What is 3 Commando Brigade?

[thedrifter]

What is 3 Commando Brigade?



3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines is the Royal Navy’s amphibious infantry on permanent readiness to deploy across the globe, and is a core component of the United Kingdom’s Joint Rapid Reaction Force.




Together, the Royal Navy’s amphibious ships and the Brigade represent a highly mobile, self-sustained and versatile organisation, with a strategic power projection capability that is unique among the British armed forces.

Based mainly in the south-west of England, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines stands in constant readiness to move anywhere in the world to meet emergencies which threaten Britain’s vital security interests, and those of its allies. As an amphibious force it provides a unique national capability; it can sail early to demonstrate political and military will and capability.

Alternatively, it can be despatched with a Royal Navy Task Group assembling covertly at sea, if political understatement is required.


It can take passage through international waters without infringement of territorial boundaries.

It can poise at sea, raid or land on a potentially hostile coast at a time and place of the commander’s choosing.

The Brigade is structured on 3 lightly armed commando units (40 Commando in Taunton, 42 Commando in Plymouth and 45 Commando in Arbroath).

The Brigade is reinforced by Combat Support units such as:


29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers

Combat Service Support elements from the Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines.

United Kingdom Land Force Command Support Group, consisting of specialist reconnaissance troops, communications and Electronic Warfare experts, Air Defence troops and Military Police support the Brigade Headquarters.

Helicopters from the Commando Helicopter Force from the Joint Helicopter Command provide an integral lift capability.

3 Commando Brigade & RM Units

539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines
Provides organic landing craft and raiding craft capabilities for 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. The squadron has been based at RM Turnchapel in Plymouth since 1993, from which it deploys boat groups for operations and exercises worldwide. The squadron was formed in 1984 as a result of lessons learnt during the Falklands conflict. Its number was derived from the most distinguished LC Flotilla to take part in the D Day Landings.

Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines

The Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines is based at Chivenor on the North Devon coast near Barnstaple. The Royal Air Force firstly occupied the establishment in 1935. In 1995, they moved out to make way for the Royal Marines Logistic Regiment who moved from Coypool in Plymouth. The barracks was renamed Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor.

The Brigade Recce Force
The Brigade Patrol Troop provides HQ 3 Commando Brigade with its reconnaissance capability. This small but potent force is trained and equipped to provide early warning and intelligence. This may be to the flank or rear of the Brigade, but more commonly will be to the front where they may be operating up to 60 kilometres ahead of the main body of the Brigade.

The pictures attached of BRF show them during contact drills on the ranges at Camp Fairburn in the Oman. Temperatures here reached 40 degrees Celsius. Weapons carried by BRF are M16 Armalites. On completion of the exercise the troop BRF moved North to exercise in the mountains for 2 weeks before returning to the UK in Late November.

The BRF's normal area of operations was at one time the arctic wastes of Norway. With the end of the Cold War these troops have found themselves in differing climates from Kosovo to the Oman.



http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/1905.html



Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[thedrifter]

War with Iraq: Royal Marines

3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines is the elite fighting force of the Royal Navy. Two South West based units, 40 and 42 Commando, are among those sent to the Gulf as part of the largest British naval deployment for two decades.

The frontline of 3 Commando Brigade is made up of three lightly armed units - 40, 42 and 45 Commando - which each have about 700 members.

The 3,500-strong brigade is an amphibious rapid reaction force, highly trained for combat in extreme weather conditions and on difficult terrain.

It maintains a state of permanent readiness to move anywhere in the world when the security of Britain and its allies is under threat, and can be deployed early when needed to indicate the UK's political and military will and capability.

40 Commando is based near Taunton in Somerset, 42 Commando at Bickleigh near Plymouth in Devon. The brigade headquarters is also based in Plymouth.

The units undergo rigorous environmental training in either "hot, arid", "humid jungle" or "cold mountainous" conditions.

Usual training areas are in the Middle East, Belize or Brunei, and Scotland and Norway.

As well as frontline Commando units, the brigade includes combat support elements provided by the Army.

These include Plymouth based 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, and 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers operating out of RMB Chivenor in North Devon.

These units provide the specialist artillery and engineer support for the brigade.

Landing craft, such as hovercraft and raiding craft, are provided and operated by 539 Squadron Royal Marines based at Turnchapel in Plymouth.

The brigade also receives vital support from Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines, which provides services ranging from repair and recovery of equipment to food supplies and medical treatment.

The brigade has its own reconnaissance force in the form of the Brigade Patrol Troop, a small but powerful force which provides early warning and intelligence information.

It usually operates up to 60 kilometres ahead of the main brigade.

Royal Marines spokesman Major Tim Cook told BBC News Online one of the most important aspects of the brigade was that it could be "poised" for action off a coast in international waters.

"They can sit, sail up and down the coast and exert pressure - they provide the pressure to back up the diplomacy."

3 Commando Brigade was formed during World War II, and played a prominent role in the D-Day landings.

It led the final assault on Port Stanley in the Falklands campaign of 1982. It has also been deployed in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, and on peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, the Congo and Kosovo.

Most recently, 40 and 45 Commando have served in Afghanistan as part of the war on terror.

Commando soldiers have to undergo what is recognised as one of the toughest infantry training regimes in the world, at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, in Devon.

Much of the training is carried out on the rugged terrain of Dartmoor, and culminates in the Commando course - a series of tests of fitness, endurance and military professionalism.

Major Cook admitted the course was "tough", adding that when compared with infantry training around the world "very few other courses could stand up to it".

Royal Marines who pass the course win the prized green beret, and then normally join a Commando unit of 3 Commando Brigade.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news_features/2003/war_marines.shtml


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

[Rob Parry]

The URL should take you to the RM official web-site. There is an explanation of 'Commando 21' a new reorganisation of the Corps from top to bottom.

http://www.royalmarinesofficialsite.co.uk/regorgcdo21.html