History

The history of the Royal Marines is a roll-call of daring deeds and valiant victories. It began way back in the reign of Charles II

28 October 1664
The Admiral's Regiment was formed in 1664 and the name 'Marines' first appears in the records in 1672. Since then Marines have taken part in more battles on land and sea, all over the world, than has any other branch of the British Armed Forces.

Gibraltar 1704
During the war of the Spanish Succession, when Britain was part of a coalition fighting France and Spain, the British and Dutch Marines were to the fore both in the capture of Gibraltar and in its defence during the subsequent 9 month siege. Their bravery and achievements in this campaign are commemorated by Gibraltar being the only battle honour worn on the Royal Marines badge and on the colours.

The 18th and 19th Centuries
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Corps played a major part in the wars which created the British Empire. This policy of 'Imperial Policing' took the Marines from the bombardment of Algiers in 1816, to the Ashanti Wars, to the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Navarino in 1827, and on to the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War in 1854.

The First World War 1914 - 1918
The outbreak of the First World War saw Royal Marines detachments deployed in all ships of destroyer size and above, where they were employed as gun crews. In this role some 5700 Marines saw action at the Battle of Jutland, the major naval engagement of the war. Royal Marines also took part in some of the famous actions ashore, being present at Gallipoli, and winning honours for their bravery at the raid on Zeebrugge. They also fought in the trenches and in the artillery brigades on the Western Front.

The Second World War 1939 - 1945
The first three years of the Second World War saw most of the action for the Royal Marines at sea. However, in 1942, the first Royal Marines Commandos were formed, and these units fought across Europe, taking part in campaigns in Sicily, Italy, and the Dalmatian Coast, including the Landings at Salerno, Anzio, and Termoli, while others fought in India and Burma. Five RM Commando Units took part in the D-Day Landings, the largest amphibious assault in history. By the end of the war, the Royal Marines numbers had grown to 80,000 - their largest size ever.

Post War
In every year since the end of the Second World War the Royal Marines have been engaged on active duty somewhere in the world, apart from 1968. Between 1945 and 1971, 3 Commando Brigade saw action in the Palestine emergency, the Malayan campaign, Brunei, Korea, Suez, Cyprus, Tanganyika, and the Borneo confrontation. Royal Marines Commando Units were among the first troops drafted into Northern Ireland in 1969, and have served in the Province almost every year since.

The Falklands 1982
In 1982, The Royal Marines played a leading part in the recapture of the Falkland Islands from the Argentinians. Sailing thousands of miles from home, they successfully completed an amphibious landing, and after 'yomping' across very difficult terrain in harsh conditions, they defeated a numerically superior enemy in fierce fighting.

The Present
Coming right up to date, 1991 saw the Royal Marines involved in the Gulf War and in mounting a major humanitarian relief operation, OP HAVEN, in support of the Kurdish people of Northern Iraq. In the last four years, Royal Marines have been deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a number of roles and are still serving with the NATO implementation Force today.

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Mountain Leader

(Mountain Brigade Leader Training Cadre and Brigade Patrol Group)

Operating in small groups, these men are experts in long-range patrolling and reconnaissance in mountainous country (snow covered or not). They are also very active in training other Royal Marines to acquire these skills.

MOUNTAIN LEADER TRAINING CADRE & BRIGADE PATROL GROUP

Unit Profile

Primary role: instruction in mountain and arctic warfare

Secondary role: long range reconnaissance patrolling for 3 Commando Brigade

Location: Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth, Devon, UK

The Mountain Leader Training Cadre (MLTC) is the Royal Marines unit with the responsibility for maintaining the corps' expertise in mountain and arctic warfare. Though it is primarily a group of instructors, in wartime it would provide additional recce patrols for 3^rd Commando Brigade, together with the full-time Reconnaissance Troop forming the Brigade Patrol Group.

