3 Commando Brigade (United Kingdom)

Last updated

3rd Special Service Brigade
3rd Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando.svg
Badge of 3 Commando Brigade
Active14 February 1942 – present
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the Royal Marines.svg Corps of Royal Marines
Flag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg  Royal Air Force
Type Commando
SizeBrigade
Garrison/HQHQ: Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth
Nickname(s)The Commandos
MarchQuick: "Sarie Marais"
Engagements
Commanders
Brigade Commander Brigadier Duncan G. Forbes
Insignia
3 Commando Brigade Formation Badge 3 Commando.svg

3 Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde), previously called the 3rd Special Service Brigade, is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces. [1] It is composed of Royal Marine Commandos and commando qualified personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

Contents

The brigade was formed 1 September 1943 at Dorchester with personnel from 102 RM Brigade, [2] during the Second World War, with a mixture of Army Commando and Royal Marine Commando units, and was deployed to the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II to conduct operations against the invading forces of Imperial Japan, such as the Burma Campaign. [1] After the Second World War, the Army Commandos were disbanded and the brigade became a Royal Marine formation. Recently, 3 Commando Brigade has again become a mixed formation with the addition of commando qualified soldiers from the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers to provide support for the Royal Marine Commandos. Since the end of the Second World War, it has been involved in a number of engagements such as the Suez Crisis, Falklands War, Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan.

History

Second World War

Between September and November 1943, in Scotland, 102nd Brigade, Royal Marines Division , was detached from the division, to form the independent 3rd Special Service Brigade – a joint British Army-Royal Marines formation. The founding commander was Brigadier Wilfrid Nonweiler and it was composed of the following units: [3] [4]

Nos. 1 and 5 Commandos had already earned battle honours as units in, respectively, the North African and Madagascar campaigns. Because "Commando", at the time, implied a company/battalion-sized unit, the name "Special Service" was instead used for British commando brigades. (However, the term "Commando Brigade" was often used informally, because "Special Service" was unpopular and had a superficial similarity to the name of the notorious German Schutzstaffel (SS). The brigade was later officially renamed 3rd Commando Brigade. [5]

On 10 November 1943, elements of the brigade embarked at Gourock, bound for India. It was intended that the brigade would be used in operations against Japanese forces in the South-East Asia theatre, such as the Burma campaign. [6] However, the limited shipping capacity available at the time meant that the relocation was prolonged and the components of the brigade were not reunited until late 1944. Lt Col. Peter Young was transferred from the Normandy campaign to become 2IC of 3rd Commando Brigade. Young succeeded Nonweiler as commander of the brigade. [7]

During January 1945, the brigade was involved in the campaign to recapture Arakan, including the battles of Myebon peninsula and Kangaw. [6] The brigade was then withdrawn to India to prepare for Operation Zipper, a proposed amphibious operation to recapture the Malayan peninsula. The atomic bombs against Japan precipitated an earlier surrender of Japan than expected. [6] The 3rd Commando Brigade moved to secure Hong Kong – a British crown colony that was under Japanese occupation in 1941–45. [6] During 1946, British Army personnel and units within the 3rd Commando Brigade were demobilised or transferred elsewhere and it became a Royal Marine formation. [6]

Post Second World War

3 Commando Brigade's most high-profile operation after the war was the Suez Crisis, when it took part in the amphibious assault against Egyptian targets. During Operation Musketeer, units of the brigade made a helicopter-borne assault. [8]

1971 saw the withdrawal of British forces from the Far East and Persian Gulf. The brigade returned to the UK with other British units. It moved to Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth, where it remains to this day. [9]

Operation Corporate

The brigade's next large operation was in 1982. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, and 3 Commando Brigade, reinforced by 2 Para and 3 Para, was one of the two main British land formations that took part in operations to recapture the islands. The brigade landed at San Carlos Water and marched across East Falkland to Stanley. Argentine units were defeated in several sharp engagements, and their forces surrendered on 14 June. [10]

