Marines' support regiment, Returns

The men and women who’ve provided the vital back-up support for Royal Marines in Afghanistan are returning to Britain after completing their six-month tour of duty.

The Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines – which comprises not just green berets, but also sailors and soldiers – is responsible for a raft of duties in support of 3 Commando Brigade: medical aid, maintaining vehicles, and running ‘combat logistic patrols’ (crucial resupply convoys).

The regiment, based at RM Chivenor in North Devon, deployed en masse to support its parent brigade, but with Operation Herrick14 now ending, the CLR men and women are coming home – at all hours of the day.

The first tired but delighted group of CLR personnel arrived in Chivenor over the weekend to be met by overjoyed loved ones – the last of the regiment, the medics, will be home by Wednesday October 12.

It’s part of an entire roulement of British forces in Afghanistan as Herrick 14 ends; the rest of 3 Commando Brigade is also in the process of coming home from Helmand.

Throughout its six months in theatre, the logistic regiment was split into four distinct units – with very differing missions to perform:

Landing Force Support Party (LFSP) Squadron contained the majority of deployed troops and worked alongside the regiment’s Headquarters staff, in commanding and running the Combat Logistic Patrols.

The party covered miles of hostile, unforgiving terrain – which contained lethal improvised explosive devices – as they delivered essential supplies to front-line troops in the forward operating bases, patrol bases and checkpoints;

Logistic Support (LS) Squadron – 68 strong, it’s been part of an advisory training team with the goal of developing the 5 Kandak (Regiment), Afghan National Army in a number of logistic specialisations, enabling them to take on the full responsibility for sustaining Afghan troops in Helmand;

The Equipment Support (ES) Squadron, partnered with 2 Close Support Battalion REME, has been responsible for all equipment maintenance and repairs and comprises vehicle mechanics, metal-smiths, technicians and armourers;

Medical Squadron – the 26 personnel from CLR were part of a larger 96-strong Close Support Medical Regiment; these medics have been responsible for providing all medical support to front-line troops, Combat Logistic Patrols and the training teams.

The returning CLR men and women are now enjoying much-deserved post-deployment leave. The sacrifices made by the regiment will be honoured next month with a medal parade.