UK Late 1980’s 3 Royal Marine Commando Brigade

Morale: All veteran

Brigade headquarters:

Headquarters Company

HQ: 1-HQ stand in Land Rover

3-Infantry battalions (40, 42 and 45 Commando) each with:

Battalion headquarters

HQ: 1-HQ stand in Land Rover

Recon: 1-Rifle Stand

3-Rifle Companies each with:

3-Rifle stands

1-Support Company:

1-81mm Mortar stand

1-Milan stand in Land Rover

1-Combat Engineer stand

Brigade Assets

1-Combat Engineer Squadron (59 Commando Squadron RE):

3-Combat Engineer Stands

1-Field Artillery Regiment (29 Commando Regiment RA):

4-105mm Light Guns

1-Air Defence Troop

1-Javelin stand

1-Helicopter Regiment

2-Transport Helicopter Squadrons (845 and 846 Naval Air Sqn) each with:

3-HAS-4 Sea King

1-Attack Helicopter Squadron (847 Naval Air Sqn):

2-Westland Lynx

3-Gazelle

 

Notes:

  1. The HAS-4 Sea King has a defence of 3, no offensive capability and can carry 2 infantry stands
  2. Usually an Armoured Reconnaissance Troop or Squadron will be attached to the Brigade
  3. An article in Janes' in 2003 indicated that 3CdoBde currently had three RM Cdos (40, 42 and 45) now organised into two Close Combat Companys (each of 3 infantry stands) and two Standoff Companys (each of 1-81mm mortar stand; 1-Milan stand; and 1-.50cal HMG stand; plus one stand of combat engineers). The Close Air Defence Troop is now equipped with Starstreak.
  4. For Amphibious assaults, Naval gunfire support will usually be provided. Each Royal Navy 4.5" gun being used is counted as one battery with the following statistics: AT of 3, AI of 6. No counter battery fire is allowed against these guns
  5. During Amphibious assault the Brigade can be landed using the Royal Navy’s two Assault ships, Intrepid and Fearless. Each ship can carry 1 Battalion of Infantry and its associated transport and 1 squadron of MBT’s. Each ship carries 1 LCU stand and 1 LCVP stand, which take 4 turns to reload. The loads for these landing craft stands are as follows: