Structure of the Royal Marines

Commanded by the Commandant General who is based at Whale Island in Portsmouth, the Command numbers approximately 7000 men and women from all three services. In addition, Royal Marines serve in many other areas both in the UK and abroad in a wide range of disciplines. These additional individuals are employed outside the Royal Marines Command although the Commandant General remains their 'tribal' Chief.  The organisation of the Command is shown below:

3 Commando Brigade

The largest Royal Marine combat formation is 3 Commando Brigade.  On the rare occasions when it is deployed as an entity and at full strength it contains almost all smaller deployable RM combat and support formations, as well as attached British Army units.  Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel are included in several units, or may be seconded.

United Kingdom Landing Force Command Support Group (UKLF CSG)

This is a brigade level Commanders Command, Control and Communications (C3) unit.  In addition to communications and brigade staff support, it provides air defence, electronic warfare, Royal Marines Police, tactical air control and brigade patrol troop assets.  As its title indicates, it may deploy to control and support military formations other than 3 Commando Brigade.

The CSG comprises of a CSG Headquarters plus 3 other squadrons - these are Communications Squadron, Support Squadron and Logistics Squadron, with Support Squadron existing only when not deployed - on operations, Support Squadron sub-units will deploy as brigade troops working direct to Brigade Headquarters, while the Squadron Headquarters will form the command element of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force.

Available sub-units (these may be re-organized) include:

Communications Troop
Made up of Royal Marines Signalers who provides all communications for the Brigade Headquarters, HF VHF, UHF, and Satellite, Secure and open circuits, voice and data.  For Rear Communications it provides communications from anywhere in the world to a command or suborn HQ and to the Permanent Joint Headquarters in the UK.  For Forward communications it provides Command and Control circuits to all Commando units and attached arms and rear echelons.

Y Troop
The Brigades electronic eyes and ears. These again are Royal Marines Signallers, specialists in Electronic Warfare. Equipped with state-of-the-art communications and electronic support measures equipment (ESM). They provide intelligence at all levels by intercepting enemy transmissions.

Tactical Air Control Parties
Responsible for Co-ordinating and Directing close fixed-wing aircraft support from either the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force. These Parties consist of three men a Royal Marine Lt, a Cpl and Mne Signaller.

Air Defence Troop
A small highly mobile Air Defence Troop which provides point air defence for the Brigades high value assets such as the Headquarters or supply area.  Equipped with the JAVELIN shoulder launched light weight surface to air missile.

Brigade Patrol Troop
Six, four man teams they operate forward of the main forces in a reconnaissance role. Collecting information on the enemy and topology and reporting back to the Brigade Command Post. They are often deployed in advance of the amphibious landings.

Royal Marines Police Troop
This troop is made up of Royal Marines trained to the same standard as the Royal Military Police but with that Royal Marine attitude in tact. They direct movement of vehicles from the beachhead, they are also responsible for marking all main supply routes and escorts to convoys. They also provide the close protection of the Brigade Commander.

The Brigade's Combat Units

The cutting edge of 3 Commando Brigade is provided by the three commando units: 40 Commando, based in Taunton, 42 Commando, in Plymouth and 45 Commando in Arbroath. They are the Brigade's equivalent of light infantry battalions and have the ability to deploy independently of the main formation, either individually or as an operational 'group' - reinforced with artillery, engineer and logistic support elements.

Each unit comprises about 650 Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel, which expands to over 700 in time of war: All three are capable of performing the full range of military operations, from war; as in the Falklands to operations other than war; such as peace support operations.

Fire Power of a Commando Unit

• 24 x MILAN anti-armour missile launchers (range 1,950m)
• 9 x 81mm mortars (range 5,650m)
• 9 x 51mm mortars (range 1,000m)
• 100 x 94mm anti-tank weapons (four per section)
• 13 x Sustained Fire (SF) Machine Guns
• 16 Snipers (armed with L96 7.62mm rifle)
• 18 x 0.5" Browning Machine Guns
• 12 x 0.5" Infantry Support Weapons (ISWS)

Combat Support Units

The specialist units who provide combat support to the Brigade.  The combat support units provide the Commando Brigade with additional combat capability, which can be deployed to tie down, or fix enemy forces, while the commando units manoeuvre to strike them.

Combat support is a force multiplier; in that it amplifies the combat power of the Brigade, and therefore it must be available to support all units and sub-units down to the lowest level, although its allocation must be controlled by the Brigade Headquarters to ensure that it is employed on the tasks which are most critical to the fulfilment of the Brigade mission.

Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines
This is made up of five Squadrons, one Headquarters and four specialist squadrons which provide the backbone of all second line combat service support in areas of Logistic Support, Medical, and Workshop facilities.  This support allows the Brigade the flexibility to operate in remotes theatres without having to rely on the large network of Logistics and Service support normally associated with overseas operations by the Army.

1st Battalion, The Rifles
From 2007, 3 Commando Brigade will be augmented by the assignment of the 1st Battalion The Rifles (formerly the Devon and Dorsets and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry).  This infantry battalion will have some special training but will be primarily used for rear and second-line duties, e.g. to protect head quarters and supply depots, guard prisoners, and defend installations.  The Army formation will also be used as 3 Commando's "roulement" battalion, fulfilling routine six month tours.

539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines
Provides additional mobility to the Amphibious Assault Force. It is also used to support advanced force operations and during an assault or landing it can be supplemented by the 4th and 9th Assault Squadrons Royal Marines based on the Landing Platform Dock's HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark and the LPH HMS Ocean.  They operate from RIBs, Landing Craft (LCVP) and (LCM), Ridged Raider Craft (RRC) and occasionally from Hover Craft

29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
This directly supports the force with three batteries of 105 mm light guns. Each battery has six guns and reinforces each of the commando units. A further battery of six guns are available from 289 Commando Battery, Territorial Army.   The regiment also includes 148 Commando Battery which provides Naval Gunfire Observation Officers, these directs naval gunfire support (NGS) obtained from ships.

20 Commando Air Defence Battery Royal Artillery
Provides air defence in the form of the RAPIER missile systems.

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers
Provides the close engineer support for the Brigade, their role ranges from bridge demolition to bridge construction, Mine laying to mine clearance, and just as important the supply of drinking water from natural sources. They are in turn enhanced by the TAVR 131 (V) Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers.

Commando Helicopter Force
This provides the co-ordination for rotary wing aircraft attached to the Brigade on operations.  These commonly include some or all of 845, 846 and 848 squadrons of medium transport helicopters (equipped with the Sea King Commando HC.4), and 847 squadron of light helicopters (Lynx and Gazelle).

Elements of Special Forces
Normally from the Special Boat Service Royal Marines (SB) assigned to the Brigade to conduct advance force operations working forward of the main force both before, during and after the assault/landing

Medium Reconnaissance
This is currently provided by B Squadron "The Household Cavalry Regiment", which is assigned to the Brigade for specific operations providing Scimitar and Striker armoured vehicles. 

Other Formations

Excluding training and second line units, the only other significant Royal Marine formations are:

Special Boat Service
This consists of  4 squadrons of "special forces".  Provides small, highly trained and specially equipped units for observation, raiding, sabotage, infiltration and reconnaissance duties.  Their delivery and withdrawal can be by almost any means: high-speed covert-operations boats, by parachute, by mini-sub, helicopter, etc.

Security Unit for National Strategic Deterrent
Based at Faslane.  This unit is dedicated to all aspects of the protection of Britain's national deterrent and the security of the Trident missiles and nuclear warheads.