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List of equipment of the Royal Marines

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This is a list of equipment of the Royal Marines currently in use. It includes personal equipment, small arms, combat vehicles, snowmobiles and watercraft. The Royal Marines are a highly specialised and adaptable light infantry force, a part of His Majesty's Naval Service. The equipment of the Royal Marines has a high degree of commonality with other arms of the British Armed Forces – particularly the British Army – but includes some unique items.

To meet their commitments, the equipment of the armed forces is periodically updated and modified. Programs exist to ensure the Royal Marines are suitably equipped for both current conflicts and expected future conflicts, with any shortcomings in equipment addressed as Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR), which supplements planned equipment programmes.[1]

Infantry equipment

[edit]

Personal equipment

[edit]

Helmet

[edit]

The Royal Marines now use the Ops-Core Future Assault Shell Technology Helmet, also known as the FAST helmet, as part of the Future Commando Force programme. The Revision Batlskin Cobra Plus helmet, which formed the helmet component of the earlier Virtus programme, remains in limited use.[2]

Combat body armour

[edit]

As part of the Future Commando Force programme, the standard issue combat body armor / plate carrier is the C2R CBAV (Commando Ballistic Armour Vest) Plate Carrier, which forms the core of the Commando Modular Assault System. The Scalable Tactical Vest component of the earlier Virtus programme remains in limited use.[2][3]

Respirator

[edit]
Main article: General Service Respirator

The General Service Respirator replaces the older S10 respirator.[4] These respirators are also used by the rest of the Naval Service, the British Army and Royal Air Force.

Uniforms

[edit]
Royal Marine at Lulworth Range in July 2023 with Crye uniform and Ops-Core helmet; he also wears the Virtus programme's Scalable Tactical Vest.

As part of the Future Commando Force programme, the standard issue uniform since autumn 2020 has been an off-the-shelf design from Crye Precision featuring the company's MultiCam camouflage pattern. The Crye uniform is lighter weight, has higher tear-strength, is faster-drying, and is more breathable than typical cotton-nylon uniforms. It replaces the previously used Multi-Terrain Pattern Personal Clothing System uniform, which is still in use by the rest of the British Armed Forces.[5]

Weapons

[edit]
Name Origin Type Cartridge Image Details
L119A1, L119A2  Canada Assault rifle 5.56×45 mm
Initially used by 43 Commando,[6] before being declared as the replacement for the SA80 family of weapons in all Royal Marines units.[7] Both A1 and A2 variants are used.[8]
L403A1  United States Assault rifle 5.56×45mm
Knight's Stoner 1 variant of the ambidextrous Knight's Armament Company SR-16 fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system (suppressor) and a magnified optic. It is chambered in 5.56x45mm, and weighs 3.1kg. Handguard allows mounting of enablers such as torches and laser aiming devices. An initial order of 1,620 systems has been placed, with an option to procure up to 10,000 systems over the next decade.[9][10]
L85A2, L85A3  United Kingdom Assault rifle 5.56×45 mm
Formerly the standard issue assault rifle, the L85A2/A3 is currently being phased out in favour of the L119 series and/or the L403A1[7] but remains in limited service until the transition has been completed.[2] Can be fitted with SUSAT, ACOG, Elcan SpecterOS 4X or Thermal Viper 2 sights. The LLM-Vario Ray laser aiming module and the L123 Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) can also be attached.[11]
L7A2  Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51 mm
The designated GPMG for sustained fire out to 1,800 m. The L7A2 GPMG is a 7.62mm x 51mm belt-fed machine gun which can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire (SF) role.[12]

In the SF role, mounted on a tripod and fitted with the C2 optical sight, it is fired by a two-man team who are grouped in a specialist Machine Gun Troop to provide battalion-level fire support. In SF mode, the GPMG lays down 750 rounds-per-minute at ranges up to 1800 metres.

The GPMG can be carried by a single marine and employed as a light machine gun (LMG). A fold-out bipod is used to support the GPMG in the LMG role.

