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SUMMARY
The Royal Marines (RM) are an elite
Corps and specialists in Amphibious Warfare - and wherever there is
action, the Royal Marines are likely to be involved. They were prominent, for example, in the Falklands
campaign, and they could be found wherever the UK Armed Services are actively
involved e.g. Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Royal Marines number approximately 7,200 men and, since the end of the
Cold War, and especially in recent years, the Corps appears to have
reverted to its traditional role of being ready for operations anywhere in
the world.
All Royal Marines, except those in the Royal Marines Band Service, are
first and foremost, commando soldiers. They are required to undergo what
is recognised as one of the longest and most demanding infantry training
courses in the world. This is undertaken at the Commando Training Centre
Royal Marines at Lympstone in UK’s West Country, not far from Dartmoor.
The titular head of the Royal Marines is always a Major General – Commandant
General Royal Marines (CGRM). There have been significant recent structural
changes in the higher management of the Royal Navy recently and this has added
to the responsibilities and raised the profile of CGRM.
The Royal Marines have small detachments in ships at sea and other units
worldwide with widely differing tasks. However, the bulk of the manpower of the
Royal Marines is grouped in battalion-sized organisations known as Commandos (Cdo).
There are 3 Commando Groups and they are part of a larger formation known as 3
Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde).
Notes:
29 Cdo Regt RA has one battery stationed at
Arbroath with 45 Cdo.
1st Bn The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps can be part of 3 Cdo Bde for
NATO assigned tasks.
There are three regular Tactical Air Control Parties and one reserve.
539 Assault Squadron has hovercraft, landing craft and raiding craft.
1st Battalion The Rifles – 3 Commando
Brigade’s Fourth Manoeuvre Unit
From 1 April 2008, 1 Rifles has been will be attached to 3 Commando
Brigade as a fourth manoeuvre unit. 3 Commando Brigade is now capable of
providing a both a brigade at high readiness for operations anywhere in
the world and also an ability to support programmed operations.
1 Rifles will remain on the Army list under the Full Command of the
Chief of the General Staff but serve under the operational command of the
Commander in Chief Fleet and the Commander of 3 Commando Brigade Royal
Marines. The battalion has been structured as a Light Role Battalion and
personnel will continue to wear the Rifles cap badge.
COMMANDO ORGANISATION
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