In its 350th anniversary year, the Royal Marines appear to be facing major changes. The 3 Commando Brigade is to be geared more to its role as a maritime warfare element and to special forces operations. In addition to the Marines belonging to the Royal Navy, the 3 Commando Brigade also serves soldiers from the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
For the Royal Marines, this certainly means a return to their traditions. This is expressed not least by a change of subordination and a renaming that took place on November 5th. The former 1 Assault Group Royal Marines now operates as 47 Commando Raiding Group and reports to 3 Commando Brigade. As part of the renaming, the 539 Assault Squadron now operates as the 539 Raiding Squadron.
The traditional name not only joins the naming of other units of the 3 Commando (40, 42, 43, 45 Commando) but also reminds of the important role of the Royal Marines in the Second World War: The then 47 Commando played a key role in the landing on the Dutch island of Walcheren in November 1944. This enabled the access to Antwerp to be cleared, a strategically important port for supplying the Allied troops in World War II.
Previously, the 47 Commando was also deployed in northern France. About 48 hours after landing at Gold Beach on D-Day, the formation fought a daring action at Port-en-Bessin from the rear flank and ultimately opened the supply routes for the advancing Allied troops. Port-en-Bessin's feat of arms contributed to a large extent to the name change that has now taken place.
The name change is also intended to express the fact that the Royal Marines are again increasingly concentrating on tactical commando operations and are to put their knowledge of sea-based warfare back in the foreground of their fighting style. The assault boat is once again the focus of action, along with the development of state-of-the-art weapons, tactics and combat strategies. This is all part of the Future Commando Force concept.
"It is with immense pride that I announce the renaming of 1 Assault Group Royal Marines as 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines," said Major General Matt Holmes, Commander of the Royal Marines. "The Commando ethos is incredibly strong and remains the golden thread that runs through the Royal Marines as we move into the future as a Royal Navy Commando."
The 47 Commando was disbanded at the end of World War II in 1946. With the renaming of 1AGRM, now under the command of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, the unit has now been revived in keeping with the traditional designation. The 1AGRM was established in 2001 and specializes in operations with landing craft and assault groups. She has always had close ties to the 47 Commando Association.
Jan-Phillipp Weisswange
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