Commandos
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| Name | Commandos |
| Established | 17th century (irregulars)–20th century (modern units) |
| Type | Irregular light infantry; special operations forces |
| Role | Raids, reconnaissance, sabotage, direct action, counterinsurgency |
| Size | Small units, platoon to company level |
| Notable commanders | Robert Rogers, Robert Baden-Powell, William Slim, Orde Wingate, Anders Lassen |
| Battles | Raid on St. Nazaire, Dieppe Raid, Battle of Crete, Burma Campaign, Falklands War |
Commandos are specialized light infantry and special operations forces organized for high-intensity raids, reconnaissance, sabotage, and unconventional warfare. Originating in early modern irregular formations, they evolved through colonial-era militias and formalized units in the 20th century, influencing organization across the British Army, United States Army, Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, French Army, and Israeli Defense Forces. Commandos have shaped operations in theaters such as the North African Campaign, Pacific War, European Theatre of World War II, and postwar conflicts like the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Falklands War.
Etymology and Origins
The English term derives from the Afrikaans/Dutch kommando, used to describe mounted militia during the Anglo-Boer Wars and earlier Dutch Cape Colony operations, with etymological links to Portuguese and Spanish expeditionary terms used during the Age of Discovery. Early precursors include irregulars such as the Cossacks, Hussars, Janissaries, and colonial ranger units like Robert Rogers' Rangers and the French Foreign Legion. Influences also came from indigenous formations during the Seven Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Crimean War, while Victorian-era figures such as Robert Baden-Powell and Gerald Templer adapted light infantry doctrine for imperial policing in places like the Second Boer War and Mahdist War.
Historical Development and Notable Units
20th-century formalization accelerated with units such as the British Commandos raised in 1940 under Winston Churchill and Louis Mountbatten, the Dutch Korps Commandotroepen, the French Commandos Marine, and the United States Army Rangers deriving from the Merrill's Marauders and First Special Service Force. Other notable formations include the SAS Regiment in the British Army, the Marines-based Marine Raiders of the United States Marine Corps, the Soviet Spetsnaz, the German Brandenburgers, the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces, the Israeli Sayeret Matkal, the Portuguese Commandos, the Greek Raider Squadrons, the Norwegian Independent Company 1, and the New Zealand Special Air Service. Colonial and resistance-linked units such as the French Maquis, Polish Cichociemni, and Yugoslav Partisans demonstrated commando-style operations, while modern units include the United States Navy SEALs, Russian Alpha Group, GIGN, and the Australian SAS Regiment.
Roles, Training, and Tactics
Commandos specialize in raids, reconnaissance, counterterrorism, direct action, hostage rescue, and unconventional warfare across littoral, mountain, jungle, and urban environments. Training regimens were pioneered by institutions like Fort Benning, Achnacarry training center, and academies associated with the Royal Marines, United States Naval Special Warfare Center, and Israeli Defense Forces training schools. Tactics blend elements of guerrilla warfare as practiced by the Vietnam People's Army, infiltration techniques from German Fallschirmjäger, amphibious doctrine from United States Marine Corps doctrine, and airborne operations influenced by the German Luftwaffe's early parachute units. Famous instructors and doctrinal authors include Colin Gubbins, Orde Wingate, Vasily Margelov, and Charles de Gaulle-era planners.
Equipment and Uniforms
Equipment ranges from light carbines and submachine guns—such as the Sten, M1 Carbine, MP40, AK-47, and FN FAL—to specialized weapons like the Bren gun, Browning Automatic Rifle, Heckler & Koch MP5, and modern modular rifles. Mobility platforms include landing craft like the LCVP, aircraft such as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and armored reconnaissance vehicles like the Ferret and Hamilcar glider usage in WWII. Uniforms and insignia vary: early commando dress drew on khaki and camouflage patterns used by the British Army and German Wehrmacht, while later units adopted desert and multicam patterns of the United States Army and French Army. Diving equipment from frogman pioneers in the Royal Navy and Italian Decima Flottiglia MAS influenced combat diver kits used by modern maritime units.
Notable Operations and Campaigns
Historic raids such as the Raid on St. Nazaire, Dieppe Raid, Operation Chariot, and Operation Torch showcased early commando impact in WWII, while operations in the Burma Campaign such as those by Force 136 and Chindits under Orde Wingate demonstrated long-range penetration. The Battle of Crete saw airborne and raiding interplay with units like the No. 11 (Scottish) Commando; postwar notable actions include the Suez Crisis operations involving SAS elements, the Dawson's Field hijackings counteroperations, Operation Entebbe by Sayeret Matkal, and Operation Jubilee at Dieppe. In modern conflicts, commandos undertook missions during the Gulf War, War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq War, the Falklands War featuring Royal Marines actions at San Carlos, and counterinsurgency tasks in Northern Ireland and the Malayan Emergency.
Cultural Impact and Representation
Commandos have been depicted widely in literature, film, and video games, influencing public perceptions via works like The Longest Day, Where Eagles Dare, The Guns of Navarone, and the Call of Duty and Medal of Honor franchises. Memoirs from figures like Eric Lomax, Roald Dahl, Laurence Rees studies, and histories by Max Hastings and Stephen Ambrose shaped historiography. Museums such as the Imperial War Museum, National Army Museum, and memorials like the British Normandy Memorial preserve commando heritage. Awards and decorations associated with commando actions include the Victoria Cross, Medal of Honor, Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre.