Navy Lookout – 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.

Navy Lookout – As the Royal Marines transition to the Commando Force model, raiding and special forces operations are increasingly important. Here we look at SubSea Craft, a UK-based specialist manufacturer developing products for operators within the special forces and commando community to translate urgent requirements into deployable systems.

The Wavell Room – The transformation of the UK’s Commando Forces (CF), anchored in the Littoral Response Groups (LRGs) and the CF concept, represents an ambitious shift in British expeditionary warfare. However, its viability is undermined by structural and doctrinal disjoints that question its ability to operate effectively in contested littoral environments. Chief among these issues are: the persistent disconnect between the British Army and Royal Navy (RN); inconsistencies between UK Joint Theatre Entry Doctrine and emergent CF operational concepts; and the historical realities of military operations in littorals – especially the Baltic – which highlight the need for mass and endurance over rapid raiding.

Navy Lookout – 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.

Daily Express – Royal Marines are to be withdrawn from conventional infantry roles and reassigned to a new naval special operations unit supporting the UK’s elite Special Boat Service (SBS). The radical restructuring was confirmed during last week’s NATO summit, where military chiefs warned of rising threats from Russia and non-state actors. 

UK Defence Journal – The Royal Marines Commandos have undergone a pretty remarkable shift in role and public perception over recent decades, one worth taking a closer look at.

Navy Lookout – The Royal Marines have been undergoing a rapid transformation in the last 5 years. Here we take an overview of their new operating concepts and the enablers that will be needed to ensure future credibility.

Naval News – The UK government has announced plans to build up to six flexible, multi-role ships to support and enable amphibious and wider littoral operations. This Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) capability can also play a key role in generating conventional deterrence.

Navy Lookout – 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.

Navy Lookout – The concept of a permanently forward-deployed UK ‘Littoral Response Group’ has been around since early 2019 but only now has this vision been partially fulfilled. Now that the 2 ships have arrived in India, here we look at the background and future employment of the LRG(S).

Forces Net – Two Royal Navy amphibious assault ships which the Royal Marines rely on will not be scrapped or mothballed ahead of schedule, a minister has said.

RUSI – This paper analyses the key adaptations that Western amphibious forces will need to make to contribute to deterrence and warfighting in the future operating environment.

Wavell Room – The First Sea Lord or 1SL is the Head of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. A role which has never been filled by a Royal Marine. Why?

UK Defence Journal – According to a joint statement from both nations, the UK and Netherlands are exploring opportunities to develop a future littoral strike platform, providing future capability to both nations’ Commando Forces.

Naval News – The UK Royal Navy officer overseeing the Commando Force modernisation programme has set out plans for the acquisition of a new high-speed, low-signature Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) to replace the Royal Marines’ current Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) MK 5.

Wavell Room – What role does amphibious raiding play in British defence strategy?  What historical precedents can we draw upon for today’s Commando forces?

Barents Observer – The new Arctic operation base will support Britain’s commandos for the next ten years. By the way, the Norwegians don’t call it a “base” because the country’s self-imposed restraints don’t allow for allied countries to stay permanent.

USNI News – Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has issued a pre-procurement notice for a unique type of vessel to help the Royal Marine Commandos. The document outlines an ‘uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel’ (USSV). The vessel must be multi-payload, have a low signature, and long endurance, according to the notice.

Daily Mail – A near undetectable drone disguised as a manta ray will soon be deployed by the Royal Marines for surveillance of warships and submarines.

(Thanks to Alain)

IISS – The newly established Littoral Response Group is part of a broader initiative to adapt the United Kingdom’s amphibious forces to operate in a more dispersed and agile way. This new formation could be as significant to future UK maritime operations as the Carrier Strike Group, but questions remain about how the concept will now develop. 

StrategyPage – Britain is implementing a lot of their Future Commando Force modernization measures in 2021. These include new combat equipment, weapons, organizational concepts and tactics. One example of the new organizational concepts are two new commando units called Royal Marines Vanguard Strike Companies (VSC).

War Zone – Whether on land or at sea, Britain’s secretive Special Boat Service has a history of getting the toughest jobs done. 

BBC – Sixteen members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) ended a 10-hour standoff which started when stowaways on board the Liberian-registered Nave Andromeda reportedly became violent.

– USNI News – The retirement last year of the Royal Navy’s biggest assault ship – the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean – was accompanied by dire warnings in the British press of the imminent demise of the country’s entire amphibious warfighting capability. On Wednesday, the head of the Royal Marines, flanked by two senior colleagues and a navy commodore, overturned the forecasts by outlining bold new plans to return the United Kingdom’s sea soldiers to their maritime roots.

– BBC – Cutting the number of Royal Marines and the ships they use to carry out beach landings would significantly undermine UK security, MPs have warned.