this helped.

  8. wwes January 12, 2021 at 15:34

    Thanks for posting this!

  9. MortarGuy January 12, 2021 at 22:31

    True story. Late April, mid1990’s, Ft Greely, Alaska. Low-mid 40’s daytime, low 30’s at night. Colder and more snow at higher elevations.
    We jump in for a field exercise, and we’re short on Joe’s and mortar systems. I get the joy of carrying the radio and comms gear for the Platoon Sergeant. No room in the ruck for sleeping bag as a result (we had not yet been issued the more packable MSS with gore-tex covers). No worries, it’s not super cold. I make do with a poncho, two woobies, and a casualty blanket (heavy-duty space blanket), and it’s enough.
    Last day in the field we hike up to a mountaintop landing strip for exfil by C-130 the next morning. It was COLD up there. Somewhat windy. Some snow. Platoon Leader’s RTO was running same sleep system as me for same reasons. We teamed up, found a small depression and cleared the snow out. Then the layers – poncho, casualty blanket, woobie, two snuggled bodies in polypro, 3 woobies, casualty blanket, poncho. We slept well and were none the worse for wear upon cracking the frost and snow off the top layer at stand to in the morning.
    Another useful technique for snow/cold – snap two ponchos together like a sandwich. Clear the snow out of your sleeping area. Throw a thick layer of fresh-cut evergreen boughs, sleeping pad, then your bag or whatever else you’ve got, all in between the two poncho layers. That mass of weight will anchor the bottom poncho while you run a line and tie the hood of the top poncho to a branch overhead. The four corners should be up off the ground a little ways now like a puffy pillow shape and can be guyed out as needed with 550 or bungees. A candle lantern or similar can be carefully burned inside while you’re awake for added warmth in non-tactical environments.
    Unfortunately, good luck finding a serviceable USGI poncho anymore. Seems the army doesn’t want to make them so you’re maybe stuck scrounging or using an alternative like a bushcrafting tarp or a British basha tarp (which is slightly larger than those USMC tarps that are always sold full of holes). None of the commercial milsim ponchos I’ve seen appear very durable, although I’ve heard good things about the Helikon-Tex swagman roll setup.
    There’s a million setups for tarps and ponchos out there on interwebz and youtubz. Get familiar with half a dozen and call it good. Lots to be said for traveling light and clean as possible.
    Shoutout to Kifaru for their excellent Woobie. Saved my ass more than once in Afghanistan. Don’t feel guilty about the coin, it’s worth it.
    73

  10. […] if you get hypothermia. Invest in a military surplus GI poncho or tarp, and learn how to make a Royal Marine Rig or lean-to out of it. Sleeping under a tarp may not be appealing to many, but it is well worth it […]

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