3 Commando Brigade

3 Commando Brigade
Unit name	3 Commando Brigade
Dates	1962–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Marines
Type	Brigade
Role	Amphibious and expeditionary warfare
Size	~3,000 personnel
Command structure	UK Landing Force
Garrison	Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth
Notable commanders	Major General Sir Jeremy Moore, Major General Julian Thompson, John Frost
Battles	Falklands War, Gulf War, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone

3 Commando Brigade 3 Commando Brigade is an United Kingdom Royal Marines formation specialising in amphibious, expeditionary and rapid-reaction operations. Established during the Cold War era, the brigade has been deployed to conflicts and crises including the Falklands War, Gulf War, Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), operating alongside formations such as the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and international forces from United States Marine Corps, French Navy, and NATO contingents.

History

Formed in the early 1960s from pre-existing Commando units, the brigade traces lineage to Second World War formations that fought in the North African Campaign, Italian Campaign, and Burma Campaign. During the Cold War the brigade featured in NATO contingency planning for the NATO northern flank and supported operations during the decolonisation crises of the Suez Crisis era. Its most prominent post‑war action was the 1982 campaign to retake the Falkland Islands from Argentine forces after the Argentine invasion, where brigade elements fought at San Carlos Water, Goose Green, Mount Tumbledown, and Wireless Ridge. In 1991 brigade units served in the Gulf War as part of Operation Granby, contributing to coalition operations alongside CENTCOM forces. The 1990s and 2000s saw deployments to Sierra Leone during Operation Palliser, to the Balkans with United Nations Protection Force and SFOR contingents, and to Iraq and Afghanistan during operations linked to Operation Telic and Operation Herrick. Post‑2010 restructuring aligned the brigade to the UK Joint Expeditionary Force concept and littoral strike roles emphasised by MOD strategy.

Organisation and Units

The brigade is commanded by a brigadier and comprises battalion‑sized Commando units, artillery, reconnaissance, engineer, logistics, and support elements. Key units have included 40 Commando, 42 Commando, 45 Commando, and specialist elements such as 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (or successor engineer units), and the brigade's reconnaissance troops which liaise with Special Boat Service, Special Air Service, and UK Special Forces where required. Air assault and rotary lift are provided in cooperation with RAF Regiment and Commando Helicopter Force, while maritime mobility is provided by Royal Navy amphibious ships such as HMS Ocean, HMS Albion, and HMS Bulwark or their replacements in the Royal Navy amphibious fleet. Logistic and medical support are drawn from units within Joint Forces Command and the Royal Logistic Corps.

Operational Deployments

Deployments span conventional war, peacekeeping, counter‑insurgency and humanitarian relief. In the Falklands War the brigade executed amphibious landings and set piece assaults against entrenched positions, coordinating with Royal Navy carrier task groups and Royal Air Force air assets. In Sierra Leone brigade elements secured Freetown and protected evacuations during Operation Palliser with cooperation from United Nations and Commonwealth partners. During Operation Telic and Operation Herrick units undertook seizing operations, patrolling, and training of Iraqi Army and Afghan National Army formations, operating alongside United States Marine Corps, Polish Land Forces, Australian Army, and Canadian Forces. The brigade has also conducted evacuation operations in unstable states, cooperating with Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular operations and International Committee of the Red Cross partners, and taken part in Exercise Trident Juncture, Exercise Cold Response, and multinational amphibious exercises with Royal Netherlands Navy and Spanish Navy units.

Training and Doctrine

Brigade doctrine emphasises littoral strike, amphibious assault, mountain and cold‑weather warfare, and joint interoperability. Training is conducted at centres such as CTCRM at Lympstone, cold‑weather training at Norway ranges alongside Arctic warfare partners, amphibious training on Exe Estuary and at DTE Elgin ranges, and live‑fire collective exercises with Combined Joint Expeditionary Force partners. Individual selection and commando courses include rafting, assault course, and navigation skills drawn from historic Commando standards. Doctrine publications align with Joint Doctrine Publication series and interoperability frameworks used by NATO and the Combined Joint Task Force constructs.

Equipment and Support

The brigade employs tracked and wheeled amphibious vehicles such as BvS 10, armoured mobility including variants of the Foxhound and logistic vehicles from the Royal Logistic Corps inventory, indirect fires from MLRS or tube artillery via 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, and precision small arms like variants of the L85A2 and sniper systems interoperable with UKSF teams. Air support is provided by Commando Helicopter Force platforms including the AgustaWestland AW101 and Westland Lynx legacy types, while naval platforms provide amphibious lift, command and control, and logistics via RFA vessels and Fleet Air Arm elements. Medical, intelligence, electronic warfare and signals support are integrated from Defence Intelligence and Joint Forces Command sources.

Insignia, Traditions and Culture

Insignia and traditions draw on Royal Marines heritage, with unit symbols including the Prince of Wales's feathers motifs and commando fairbairn‑sykes lineage in collective lore. The brigade celebrates battle honours associated with Second World War commando actions, the Falklands War campaign, and modern deployments, maintaining customs such as the green beret, Royal Marines Band Service music at ceremonial events, and affiliations with civic institutions in Plymouth and other Devonport communities. Regimental songs, mess traditions, and commemorations such as Remembrance services link the brigade to broader British Armed Forces culture and to veteran organisations including Royal Marines Association and Veterans' charities.

Category:Royal Marines Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom