17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC

{{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Royal Logistic Corps |image= |caption= |dates= 5 April 1993 - present |country= United Kingdom |allegiance= |branch= British Army |type= |role= Logistics |size= |command_structure= |garrison=Dettingen House, Deepcut, Surrey |garrison_label= |nickname=Loggies
Really Large Corps |patron= |motto="We sustain" |colors= |colors_label= |march=On Parade |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |ceremonial_chief= HRH The Princess Royal |ceremonial_chief_label= Colonel-in-chief |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders= |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= Tactical recognition flash |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label=

17 Port & Maritime Regiment is a regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps, British Army.

The Regiment was first formed as 17 Port Training Regiment Royal Engineers, at the existing Marchwood Military Port (near Southampton), Hampshire in 1949. Its role is to conduct military logistical operations using ports (either well founded or bare based) or over beaches world wide, in support of British Armed Forces. At that time it was also responsible for training all ranks in Port and Inland Water Transport trades.

The Regiment initially comprised 51 and 52 Port Squadrons RE. It was later was joined by 53 Port Maintenance Squadron RE. These former Royal Engineers Squadron numbers are still used in the Regiment to this day. On 15 July 1965 the Regiment transferred to the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) and the 17 Port Regiment Workshop REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers) was formed at that time.

The Regiment was originally accommodated in a war time Nissen hut type of camp in the field that is just beyond the northern boundary of Byams House, which became the Officers Mess. Traces of the concrete bases of the huts can still be found in the grouds of the current barracks. Entrance to the camp and the Guard Room were in Byams Lane. McMullen Barracks was built in 1956, named after Major General Sir Donald McMullen CBE, who was the Director of Transportation (RE) in World War 2.

In 1993 the Regiment was transferred to the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), on amalgamation of the RCT with four other Corps. It kept its role and organisation, but shortly afterwards took 79 Railway Squadron RLC (a former RE Squadron) under command, which then became a Port Clearance (later Port Enabling) Squadron RLC, keeping one Rail Troop. In 2005, 54 Port Squadron RLC was formed but was disbanded in 2014.

Rail and Water Transport

Post World War 2, military vessels have operated in support of many major operations, such as in the Suez crisis, Belize, Borneo and especially in the Falkland campaign, where over 90% of all stores were landed by Mexeflote Rafts, operated by the Regiment. One of the principal craft in service today is the Ramped craft logistic.

In 1966, three Army Landing Craft (Logistic) were granted HM status as Her Majesty’s Army Vessels (HMAV) and wore the Army Ensign for the first time. These were decommissioned in the early 2000s.

The latest military rail operations were in the Kosovo crisis, when 79 Railway Squadron RLC operated the line between Thessalonica in Greece to Kosovo in Serbia. During Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003, Rail Troop of 79 Port Clearance Squadron RLC opened up the rail link between Basra and Baghdad, in cooperation with a Royal Engineers Specialist Team.

Operations

Since its formation 17 Regiment has operated in virtually all those zones in which the British Army has fought or been concerned. These include Korea, Christmas Island, Suez, Tobruk, Borneo, Belize, the Falkland Islands, the Gulf War, Angola, The Balkan crisis of the 1990s, the Kosovo crisis, Operation Telic in Iraq and Kuwait in 2003, and Operation Herrick in Afghanistan (primarily with personnel operating out of Pakistan, but with a number of specialist trades operating in key bases in Afghanistan itself).

In 2011 and 2012, the Regimental Headquarters and elements from the Squadrons deployed as the Theatre Logistic Regiment in Camp Bastion. Later in 2012, the regiment was required at short notice to set up and run the accommodation camp at Tobacco Docks on the river Thames in London, in support of the military personnel who were in turn supporting the 2012 London Olympics. Lastly, in 2013, the Regiment deployed on a United Nations Peace-keeping tour to Cyprus (Operation TOSCA).

The Regiment has three Port Squadrons, a Port Enabling Squadron, a REME Workshop and a Headquarters Squadron. It operates a wide variety of vehicles, plant, railway equipment and vessels, including Ramp Craft Logistic (RCL), Workboats, Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP), MEXEFLOTE rafts and Rigid Raider Craft. It also has the only military Dive Team in the RLC, which is responsible for a range of tasks including port clearance and vessel maintenance.