Royal Marines: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 05:27, 3 March 2025

The Royal Marines are the United Kingdom's amphibious infantry force and form part of the Naval Service along with the Royal Navy. They were formed in 1664 and have a long history of service in various conflicts around the world.

History[edit]

The Royal Marines were formed on 28 October 1664 as the "Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot". They have served in numerous conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, both World War I and World War II, the Falklands War, and more recent conflicts such as the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

Role and Capabilities[edit]

The Royal Marines are a highly versatile force capable of deploying at short notice in support of the United Kingdom's military and diplomatic objectives. They specialize in amphibious warfare, expeditionary warfare, and littoral warfare. The Royal Marines are trained to operate in all environments and climates, including arctic warfare, mountain warfare, jungle warfare, and desert warfare.

Organization[edit]

The Royal Marines are organized into several units, including the 3 Commando Brigade, which is the main combat formation. The brigade includes three Commando units: 40 Commando, 42 Commando, and 45 Commando. Each unit is capable of deploying independently or as part of a larger force.

Training[edit]

Royal Marines undergo one of the longest and most demanding infantry training regimes in the world. The training takes place at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone, Devon. The training includes physical fitness, weapons handling, survival skills, and amphibious operations.

Equipment[edit]

The Royal Marines are equipped with a range of weapons and vehicles suitable for their role. This includes the SA80 rifle, L115A3 sniper rifle, and various support weapons. They also use landing craft, helicopters, and other vehicles to conduct operations.

Notable Operations[edit]

The Royal Marines have been involved in many notable operations, including the D-Day landings during World War II, the Suez Crisis, and the Falklands War. More recently, they have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

External links[edit]

Official Royal Marines website

Royal Marines gallery[edit]

Royal Marine Badge
Flag of the Royal Marines
Royal Marines Commando
Major General John Tupper

Major General John Tupper
Private of Marines
British Marines in Chania, 1897
Commandos archery
House to house fighting at Riva Bella near Ouistreham
Royal Marine Commandos attached to 3rd Division move inland from Sword Beach on the Normandy coast, 6 June 1944
Royal Marines on Rigid Raider

