Commando Force
Royal Navy downsizes its assault ship ambitions
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is expected to be published this week. In advance of publication, the MoD has already made some announcements about the shape of the future fleet. Here, we consider the issues surrounding the Commando Force.
Austerity and ambition: reshaping the Royal Marines for modern conflict
The Royal Marines stand at a pivotal moment, returning to their raiding heritage amid budget pressures that demand greater efficiency and output. Their shift from brigade-scale amphibious operations to agile NATO special operations contributors comes as an RM First Sea Lord accelerates innovation across the service.
Royal Navy helicopters sharpen advanced assault tactics
The Commando Helicopter Force has completed a demanding two-week training evolution in North Yorkshire, flying in contested environments, evading simulated air defences, and conducting complex joint air assaults as part of Exercise Hades Warrior.
Ship to shore – new solutions for getting troops onto the beach
In January 2023 the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) launched the Novel Amphibious Craft competition as a prelude to replacing the Royal Marines’ small landing craft. Here we look at one of the potential solutions – Steller Systems’ Offshore Insertion Craft concept.
Royal Marines launch commando raid from Astute class submarine during Arctic exercise
This brief photo and video essay shows Royal Marines of Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group conducting a small boat raid from a Royal Navy Astute class submarine.
Understanding the Royal Navy’s littoral response group concept
The Integrated Review promised Royal Navy’s future amphibious capability would be built around two Littoral Response Groups (LRG). Here we look at how this will be delivered, the strategic questions raised.
Royal Navy amphibious warfare capability in flux
It is an uncertain time for the Royal Navy’s amphibious warfare capability (now called ‘Littoral Strike’). A changing battlefield environment is driving a significant evolution of operating doctrine while at the same time, the Royal Marines and their amphibious platforms are potentially under threat from looming defence cuts.
A closer look at the Littoral Strike Ship concept
In February 2019, the then Defence Minister, Gavin Williamson, announced the plan to rapidly procure vessels around which two ‘Littoral Strike Groups’ would be formed. Here we look further at the Future Littoral Strike Ship (FLSS) concept and at the design developed by Prevail Partners as one of the potential candidates to meet this requirement.
Exploring innovative future concepts for the Royal Marines
Young engineering graduates from across the UK defence industry have been working with the Royal Marines to develop new solutions for the challenges of future commando and amphibious operations. Some of the concepts may appear to be science fiction fantasies but it is important for the Corps to explore every possibility as it seeks to develop and innovate.
