3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando Qualified Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen.

History

3 Commando Brigade can trace its origins back to World War II, when it was formed as the 3rd Special Service Brigade. The Commandos were formed as forces to perform raids on occupied Europe. Many of these raids were relatively small affairs, but some were very large, such as the 1942 Dieppe Raid, and the attack on St Nazaire to cripple the dry dock there.

The 3rd Special Service Brigade was formed in 1943 and sailed for the Far East and saw action against the Japanese in the Burma Campaign. On December 6 1944 the Brigade was re named 3rd Commando Brigade, removing the hated title Special Service and its association with the German SS. In January 1945 they were involved in the battles to secure the Myebon peninsula and Kangaw, holding a key position against repeated Japanese attacks.
The Brigade was then withdrawn to India to prepare for the amphibious assault on Malaya, but the dropping of the Atom Bombs on Japan ended the war before the planned invasion. Instead the Brigade moved to Hong Kong to secure the Crown Colony.
In 1946 the Army Commandos in the Brigade were disbanded and the Brigade became a Royal Marine Commando formation.

Formation in World War II

• No 1 Army Commando

• No. 5 Army Commando

• No 42 Royal Marine Commando

• No 44 Royal Marine Commando.

Post World War II

3 Commando Brigade was at the forefront of many actions over the next 25 years, acting as a strategic reserve for the Far East and Mediterranean areas. Its most high profile operation during this time was the Suez Crisis, when it took part in the amphibious assault against Egyptian targets. During Operation Musketeer, units of the Brigade made the first British helicopter borne assault in history.

1971 saw the withdrawal of British forces from the Far East and Persian Gulf. The Brigade returned to the UK with other British units. It moved to Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth, where it remains to this day.

Operation Corporate

The Brigade's next large operation was in 1982. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, and 3 Commando Brigade was one of the two main British land formations that took part in operations to recapture the islands. The Brigade landed at San Carlos Water and marched across East Falkland to Stanley. Argentine units were defeated in several sharp engagements, and their forces surrendered on 14 June.

Gulf War

In the aftermath of the Gulf War, the Brigade was deployed on a non-combat task in northern Iraq. The Kurds had suffered immensely during the war and its immediate aftermath, and the Brigade was used due to its rapid deployment ability. It provided succour to the Kurds and saved many from starvation.

21st Century

Recently, the brigade has been involved in two major campaigns, including Operation Veritas in Afghanistan, 2001 and 2002, and Operation Telic during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In Afghanistan, no contact was made with enemy forces, despite contrary predictions. Iraq, however, saw heavy fighting occur in the early stages of the campaign, as the Brigade made its first amphibious assault in over 20 years by landing on the Al-Faw peninsula in south east Iraq. Both operations were successful, and demonstrated the brigade is still ready to perform its traditional role as one of the United Kingdom's elite fighting forces.

In 2006, the brigade returned to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick, replacing 16 Air Assault Brigade, where intense fighting occurred and the brigade suffered a loss of 15 men (KIA).

Organisation

The Brigade is commanded by a Royal Marines Brigadier and contains Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. Brigade headquarters staff are located at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth, Devon with the majority of the subordinate formations in South West England. By 2003 the brigades constituent Commando units had been re-organised in accordance with the Commando 21 re-structuring.

The subordinate units are:

• 40 Commando Royal Marines, based at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset.

• 42 Commando Royal Marines, based at Bickleigh Barracks, Plymouth

• 45 Commando Royal Marines, based at RM Condor, Arbroath

• Commando Logistic Regiment, based at RM Chivenor, Devon

• 539 Assault Squadron, Royal Marines

• Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, Yeovilton, Somerset

• UK Landing Force Command Support Group which comprises:

• Attached Army units:

Helicopter support is provided by the Commando Helicopter Force of the Fleet Air Arm, based at RNAS Yeovilton.

The Special Forces (SF) element is usually provided by units of the Special Boat Service (SBS). SF support will be allocated from the Director Special Forces, as required for tasking.

The attached army units consist of commando-trained units from the British Army. They are attached to the brigade and provide close-support, field artillery and integral combat engineer support

When the Brigade is operating as the United Kingdom/ Netherlands Landing Force the Operational Control of one Marine Infantry Battalion, a Mortar Company, 7th SBS Troop (NL) and a Combat Service Support element of the Korps Mariniers are delegated to the formation.

The Brigade structure has recently been enhanced with the formation of 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers subsuming 59 and 131 Squadrons and increasing the capacity to bring it into line with the deployable brigades of the British Army.

Commanders

• 1943 - 1944 Brigadier Peter Young

• 1963 Brigadier F C Barton

• 1977 – 1979 Brigadier J J Moore

• 1982 Brigadier J H A Thompson

• 199? – 1995 Brigadier J J Thomson

• 1995 – 1997 Brigadier A A Milton

• 1997 – 1998 Brigadier R Fulton

• 1998 – 2001 Brigadier L Sciafe

• 20?? – 20?? Brigadier Jim Dutton ADC

• 2005 – 2007 Brigadier Jerry Thomas

• 2007 – 2008 Brigadier David Capewell

• 2008 – 2008 Brigadier F H R "Buster" Howes OBE

• 2008 – Current Brigadier Gordon Messenger DSO OBE