History

The MLTC originated in the early 1950s as the Cliff Assault Wing. As the name suggests, the main mission in those days was to get troops and equipment up coastal cliffs. However Cliff Leaders, as the members were known, also carried out exercises to improve their own climbing, originally in Wales and Scotland, but later also in Austria, Norway, Canada and the Alps. In 1962 the wing was renamed the Cliff Assault Troop, by which time it had begun training in general winter warfare techniques. Thus the CLs were called upon to prepare the men of No.43 Commando for the first Norwegian exercise carried out by the Royal Marines in October 1962. Several years later it was decided to increase the troop's expertise by putting all members through a reconnaissance course run by the Platoon Weapons Branch at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone. This was done in 1965 and the unit now became known as the Reconnaissance Leader Troop.

In 1970 the RL Troop became the Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre and moved to its present location at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth. The following year 3 Commando Brigade returned to the UK after several years in the Far East. The brigade's main mission now was to be on NATO's northern flank and annual exercises were to be conducted in Norway. These were (and are) usually in the winter and in the far north of the country. The M&AW Cadre had a big role to play in preparing the four Commandos for these exercises and Mountain Leaders were attached to all units in the brigade. (43 Commando had already been disbanded and 41 Commando was to follow in 1981.) Soon 3 Commando Brigade was among the world's leading exponents of cold weather warfare, thanks mainly to a small group of specialists who had been developing the necessary expertise for many years.

The Cadre was also given the wartime role of long range foot and ski reconnaissance for the brigade. In the Falklands War of 1982 the twenty members of the Cadre and twenty men undergoing training as MLs accompanied 3 Commando Brigade " down south ". Their war began immediately after the landings of 21 May. Four-man patrols were inserted all over the brigade's area of operations, in some cases relieving patrols of the SAS and SBS, and also mounting operations in cooperation with the latter. On 31 May a patrol spotted Argentine commandos (Buzo Tactico) landing by helicopter near Top Malo House, in the far north of East Falkland and just south of the proposed British route to Port Stanley. A request for an air strike on the Argentinians now setting up base in the house was denied; instead nineteen more MLs under their commander, Captain Rod Boswell, were flown in an hour after dawn. After landing one group opened fire on the Argentines with 66mm rockets and light machine guns, setting the house on fire, while the others began the assault on the enemy. In the subsequent 40 minute battle four MLs were wounded; of the 17 Buzo Tactico, 8 were killed and 9 captured.

The M&AW Cadre operated in the mountains of northern Iraq in 1991, during Operation Haven, the Allied effort to bring aid to the Kurdish separatists then under heavy attack from the Iraqis. MLs worked in cooperation with US Army Special Forces and also the other elements of 3 Commando Brigade in the area. In 1992 it was decided to set up a permanent brigade-level reconnaissance unit. The Recce Troop was formed with the officer and NCOs coming from the Cadre. It has since been separated from the renamed Mountain Leader Training Cadre.

Training

The Mountain Leader Class 2 (ML2) course is open junior officers of the Royal Marines and other ranks who have passed their Junior Command Course i.e. have been promoted to corporal or soon will be. All will have of course passed the Commando tests in their initial period of training (about 15 months for officers, half that for other ranks), and  many will have gone on to gain other qualifications, like sniping, anti-tanks or mortars. ML2 training takes about eight months and is considered some of the toughest in the British military. The course starts in September and the first week is spent on the selection phase, at Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth. Those who are accepted go on to a couple of weeks of climbing in Cornwall, especially on cliffs, and including free climbing (without ropes) at night. Candidates often spend 12 hours a day climbing at this stage. In October the course moves to Wales, for practice in climbing larger mountains. This month also sees the survival course on the Isle of Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, and the first period of resistance to interrogation (RTI) training. In November the candidates begin to combine mountain work with patrolling and raiding. December sees more climbing and preparation for the next phase in northern Norway. Shortly after Christmas the course moves to the rugged and freezing terrain of this area. Here the initial emphasis is on snow and ice climbing techniques and Arctic survival and navigation. Although all candidates would have gone through Arctic Survival and Arctic Warfare training during previous service in Norway, they are now also learning how to instruct on these courses. Candidates could now probably find themselves more often than not 10 000 feet (3000m) up in the mountains, with the temperature dropping to -40 F at night (including wind chill factor ). In February it is time for long distance skiing  under the supervision of Norwegian Army instructors. All candidates must qualify as Military Ski Instructors. Before the final exercise in March they are given seven days to prepare. The eleven-day exercise itself involves the four-man patrols ski-marching and climbing up to 40km a day, to carry out a close target reconnaissance and attack and then exfiltration to friendly territory. They will have covered about 300km by this time. All are eventually " captured " and go through the second RTI period. The course ends in April with 3 weeks of pathfinding on Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland. The pass rate is sometimes as low as 20%. After qualifying most ML2s will return to duty with a Commando, some will be attached to Army units and a few might join the Recce Troop. Every sub-unit in 3 Commando Brigade of company, battery or squadron size has a Mountain Leader( usually a corporal ) attached, who is responsible for mountain and arctic warfare training. MLs are also highly sought after to provide the leadership in each Commando's own Reconnaissance Troop. NCOs may now wear the branch Specialist Qualification badge, " ML " surrounded by a wreath. This is worn on the left cuff of No.1 Dress (" blues") and Lovat service dress (" greens "). RM officers do not wear SQ badges.

