View source for 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group

{{Short description|Force protection formation of the Royal Marines}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines
| image                         = 43 Cdo FP Gp.jpg
| image_size                    = 140px
| caption                       = Unit badge
| dates                         = 1943–1946<br />1961–1968<br />1980 – present
| country                       = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| allegiance                    =
| branch                        = {{Tree list}}
*{{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg}} [[His Majesty's Naval Service|Naval Service]]
**{{flagicon image|Flag of the Royal Marines.svg}} [[Royal Marines]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| type                          = [[Commando]]
| role                          = [[Force protection]]<br>[[Maritime interdiction operations]]<br>Nuclear security
| size                          = 550 personnel<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/royal-marines/commando-brigade/43-cdo-fleet-protection-group|title=43 Commando|accessdate=24 February 2021}}</ref>
| command_structure             = [[UK Commando Force]]<ref>{{cite web|access-date=4 April 2012|publisher=Royal Navy|title=43 Commando|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/Operations/Enduring-Operations/UK/43-Commando-Fleet-Protection-Group-Royal-Marines}}</ref>
| garrison                      = [[HMNB Clyde]]
| garrison_label                = Base
| nickname                      = FPG
| patron                        =
| motto                         = ''Per Mare Per Terram'' (By Sea By Land) ([[Latin]])
| colors                        = Red and old gold
| colors_label                  = Colours (lanyard)
| march                         = Quick – ''[[A Life on the Ocean Wave]]''<br>Slow – ''Preobrajensky''
| mascot                        =
| equipment                     =
| equipment_label               =
| battles                       =
| battles_label                 =
| anniversaries                 = Lake Comacchio, 3 April 1945
| decorations                   =
| battle_honours                =
| disbanded                     =
| flying_hours                  =
| website                       = [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/sitecore/content/home/the-fleet/the-royal-marines/3-commando-brigade/43-cdo-fleet-protection-group 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines]
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = [[Charles III|The King]]<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=His Majesty The King is announced as Captain General Royal Marines on the 358th Anniversary of the Corps |url=https://www.royal.uk/his-majesty-king-announced-captain-general-royal-marines-358th-anniversary-corps |website=The Royal Household |date=28 October 2022 |access-date=28 October 2022}}</ref>
| commander1_label              = Captain General
| commander2                    = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Gwyn Jenkins]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/services/royal-marines/major-general-gwyn-jenkins-named-new-commandant-general|title=Royal Marines appoint new Commandant General|date=25 November 2022|publisher=forces.net|access-date=27 November 2022}}</ref>
| commander2_label              = [[Commandant General Royal Marines|Commandant General]]
| commander3                    = Commander Operations, Fleet Headquarters
| commander3_label              = Superior Commander
| commander4                    = Colonel Tony de Reya RM MBE
| commander4_label              = Current Commander
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol_2       =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| identification_symbol_3       =
| identification_symbol_3_label =
| identification_symbol_4       =
| identification_symbol_4_label =
}}

[[File:HMNB Clyde.jpg|thumb|250px|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'''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/4251|title=43 Commando resurrected as historic Royal Marines unit returns|access-date=3 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404101737/http://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/4251|archive-date=4 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 weapon]]s. The unit, based at HM Naval Base Clyde, is part of [[United Kingdom Commando Force|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.<ref>Haskew, pp.&nbsp;48–49</ref>

In July 1943, 43 Commando was formed, after the conversion of the [[battalion]]s of the [[Royal Marines Division|Royal Marine Division]] into commando units.<ref>Neillands 2004, pp. 81–82.</ref>  The initial intake of personnel was drawn from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Marines.<ref>Neillands 2004, p. 81.</ref> Following commando training at Achnacarry in Scotland, the unit consisted of about 450 men organized into a headquarters, five [[infantry]] [[troop]]s consisting of three [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] and 63 [[Other ranks (UK)|other ranks]], along with a heavy weapons troop—armed with [[Vickers machine gun|Vickers machine guns]], [[ML 3-inch mortar|3-inch mortars]] and [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|6-pounder anti-tank guns]]—and a signals platoon.<ref>Neillands 2004, p. 79.</ref><ref>Saunders 1959, p. 180.</ref>

Along with [[No. 2 Commando|No. 2]], [[No. 9 Commando|No. 9]] and [[40 Commando|No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commandos]], 43 Commando formed the [[2nd Special Service Brigade]].<ref>Chappell 1996, p. 28.</ref> In 1943–45, No. 43 (Royal Marine) Commando served in [[Italy]], [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Greece]].<ref>Neillands 2004, p. 78.</ref>

