43 Commando Fleet Protection Group

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File:HMNB Clyde.jpg
Security of nuclear weapons at Faslane, HM Naval Base Clyde, is part of the Group's responsibilities

The 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (43 Cdo FP Gp RM),[1] formerly Comacchio Company Royal Marines (1980–1983), Comacchio Group Royal Marines (1983–2001) and Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines (2001–2012), is a 550-man unit of the Royal Marines responsible for guarding the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons. The unit, based at HM Naval Base Clyde, is part of UK Commando Force.

It inherited the traditions and battle honours of the Second World War No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commandos.

History

Second World War

Early Commando units were all from the British Army. In February 1942, the Royal Marines were asked to organize commando units of their own, and 6,000 men volunteered.[2]

In July 1943, 43 Commando was formed, after the conversion of the battalions of the Royal Marine Division into commando units.[3] The initial intake of personnel was drawn from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Marines.[4] Following commando training at Achnacarry in Scotland, the unit consisted of about 450 men organized into a headquarters, five infantry troops consisting of three officers and 63 other ranks, along with a heavy weapons troop—armed with Vickers machine guns, 3-inch mortars and 6-pounder anti-tank guns—and a signals platoon.[5][6]

Along with No. 2, No. 9 and No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commandos, 43 Commando formed the 2nd Special Service Brigade.[7] In 1943–45, No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando served in Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece.[8]

Victoria Cross

Corporal Thomas Peck Hunter was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during Operation Roast at Lake Comacchio, Italy during the Second World War. Hunter cleared a farmhouse containing three MG42 machine-guns on his own, firing a Bren Gun from his hip. Hunter then proceeded to draw enemy fire until most of his troop had taken cover.[9] The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ian Riches RM was awarded the DSO in this action. He went on to be Commandant General Royal Marines between 1959 and 1962.[10]

Re-formed

In 1961, 43 Commando RM was reformed at Stonehouse Barracks "as a further contribution to the forces available for seaborne operations".[11][12] The unit was disbanded again in 1968.[11]

Comacchio Company

On 1 May 1980, the Comacchio Company Royal Marines was formed - taking its name from the battle honour "Comacchio, Italy 1945", where Hunter posthumously received the Victoria Cross for his actions.[13] On its formation, Comacchio Company took on the colours and traditions of the then-defunct 43 Commando.[14] The company's purpose was to guard the UK's Naval nuclear weapons and be a maritime counter-terrorism unit for offshore installations, including oil rigs and ships.[14] The company initially numbered around 424 personnel.[14]

In November 1983, the Comacchio Company RM became Comacchio Group RM.[14] In 1987, Comacchio Group ceased performing the maritime counter-terrorism role after a study transferred the task to the newly formed M-squadron of the Royal Marines Special Boat Service.[14]

Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines

In March 2001, the Comacchio Group RM was renamed Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, and restructured into its current organisation.[14] The Group moved from RM Condor in Arbroath Angus, where it was co-located with 45 Commando, to HM Naval Base Clyde, which is situated near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, both in Scotland.[14]

In 2012, FPGRM formally adopted the name 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines.[15]

In 2016, elements of the unit began using the Colt Canada C8 carbine instead of the standard L85A2.[16]

Commandos from 43 Commando regularly train with other forces both inside the UK and other nations including the US Marines.[17][18]

Tasks and organisation

The primary mission is to prevent unauthorised access to the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent through the provision of specialist military capability. Additionally, maritime boarding and sniper teams and the very high readiness Fleet Contingent Troop are deployed world-wide to conduct specialist maritime security tasks in support of the Royal Navy.[19]

43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a Royal Marine Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland and is part of UK Commando Force, the UK's high readiness expeditionary amphibious force.[19]

As of 2016, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines has over 550 personnel and is organised into several sub-units:[19]

  • HQ headquarters squadron
  • O Rifle Squadron[19]
  • P Rifle Squadron (reformed in 2018)[19][20]
  • R Rifle Squadron[19]

Royal Navy Reserve augmentation

Naval ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve have been attached to 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, to support the force protection tasks outside of the United Kingdom. Force protection duties are currently carried out by the standing tasks commando unit, a duty which rotates annually between Commando units.[21]

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:RM Commandos Template:British Commando units of the Second World War Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Haskew, pp. 48–49
  3. ↑ Neillands 2004, pp. 81–82.
  4. ↑ Neillands 2004, p. 81.
  5. ↑ Neillands 2004, p. 79.
  6. ↑ Saunders 1959, p. 180.
  7. ↑ Chappell 1996, p. 28.
  8. ↑ Neillands 2004, p. 78.
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Obituary: General Sir Ian Riches The Independent, 6 January 1997
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Template:London Gazette
  14. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ 43 Commando resurrected as historic Royal Marines unit returns – Royal Navy, 4 April 2012
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ HMS Eaglet accessed 14 December 2015
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