Working Across the Service

The heart of today’s Royal Marines is 3 Commando Brigade. This is made up of three operational Commando Units – 40, 42 and 45 – each of about 650 to 700 men, equipped with a range of vehicles, weapons and communications systems. Other units support them, including raiding and landing craft, helicopters, air defence, electronic warfare, logistics and communications specialists.

We operate from Royal Navy aircraft, submarines and ships, using them as floating bases from which we can launch a whole range of operations, such as humanitarian aid missions to offensive operations. The huge commando assault ships can carry up to 700 fully-equipped Royal Marines, allowing us to launch operations onto the beach and on land.

With helicopters, landing craft and fast boats deploying our amphibious force is now a highly efficient and effective process. When on land, we keep up the pace. The speed-marching we perfect during training lets us cover ground fast, tackling enemy positions, rescuing civilians or prisoners or securing bases for other forces to use behind us as we push further forward.

Specialist Royal Marines Commandos trained in assault engineering, anti-tank warfare, air defence, signals and other skills make us a fighting force able to deal with any situation we face, without having to wait for reinforcements.

We provide the flexible and hard-hitting military response that Britain needs in the modern world. The UK Joint Rapid Reaction Force has been formed to meet its varied and rapidly changing demands. This allows Britain to use resources from all the armed forces to meet a specific need. We play an important part in this organisation. The Naval Service contributes its ships, submarines, aircraft and people. Whether the mission is military or humanitarian, we are almost always among the first to be sent in, as we were in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it’s not just our ‘Commando Spirit’ that makes us vital to the Rapid Reaction Force. It also makes full use of our unique specialist skills.