Gulf War

In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, the brigade was deployed on a non-combat task in northern Iraq. The Iraqi Kurds had suffered immensely during the war and in its aftermath, and the brigade was used due to its rapid deployment ability. It provided humanitarian aid to the Kurds and saved many from starvation. [11]

21st century

A Jackal armoured vehicle of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, on patrol during Operation Fibonacci near Kuh-e Baba and Shin Ghar, Helmand, Afghanistan. RM Jackal Vehicle in Afghanistan MOD 45150600.jpg
A Jackal armoured vehicle of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, on patrol during Operation Fibonacci near Kuh-e Baba and Shin Ghar, Helmand, Afghanistan.

Recently, the brigade has been involved in two major campaigns, including Operation Veritas in Afghanistan, 2001 and 2002, and Operation Telic during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Iraq, however, saw heavy fighting occur in the early stages of the campaign, as the brigade made its first amphibious assault in over 20 years by landing on the Al-Faw peninsula in south-east Iraq. [12] In 2006, the brigade returned to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick, replacing 16 Air Assault Brigade, where intense fighting occurred. [13]

Organisation

The brigade contains Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force personnel. The subordinate units are: [14]

Royal Marines unitsBritish Army units
30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, Plymouth 24 Commando Regiment, Royal Engineers, Chivenor
40 Commando, Taunton 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery, Plymouth
42 Commando, Bickleigh 383 Commando Petroleum Troop (V), Plymouth (att'd Cdo Log Reg)
43 (Fleet Protection Group) Commando, Faslane Commando Troop, 821 Squadron, 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD&S), Wimbish [15]
45 Commando, Arbroath 24 Commando REME Workshop, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Chivenor [16]
47 Commando (Raiding Group), including 539 Raiding Squadron, Plymouth
Commando Logistic Regiment, RM Chivenor
Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, Bovington Camp, Stanley Barracks

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from the RAF Regiment are assigned to Brigade HQ. When operating as part of the combined United Kingdom / Netherlands Landing Force, the 1st Marine Combat Group of the Dutch Korps Mariniers is also attached to the brigade.

Amphibious Task Group

A Royal Marine RIB 'Underslinging', from an RAF Chinook as a method of quick extraction and insertion of waterborne personnel A Chinook helicopter and a Royal Marine rigid-inflatable boat (RIB), off Studland Bay, Dorset, UK. MOD 45155975.jpg
A Royal Marine RIB 'Underslinging', from an RAF Chinook as a method of quick extraction and insertion of waterborne personnel

Formerly known as the Amphibious Ready Group, the Amphibious Task Group (ATG) is a mobile, balanced amphibious warfare force, based on a Commando Group and its supporting assets, that can be kept at high readiness to deploy into an area of operations. The ATG is normally based around specialist amphibious ships, most notably HMS Ocean, the largest ship in the British fleet until she was decommissioned and sold to Brazil in 2018. Ocean was designed and built to accommodate an embarked commando and its associated stores and equipment. The strategy of the ATG is to wait "beyond the horizon" and then deploy swiftly as directed by HM Government. The whole amphibious force is intended to be self-sustaining and capable of operating without host-nation support. The concept was successfully tested in operations in Sierra Leone. [17]

Commando Helicopter Force

The Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) forms part of the Fleet Air Arm. It comprises three helicopter squadrons and is commanded by the Joint Helicopter Command. [18] It consists of both Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines personnel. RN personnel need not be commando trained. The CHF is neither under the permanent control of 3 Commando Brigade nor that of the Commandant General Royal Marines, but rather is allocated to support Royal Marines units as required. It uses both Merlin HC4/4A medium-lift and Wildcat AH1 light transport/reconnaissance helicopters to provide aviation support for the Royal Marines.roles. [19]

Commanders

Commanders have included: [20]

Battle honours

The following Battle honours were awarded to the British Commandos during the Second World War. [23] [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Marines</span> Maritime land warfare force of the United Kingdom

