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3 Commando Brigade (Royal Marines)
Former WO1(GSM) Peter Padley MBE
At the end of the Second World War a noticeable drawdown in the size of the United Kingdom armed forces began and with it a reduction in the size of Commando Forces. The 1st Commando Brigade – comprising 3rd, 4th & 6th Army Commandos and 45 RM Commando was disbanded along with the units of the 2nd Commando Brigade – 2nd & 9th Army Commandos and 42 & 44 RM Commandos. 3 Commando Brigade, still located in the Far East, had 1st & 5th Army Commandos and 42 & 44 RM Commandos under command.
The decision was made to retain 3 Commando Brigade and reorganise it solely as a Royal Marine formation. Subsequent to this decision the 1st and 5th Army Commandos were disbanded with 45 RM Commando joining the Brigade in Hong Kong in January 1946. 40 Commando – having been disbanded in the United Kingdom in October 1945 – were ‘reconstituted’ from the personnel of 44 RM Commando who inherited the Battle Honours, Colours and traditions of 40 RM Commando. In March 1946 the reorganised 3 Commando Brigade comprised three dedicated Royal Marine Commandos – 40, 42 & 45 Commandos RM – a formation that exists to the current day.
In 1947 3 Commando Brigade RM was redeployed to Malta and it was from the island fortress that the Brigade were to deploy on operations before moving to Singapore in 1961 but with the planned British military disengagement in the Far East the Brigade withdrew from Singapore in the early 1970’s and relocated to Plymouth, Devon, where it remains to the current day.
The Brigade has been deployed on operations and exercises throughout the world and the following gives an idea of where they have been – and can still be found:
• June 1948 – 12 July 1960: Malayan Emergency . Counter-insurgency support to the Malayan government fighting communist guerrillas.
• June 1950 – July 1953 (Ceasefire): Korean War. When more amphibious raiding forces were needed by the United Nations 41 Commando (renamed 41 (Independent) Commando for the deployment) was deployed from the United Kingdom to fight in the Korean War – mainly under US Naval Operational Command. 41 Commando returned to the UK in December 1951.
• 1956: Operation ‘MUSKETEER’. 40, 42 and 45 Commandos were deployed into the Port Said area of the Suez Canal. 40 and 42 Commandos carried out an amphibious landing while 45 Commando carried out what is thought to be the world’s first helicopter borne assault.
• 1962 – 1966: Malaysian Confrontation. This was an undeclared war between Indonesia and Malaysia where the future of Borneo was in dispute. The Royal Marines carried out multiple deployments into the jungles of Borneo during the Konfrontasi (confrontation).
• 14 August 1969 – 31 July 2007: Operation ‘BANNER’. Counter-Terrorism assistance to the government of Northern Ireland and assistance to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The Royal Marines have completed multiple tours of duty in Northern Ireland in operations that were often referred to as ‘The Troubles’!
• 2 April 1982 – 14 June 1982: Operation ‘CORPORATE’. After the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2nd April 1982 3 Commando Brigade spearheaded the operation to recapture the islands.
• 1991: Operation ‘SAFE HAVEN’. The majority of 3 Commando Brigade deployed to Northern Iraq to provide humanitarian aid and protection to the Kurdish population after the 1990/91 Gulf War .
• 8th October to 15th December 1994: Operation ‘VIGILANT WARRIOR’. 45 Commando were deployed to Kuwait in response to Iraqi Republican Guard formations moving toward the Kuwaiti border.
• 1995: Bosnia. Approximately half of HQ 3 Commando Brigade deployed to Bosnia to assist the British contingent of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) with ‘staffing’ the operational headquarters.
• August to September 1998: Operation ‘LADBROOK’. 40 Commando deployed to the Congo Republic to protect British interests and ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals from Kinshasa during the civil war.
• 2000: Operation ‘AGRICOLA IV’. Elements of 45 Commando are committed to the Multi-National Force in Kosovo while HQ 3 Commando Brigade, with logistical and signals support, take command of the Multi-National Brigade (Centre).
• 2000: Sierra Leone – Operations ‘PALLISER’ and ‘BARRAS’. Elements of Special Boat Service (SBS) involved in both operations. Elements of 42 Commando deployed from HMS Ocean to relieve 1st Bn. The Parachute Regiment to continue peacekeeping operations.
• September & October 2001: Exercise ‘SAIF SAREEA 2 (SWIFT SWORD)’. Saif Sareea took part in the Gulf State of Oman and was the largest single deployment of UK Forces, including 3 Commando Brigade, since the Gulf War.
• 2001 & 2002: Operation ‘VERITAS’. 40 Commando ‘assigned’ to the operation but were not deployed into Afghanistan. 45 Commando embarked on HMS Ocean into the Gulf Region. No contact was made with the opposing force on either deployment.
• 2003 to 2009: Operation ‘TELIC’. Approximately 4,000 Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade took part in the Invasion of Iraq with Commando forces taking part in subsequent stabilisation operations.
• 2002 to Current Date: Operation ‘HERRICK’. Since the inception of Op ‘HERRICK’ in 2002 the Royal Marines have carried out multiple deployments to Afghanistan.
HQ 3 Commando Brigade took control of Task Force Helmand on 9th April 2011 as the ‘lead’ formation of British Troops deployed on Op ‘HERRICK’ XIV in Afghanistan. Both Commando and Army units are under command during the deployment. It is anticipated that 3 Commando Brigade will hand over to 20 Armoured Brigade in October 2011.
Fewer warships of the Royal Navy currently have Royal Marine detachments on board but with the introduction of the Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) vessel, HMS Ocean, and the smaller Landing Platform Dock (LPD) vessels, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, the amphibious ability of the Royal Marines to project themselves whenever and wherever needed has been greatly enhanced.
The constant threat of piracy in the Horn of Africa and surrounding region is of grave concern to commercial and private shipping and Royal Marines of the Fleet Contingency Troop – who specialise in boarding operations – can be found carrying out anti-piracy operations from warships and Royal Auxiliary Vessels using Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) and Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RIB).
3 Commando Brigade is a diverse organisation containing formations and personnel from all arms of the British Armed Forces – the majority of whom have attended, and passed, the All Arms Commando Course. Commanded by a Royal Marine Brigadier the Headquarters of 3 Commando Brigade is located in Plymouth with most of the constituent formations located in the South West of England. The following units constitute 3 Commando Brigade:
• 40 Commando RM.
• 42 Commando RM.
• 45 Commando RM.
• 1st Battalion The Rifles (Army Light Infantry Regiment with an unspecified percentage of Commando trained personnel).
• Commando Logistic Regiment.
• 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery (Commando trained British Army unit).
• 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers (Commando trained British Army unit).
• 30 Commando IX (Information Exploitation) Group RM.
• Fleet Protection Group RM.
• 539 Assault Squadron RM.
• Royal Marines Armoured Support Group.
The Commando Helicopter Force, comprising 4 Naval Air Squadrons, provides rotary wing support to the Brigade as and when required on operations and exercises.
The Special Boat Service (SBS) provide Special Forces (SF) support to the Brigade when called for.
3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines (3 CDO BDE RM) Units
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