43 Commando Fleet Protection Group

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military unit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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 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.

HistoryEdit

Second World WarEdit

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. 48–49</ref>

In July 1943, 43 Commando was formed, after the conversion of the battalions of the 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 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.<ref>Neillands 2004, p. 79.</ref><ref>Saunders 1959, p. 180.</ref>

Along with No. 2, No. 9 and 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 CrossEdit

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.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 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.<ref name=inde>Obituary: General Sir Ian Riches The Independent, 6 January 1997</ref>

Re-formedEdit

In 1961, 43 Commando RM was reformed at Stonehouse Barracks "as a further contribution to the forces available for seaborne operations".<ref name=bau>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The unit was disbanded again in 1968.<ref name=bau/>

Comacchio CompanyEdit

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>Template:London Gazette</ref> On its formation, Comacchio Company took on the colours and traditions of the then-defunct 43 Commando.<ref name=rmh>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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 MarinesEdit

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, where it was co-located with 45 Commando, to 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>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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Commandos from 43 Commando regularly train with other forces both inside the UK and other nations including the US Marines.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tasks and organisationEdit

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.<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 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HQ headquarters squadron
O Rifle Squadron<ref name=elite/>
P Rifle Squadron (reformed in 2018)<ref name=elite/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

R Rifle Squadron<ref name=elite/>

43-commando-hr.jpg

Members of 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines train using L119A1 carbines fitted with a CQB upper receiver.
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.

Royal Navy Reserve augmentationEdit

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>HMS Eaglet accessed 14 December 2015</ref>