The Royal Marines, also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, and officially as the Corps of Royal Marines, are the United Kingdom's amphibious special operations capable commando force, one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy, and provide a company strength unit to the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG). The Royal Marines trace their origins back to the formation of the "Duke of York and Albany's maritime regiment of Foot" on 28 October 1664, and the first Royal Marines Commando unit was formed at Deal in Kent on 14 February 1942 and designated "The Royal Marine Commando".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commandos (United Kingdom)</span> British special operations force during World War II

The Commandos, also known as the British Commandos, were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from Winston Churchill, for special forces that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe. Initially drawn from within the British Army from soldiers who volunteered for the Special Service Brigade, the Commandos' ranks would eventually be filled by members of all branches of the British Armed Forces and a number of foreign volunteers from German-occupied countries. By the end of the war 25,000 men had passed through the Commando course at Achnacarry. This total includes not only the British volunteers, but volunteers from Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Norway and Poland. The United States Army Rangers and US Marine Corps Raiders, Portuguese Fuzileiros Portuguese Marine Corps were modelled on the Commandos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">45 Commando</span> Battalion sized formation of the Royal Marines

45 Commando Royal Marines is a battalion sized unit of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of the Fleet Commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious warfare</span> Military operation attacking from air and sea to land

Amphibious warfare is a type of offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the operations were conducted using ship's boats as the primary method of delivering troops to shore. Since the Gallipoli Campaign, specialised watercraft were increasingly designed for landing troops, material and vehicles, including by landing craft and for insertion of commandos, by fast patrol boats, zodiacs and from mini-submersibles. The term amphibious first emerged in the United Kingdom and the United States during the 1930s with introduction of vehicles such as Vickers-Carden-Loyd Light Amphibious Tank or the Landing Vehicle Tracked.

This is a list of British ground forces in the Falklands War. For a list of ground forces from Argentina, see Argentine ground forces in the Falklands War

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marines</span> Military organization specialized in amphibious warfare

Marines, or naval infantry, are soldiers who specialise at operating in littoral zones, both on land and at sea. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included raiding ashore in support of naval objectives, and the boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ships. Marines also help maintain discipline and order aboard the ship. In most countries, marines are an integral part of that state's navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42 Commando</span> Battalion sized formation of the Royal Marines

42 Commando is a fighting unit within the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade. Based at Norton Manor, Royal Marines Condor and 42 Commando are based at Bickleigh Barracks, Plymouth. Personnel regularly deploy outside the United Kingdom on operations or training. All Royal Marines personnel will have completed the Commando course at the Commando Training Centre (CTCRM) at Lympstone in Devon, entitling them to wear the green beret, with most attached personnel having completed the All Arms Commando Course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">40 Commando</span> Battalion sized formation of the Royal Marines

40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet. Their barracks are at Norton Manor Camp, Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton in Somerset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">847 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters and provides armed reconnaissance and light transport support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Along with 845 and 846 naval air squadrons, it forms part of the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron was re-formed from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron on 1 September 1995.

The history of the Royal Marines began on 28 October 1664 with the formation of the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot soon becoming known as the Admiral's Regiment. During the War of the Spanish Succession the most historic achievement of the Marines was the capture of the mole during the assault on Gibraltar in 1704. On 5 April 1755, His Majesty's Marine Forces, fifty Companies in three Divisions, headquartered at Portsmouth, Chatham and Plymouth, were formed by Order of Council under Admiralty control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st San Marco Regiment</span> Maritime infantry of the Italian Armed Forces

The 1st San Marco Regiment, located in Brindisi, is an amphibious formation of the Italian Navy. They are the Italian marines. Until the middle of the 1990s the unit was known as the San Marco Battalion, until it was expanded beyond battalion size because of the new geopolitical situation after the end of the Cold War and an increasing number of international missions, after as the San Marco Regiment. In 2013 it became part of the San Marco Marine Brigade as 1st San Marco Regiment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Special Service Brigade</span> Military unit

The 1st Special Service Brigade was a commando brigade of the British Army. Formed during the Second World War, it consisted of elements of the British Army and the Royal Marines. The brigade's component units saw action individually in Norway and the Dieppe Raid, before being combined under one commander for service in Normandy during Operation Overlord. On 6 December 1944, the Brigade was redesignated 1st Commando Brigade, removing the title Special Service and its association with the German SS.