====Victoria Cross====
Corporal [[Thomas Peck Hunter]] was posthumously awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions during [[Operation Roast]] at [[Valli di Comacchio|Lake Comacchio]], [[Italy]] during the [[Second World War]]. Hunter cleared a farmhouse containing three [[MG42|MG42 machine-gun]]s 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.<ref>{{Cite journal | title = Ninth Supplement | journal = [[The London Gazette]] | issue = 37127 | pages = 3087 | location = London | date = 12 June 1945 | url = http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37127/supplements/3087}}</ref> The [[Commanding Officer]], Lieutenant Colonel [[Ian Riches]] RM was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] in this action.  He went on to be [[Commandant General Royal Marines]] between 1959 and 1962.<ref name=inde>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary--general-sir-ian-riches-1281967.html Obituary: General Sir Ian Riches] The Independent, 6 January 1997</ref>

===Re-formed===
In 1961, 43 Commando RM was reformed at [[Stonehouse Barracks]] "as a further contribution to the forces available for seaborne operations".<ref name=bau>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-marines/43-commando.html|title=43 Commando|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-review.org/issues/1961-3.pdf|title=The Naval Review, Vol XLIX, No 3 dated July 1961, p292|year=1961|access-date=2010-04-12|archive-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302091938/http://www.naval-review.org/issues/1961-3.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The unit was disbanded again in 1968.<ref name=bau/>

===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.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 37127 |date=12 June 1945|pages=3087–380|supp=y}}</ref> On its formation, Comacchio Company took on the colours and traditions of the then-defunct 43 Commando.<ref name=rmh>{{cite web|url=https://rmhistorical.com/files/content/Fleet%20Protection%20Group.pdf|title=Fleet Protection Group|publisher=RM Historical|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name=rmh/> The company initially numbered around 424 personnel.<ref name=rmh/>

In November 1983, the Comacchio Company RM became Comacchio Group RM.<ref name=rmh/> 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]].<ref name=rmh/>

===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.<ref name=rmh/> The Group moved from [[RM Condor]] in [[Arbroath, Angus|Arbroath]] [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], where it was co-located with [[45 Commando]], to [[HMNB Clyde|HM Naval Base Clyde]], which is situated near [[Helensburgh]], [[Argyll and Bute]], both in [[Scotland]].<ref name=rmh/>

In 2012, FPGRM formally adopted the name 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines.<ref>[http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/April/04/120404-43-Commado-resurrected 43 Commando resurrected as historic Royal Marines unit returns] – Royal Navy, 4 April 2012</ref>

In 2016, elements of the unit began using the [[Colt Canada C8]] carbine instead of the standard [[L85A2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/58501/uk-royal-marine-unit-ditches-the-sa80-for-colt-c8|title=UK Royal Marine unit ditches the SA80 for Colt C8|access-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317184342/http://www.janes.com/article/58501/uk-royal-marine-unit-ditches-the-sa80-for-colt-c8|archive-date=17 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Commandos from 43 Commando regularly train with other forces both inside the UK and other nations including the [[US Marines]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-09-10 |title=43 Commando FPG on TARTAN EAGLE 23 |url=https://www.joint-forces.com/exercise-news/67339-43-commando-fpg-on-tartan-eagle-23 |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Joint Forces News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Candlin |first=Alex |date=2023-09-06 |title=Royal Marines sharpen skills to protect the UK's nuclear deterrent |url=https://www.forces.net/nuclear/royal-marines-complete-training-protecting-uks-ultimate-weapon |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}</ref>

==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, [[Naval boarding|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.<ref name=elite/>

43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a Royal Marine Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland and is part of [[United Kingdom Commando Force|UK Commando Force]], the UK's high readiness expeditionary amphibious force.<ref name=elite/>

As of 2016, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines has over 550 personnel and is organised into several sub-units:<ref name=elite>{{cite web|url=http://www.eliteukforces.info/royal-marines/fleet-protection-group/|title=Fleet Protection Group|publisher=Elite Forces|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>
*HQ headquarters squadron
*O Rifle Squadron<ref name=elite/>
*P Rifle Squadron (reformed in 2018)<ref name=elite/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2018/june/29/180629-royal-marines-storm-the-rock-to-protect-britains-ultimate-weapon|title=Royal Marines storm the Rock to protect Britain's ultimate weapon|publisher=Royal Navy|access-date=11 September 2018}}</ref>
*R Rifle Squadron<ref name=elite/>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:43-commando-hr.jpg|Members of 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines train using [[Colt Canada C7#United Kingdom|L119A1 carbines]] fitted with a CQB upper receiver.
File:43_Commando_Fleet_Protection_Group_MOD_45160375.jpg|Royal Marines from 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group conducting an ‘Underway Boarding Exercise’ in conjunction with a local ferry, 2015.
</gallery>

==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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080111085734/http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10487 HMS Eaglet] accessed 14 December 2015</ref>

==See also==
* [[Royal Navy]]
* [[British Armed Forces]]
* [[Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom]]
* [[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/royal-marines/3-commando-brigade/43-cdo-fleet-protection-group Official Website]

{{RM Commandos}}
{{British Commando units of the Second World War|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Commando units and formations of the United Kingdom|43]]
[[Category:Royal Marine formations and units]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1942]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in World War II]]
[[Category:United Kingdom nuclear command and control]]
[[Category:Trident (UK nuclear programme)]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in the United Kingdom]]