Corporals wishing to gain promotion to sergeant in the branch must pass the ML1 course. Officers are not considered to have time to attend this course. Prospective ML1s must have passed the Senior Command Course at Lympstone. They begin their training in September by instructing the early part of the ML2 course. They also go to Wales, to improve their own standards in climbing. In November they are detached to Commando units for assessment as instructors by qualified ML1s. This continues the next month with preparation for 3 Commando Brigade's annual Norwegian exercise. January and February are spent in Norway itself, with the candidates training the members of their units, especially those new to the brigade, in arctic warfare and survival, and generally assisting in the exercises. In March they join the ML2 course for the final exercise, mainly as patrol commanders. ML1 candidates continue on to Ben Nevis for practice in route selection and navigation. On completion of the course ML1s will  be able to wear two stars above the SQ badge. Most become members of the permanent ML cadre.

Recce Troop

In 1992, during a period of reorganization in 3 Commando Brigade, it was decided that a permanent Medium Range Reconnaissance Troop would be formed. Usually referred to as Recce Troop, it was to form part of the Headquarters and Signal Squadron. Initially there were four 6-man patrols, each with an ML sergeant, two ML corporals and three General Duties( GD ) Marines, i.e. men drawn from a Commando. In command was an ML lieutenant. Today there are six four-man patrols.

All members have gone through the sniper course at Lympstone, lasting six weeks, and a 3-week static line parachute course at RAF Brize Norton. Those who have not yet qualified as ML2s will have been trained by the Mountain Leaders to Reconnaissance Leader (RL) standard.

Recce Troop concentrates on training in the same disciplines as the Cadre: in climbing and cliff assault, cold-weather survival, long range patrolling on ski and foot, long range communications, high altitude mountaineering, snow and ice climbing, target and route reconnaissance, primary interrogation and resistance to interrogation, and sabotage. In addition many members will have gone through the Army's Jungle Long Range Patrol Course, run in Brunei. Some also train as specialists in desert warfare, for the Royal Marines must be ready to deploy almost anywhere in the world. Later members may go through advanced training as divers and/or free-fall (HALO) parachutists. During operations Recce Troop patrols could operate on their own or in conjunction with other elements of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) which includes Y Troop, the Royal Marines' own electronic warfare sub-unit; the Recce Troop of 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, four 4-man patrols who are all Commando and parachute qualified; teams from 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery Royal Artillery; and a squadron of twelve Scimitar tracked reconnaissance vehicles, armed with 30mm cannon, and four Striker anti-tank vehicles, with Swingfire missiles. This last element (recently it was B Squadron of the Household Cavalry) is the only non " Green Hatted" part of the brigade. Recce Troop would generally operate at a longer range than the Recce Troops in the three Commandos. While the SBS still maintains the responsibility for beach reconnaissance , Recce Troop will help with the Initial Terminal Guidance for a large-scale landing. Besides parachuting in, patrols could be transported by craft from 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines, including air-cushion vehicles and Rigid Raiders.

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