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-[[File:RoyalMarineBadge.svg|thumb]] [[File:Flag of the Royal Marines.svg|thumb]] [[File:Royal Marines Commando.svg|thumb]] [[File:Major General John Tupper.JPG|thumb]] {{Infobox military unit
+The '''Royal Marines''' are the United Kingdom's [[amphibious infantry]] force and form part of the [[Naval Service]] along with the [[Royal Navy]]. They were formed in 1664 and have a long history of service in various conflicts around the world.
-| unit_name = Royal Marines
-| image = Royal_Marines_Cap_Badge.svg
-| caption = Cap badge of the Royal Marines
-| dates = 28 October 1664 – present
-| country = United Kingdom
-| branch = [[Royal Navy]]
-| type = [[Amphibious warfare]]
-| role = [[Expeditionary warfare]]
-| size = 7,760 personnel
-| garrison = [[Stonehouse Barracks]], [[Plymouth]]
-| nickname = "Bootnecks"
-| motto = ''Per Mare, Per Terram'' ("By Sea, By Land")
-| colors = Blue, Red, Green
-| march = ''A Life on the Ocean Wave''
-}}
-The '''Royal Marines''' are the United Kingdom's amphibious light infantry force, forming part of the [[Naval Service]] along with the [[Royal Navy]]. They are a highly specialized and adaptable force, capable of deploying at short notice in support of the UK's military and diplomatic objectives overseas.
+== History ==
+The Royal Marines were formed on 28 October 1664 as the "Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot". They have served in numerous conflicts, including the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the [[Crimean War]], both [[World War I]] and [[World War II]], the [[Falklands War]], and more recent conflicts such as the [[Iraq War]] and the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]].
-==History==
+== Role and Capabilities ==
-The Royal Marines were formed on 28 October 1664 as the "Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot". They have served in a variety of roles, including shipboard security, amphibious assaults, and expeditionary warfare. Over the centuries, the Royal Marines have participated in numerous conflicts, including the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the [[Crimean War]], both World Wars, and more recent conflicts such as the [[Falklands War]] and operations in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]].
+The Royal Marines are a highly versatile force capable of deploying at short notice in support of the United Kingdom's military and diplomatic objectives. They specialize in [[amphibious warfare]], [[expeditionary warfare]], and [[littoral warfare]]. The Royal Marines are trained to operate in all environments and climates, including [[arctic warfare]], [[mountain warfare]], [[jungle warfare]], and [[desert warfare]].
-==Role and Capabilities==
+== Organization ==
-The primary role of the Royal Marines is to provide a rapid response capability for the UK, specializing in amphibious warfare, expeditionary warfare, and special operations. They are trained to operate in all environments, including arctic, jungle, desert, and mountain warfare. The Royal Marines are also responsible for the [[Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines]], which provides security for the UK's nuclear deterrent and other naval assets.
+The Royal Marines are organized into several units, including the [[3 Commando Brigade]], which is the main combat formation. The brigade includes three [[Commando]] units: [[40 Commando]], [[42 Commando]], and [[45 Commando]]. Each unit is capable of deploying independently or as part of a larger force.
-==Organization==
+== Training ==
-The Royal Marines are organized into several key units:
+Royal Marines undergo one of the longest and most demanding infantry training regimes in the world. The training takes place at the [[Commando Training Centre Royal Marines]] (CTCRM) in [[Lympstone]], [[Devon]]. The training includes physical fitness, weapons handling, survival skills, and amphibious operations.
-* '''3 Commando Brigade''': The main fighting formation of the Royal Marines, consisting of three battalion-sized units known as Commandos.
+== Equipment ==
-* '''40 Commando''', '''42 Commando''', and '''45 Commando''': The three main Commando units, each capable of independent operations.
+The Royal Marines are equipped with a range of weapons and vehicles suitable for their role. This includes the [[SA80]] rifle, [[L115A3]] sniper rifle, and various support weapons. They also use [[landing craft]], [[helicopters]], and other vehicles to conduct operations.
-* '''Commando Logistics Regiment''': Provides logistical support to the Brigade.
-* '''30 Commando Information Exploitation Group''': Provides intelligence and communications support.
-* '''43 Commando Fleet Protection Group''': Responsible for the security of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
-==Training==
+== Notable Operations ==
-Royal Marines undergo one of the longest and most demanding infantry training programs in the world, lasting 32 weeks. Training takes place at the [[Commando Training Centre Royal Marines]] (CTCRM) in [[Lympstone]], [[Devon]]. Recruits are trained in a variety of skills, including weapons handling, amphibious operations, survival, and close-quarters combat. Successful recruits earn the coveted green beret, a symbol of their commando status.
+The Royal Marines have been involved in many notable operations, including the [[D-Day landings]] during World War II, the [[Suez Crisis]], and the [[Falklands War]]. More recently, they have been deployed in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].
-==Equipment==
+== See also ==
-The Royal Marines are equipped with a range of modern weapons and equipment, including the [[SA80]] rifle, [[L115A3]] sniper rifle, and various support weapons. They also operate a variety of vehicles, such as the [[Viking BvS 10]] all-terrain vehicle and the [[Landing Craft Utility]] for amphibious operations.
-==Also see==
 * [[Royal Navy]]
-* [[British Army]]
+* [[British Armed Forces]]
-* [[Special Air Service]]
+* [[Amphibious warfare]]
 * [[Commando]]
-* [[Amphibious warfare]]
+== External links ==
+* [https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/royal-marines Official Royal Marines website]
 {{Royal Navy}}
-{{British Armed Forces}}
+{{nt}}
+[[Category:Royal Marines| ]]
-[[Category:Royal Marines]]
+[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1664]]
-[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Amphibious units and formations]]
-[[Category:Naval infantry]]
+[[Category:British Armed Forces]]
+== Royal Marines gallery ==
+<gallery>
+File:RoyalMarineBadge.svg|Royal Marine Badge
+File:Flag of the Royal Marines.svg|Flag of the Royal Marines
+File:Royal Marines Commando.svg|Royal Marines Commando
+File:Major General John Tupper.JPG|Major General John Tupper
+File:Private of Marines.jpg|Private of Marines
+File:British Marines in Chania, 1897.jpg|British Marines in Chania, 1897
+File:Commandos archery.jpg|Commandos archery
+File:House to house fighting at Riva Bella near Ouistreham.jpg|House to house fighting at Riva Bella near Ouistreham
+File:Royal Marine Commandos attached to 3rd Division move inland from Sword Beach on the Normandy coast, 6 June 1944. B5071.jpg|Royal Marine Commandos attached to 3rd Division move inland from Sword Beach on the Normandy coast, 6 June 1944
+File:Royal Marines on Rigid Raider.jpg|Royal Marines on Rigid Raider
+</gallery>