The 4th Special Service Brigade was a brigade-sized formation of the British Commandos formed during the Second World War in March 1944 from battalion-sized units of the Royal Marines. Due to the success of the British Army Commandos' operations in Norway, the Channel Islands, St. Nazaire, and the Middle East, the Admiralty dissolved the Royal Marines Division in late 1942 and reorganized its amphibious assault infantry into eight additional Commando units.

The 2nd Special Service Brigade was formed in late 1943 in the Middle East and saw service in Italy, the Adriatic, the landings at Anzio and took part in operations in Yugoslavia. On 6 December 1944 the Brigade was renamed 2nd Commando Brigade, removing the title Special Service and its association with the Schutzstaffel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 12 Commando</span> Military unit

No. 12 Commando was a battalion-sized commando unit of the British Army during the Second World War. Formed in 1940 in Northern Ireland, they carried out a number of small-scale raids in Norway and France between 1941 and 1943 before being disbanded and its personnel dispersed to other commando units.

No. 5 Commando was a battalion-sized commando unit of the British Army during the Second World War.

No. 44 Commando was a battalion size formation in the British Commandos, formed during the Second World War. The Commando was assigned to the 3rd Special Service Brigade and served in the Burma Campaign.

No. 14 (Arctic) Commando sometimes also called the Special Commando Boating Group, was a 60-man Commando unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The commando was formed in 1942 for service in the Arctic and was disbanded in 1943.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "42 Commando | Royal Marines". www.royalnavy.mod.uk.
  2. ↑ The Royal Marines 1919-1908, James D Ladd, Janes 1980, page 373
  3. ↑ "Commando Units". Burma Star Association . Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  4. ↑ Chappell (1996), p. 28.
  5. ↑ Moreman (2008), p. 32.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Chappell (1996), p. 31.
  7. ↑ Durnford-Slater, John (2002) [1953]. Commando: Memoirs of a Fighting Commando in World War Two. London: Greenhill Books. p. 150. ISBN   978-1-85367-479-2.
  8. ↑ "1956: Allied Forces take control of Suez". BBC News. 6 November 1956. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "3 Commando Brigade". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "3 Commando Brigade". Naval History.net. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "1991: UK forces withdraw from Kurdish haven". BBC News. 14 July 1991. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  12. ↑ "Marines spearhead the invasion with lightning attack". The Daily Telegraph. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Commandos ready to face the Taliban". BBC News. 27 July 2006. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "3 Commando Brigade". Royal Navy. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "821 EOD & Search Squadron". British Army. Retrieved 29 July 2022. 821 EOD & Search Squadron is part of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD&S) and consists of: ... Commando Troop – consists of four EOD & Search teams aligned to the Lead Commando Group
  16. ↑ "REME COMMANDO (@3cdoxreme) • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  17. ↑ COMUKAMPHIBFOR General Description Archived 16 March 2011 at the UK Government Web Archive
  18. ↑ "Commando Helicopter Force webpage". Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  19. ↑ "The 847 Naval Air Squadron transitions to the AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopter Interview with Major David Sutton Royal Marines, Senior Pilot". Janes. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  20. ↑ Mackie, Colin (July 2022). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments: Commander, 3rd Commando Brigade" (PDF). Gulabin.com. pp. 287–288. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "3 Commando Brigade change over". The Globe & Laurel. 14 February 2019.
  22. ↑ "Confirmed Online Panelists - 1 December". DefenceIQ.com. 11 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020. Brigadier Rich Cantrill Commander 3 Commando Brigade
  23. ↑ Moreman (2008), p. 94.
  24. ↑ Mills, T.F. "Commando Forces". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2015.

Sources

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