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Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (FPGRM)

At the time of formation, given the task it would undertake and was unlikely to deploy overseas, it was considered inappropriate to give ‘the Company’ Commando status. Given that 43 Commando RM had been disbanded after WWII it was decided to transfer the Traditions and Colours of 43 Commando to Comacchio Company when it was raised at HMS Condor, Arbroath in Scotland.

The name Comacchio was used in honour of the action fought by 43 Commando RM on 13th April 1945 at a lake of the same name 15 miles to the north of Ravenna on the east coast of Italy. During this action Cpl Tom Hunter RM was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in face of a well prepared enemy force.

Comacchio Company RM was formed, with an establishment of approximately 300 personnel, with the specific responsibility of:

• Guarding the UK’s naval nuclear weapons in static sites and in transit.

• Providing a reaction force to counter terrorism incidents on offshore installations or on ships at sea.

In November 1983, with an increase in manpower to over 400 Royal Marines, Comacchio Company was renamed Comacchio Group RM. With the increase in manpower the Group was split into two companies, and, referring back to the links with 43 Commando ‘O’ and ‘P’ Companies were chosen. O Company was tasked with the security of offshore installations with P Company taking on nuclear security duties. Nuclear protection duties soon took precedence leading to the greater number of Royal Marines working within P Company that that of O Company.

With nuclear protection in the ascendancy the Marine Counter Terrorism (MCT) role was ‘lost’ to the Comacchio Group RM at the end of July 1987. The MCT role was passed to the Special Boat Service (SBS). Elements of Comacchio Group RM moved from Arbroath to Royal Marines Poole where M Company was formed to carry out the MCT role.

In September 1992 there were changes in the size and shape of Comacchio Group RM. With an increase in manpower the Group was expanded from 2 to 3 Companies – the latest addition being R Company. The main point of focus for the Group remained the safe-guarding Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

In March 2001 Comacchio Group RM was renamed the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (FPGRM) and moved from Arbroath to Faslane at HMNB Clyde. At the same time the Group reformed with a Headquarter Squadron and 3 Rifle Squadrons – O, P & R. In March 2004 FPGRM manning was increased to over 500 personnel with P Squadron being renamed S Squadron.

FPGRM’s role continues to provide final denial of access to nuclear weapons as well as supporting the force that provides protection to nuclear weapons convoys. It also deploys in support of the Royal Navy on a worldwide basis where deployments have included Force Protection in various global locations as well as conducting boarding operations in compliance of United Nations resolutions in the Arabian Gulf.

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