On Land

The traditions and fighting ethos of the Royal Marine Commando are legendary. It is the specialist skills of the Royal Marines that allows the Royal Navy to act so successfully from the sea in a battle on land. The Royal Marines are supported by aircraft operating from ships offshore and operate under the cover of long-range guns and hi-tech Command Headquarters provided by the offshore ships. It is this ability to deliver military power from the sea that gives the UK the opportunity to operate where it is invited and where it is not. This means politicians have real choice in how and when to act.

This vital capability is at high readiness and ready to respond to any crisis around the world. This modern Landing Force is not to be confused with the historical example of the Normandy landings, where light infantry stormed heavily defended beaches.  Today’s force is about manoeuvre; that means avoiding defences and projecting military force precisely. The Task Group is tailored to accomplish any of the full range of security tasks from capacity building through training, reassurance and stability through sustained presence, demonstrations of capability to achieve a deterrent or coercive result or ultimately through to focused military force.

The capability to land outside the limitations of a port is very useful. Humanitarian aid or evacuations to withdraw UK nationals from a region threatened by an international military crisis is a highly credible task for the only land force element in Defence that can operate independently of rights of access, basing permissions and overflight restrictions, in other words, to go where you are not invited.