L129A1, L129A2[13]  United States Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51 mm
The primary designated marksman rifle, equipped with an ACOG optical sight for long-range engagements. There is also a Sniper Support Weapon (SSW) version fitted with a 12x Schmidt & Bender scope and a suppressor for use by the second man in each sniper team.[14][15] An improved L129A2 version with a new Leupold scope, a HuxWrx suppressor, an Envision Technology ballistic calculator, and a Pixels-on-Target thermal sight is currently being adopted.[9]
L115A3  United Kingdom Precision rifle 8.6x70 mm
Now regarded as the primary precision rifle for all British military trained snipers. It is equipped with a 25x scope, a suppressor, a folding stock, a five-round .338 Lapua Magnum magazine and has an effective range in excess of 1,100 m (3,600 ft).[16]
L131A1[17]  Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19 mm Adopted as the new standard issue sidearm to replace the L9A1, L47A1, and SIG Sauer pistols.[18] The L131A1 is a Glock 17 sidearm used for close combat with a magazine capacity of 17 rounds;[19][20] where deemed appropriate, it is the primary weapon of personnel working in operational staff appointments and vehicle commanders and carried as a backup weapon by frontline personnel.[21][22]
L3A1  United Kingdom Bayonet The blade is offset to the side of the handle to allow the rifle to be fired while the bayonet is fitted; it is shaped to produce good penetration when thrust and a ribbed section for rope cutting. The bayonet handle is shaped so as to allow the bayonet to be used as a multi-purpose knife when needed. The L3A1's scabbard features a saw blade for use on wood, a sharpening stone to hone the bayonet, and a bottle opener; when combined with the bayonet, it also forms a wire cutter.[23] A rail-mounted adaptor was developed to allow the bayonet to be used with the L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle.[24]
L109A2  Switzerland HE grenade Fuse British version of the Swiss HG 85 Grenade. It differs from the original in that it has a matte black safety clip similar to the American M67 grenade. It has a 3–5 second fuse (climate dependent), contains 155g of high explosive and has a lethal range of 10 m (33 ft).
NLAW  Sweden
 United Kingdom		 Anti-tank weapon 150 mm
Man-portable, short range fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile system designed for non-expert use. It is designed to "rapidly knock out any main battle tank in just one shot by striking it from above".[25]
FGM-148 Javelin  United States Anti-tank weapon 127 mm
Man-portable medium range anti-tank missile system. It fires a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead and can penetrate explosive reactive armour. Compared to the American original, the version in British service has a more effective sight system and a tripod for improved firing and observation.[26]
Accuracy International AX50  United Kingdom Long range rifle 12.7x99 mm
Long range standalone .50 BMG anti-material rifle that is based on and replaced the earlier AW50.[27] Royal Marines snipers are trained to use the AX50 to shoot the engine blocks of fast moving boats from Wildcat helicopters to aid the Royal Navy in the prevention of drug smuggling.[28]
L111A1  United States Heavy machine gun 12.7x99 mm
The L111A1 is the British version of the American M2 Browning. It can be attached to both armoured and soft-skin vehicles, or a ground-mount tripod. The belt-fed HMG fires .50 BMG at a rate of 485-635 rounds-per-minute to a range up to 2000 meters.[29]
L16A2  United Kingdom
 Canada 		Mortar 81 mm The L16A2 81mm Mortar is a indirect fire weapon which is capable of providing accurate High Explosive, Smoke and Illuminating rounds out to a maximum range of 5,650m, at a rate of 15 rounds per minute. The modernised L16A2 features GPS and laser-range finding systems.[30]

The Viking Mortar Section of the Armoured Support Group transport and fire their mortars in BvS10 Viking vehicles.[31] Otherwise, it is carried disassembled in three loads, (barrel, baseplate and bipod with sights, each approximately 11 kg), normally carried by a vehicle or helicopter, but can be carried by a marine on foot and assembled for firing from the ground.

Watercraft

[edit]
Name Origin Type Number Displacement Image Details
Landing Craft, Utility Mk 10  United Kingdom Landing craft 9[32] 240 tonnes (240 long tons; 260 short tons) The LCU is the Royal Marines' largest landing craft, carried by the Albion-class and Bay-class landing ship. These vessels are capable of carrying 120 Royal Marines Commandos and operating independently with a range of 600 nautical miles.[33]
Rigid (Inshore) Raiding Craft  United Kingdom Raiding craft 50[32] 2.25 tonnes (2.21 long tons; 2.48 short tons)
IRC
 The MK III RRC has a top speed of 33 knots laden with a payload of eight troops plus two crew and up to 680 kg of equipment, making it ideal for beach assaults, river patrol and dive support and comes complete with four lifting points to allow for transportation by helicopter or larger vessels.[34]
Offshore Raiding Craft  United Kingdom Rigid-hulled inflatable boat 27 (troop carrying) + 8 (fire support)[32] 5 tonnes (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons)
ORC
 The ORC is designed for commando insertion/extraction, patrol, maritime interdiction and fire support missions, and can operate in two variants; the Troop Carrying version and the Fire Support Platform version. Swapping between these variants can be completed in 60 minutes.[35]
MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles  United States Submersible 3[36] 4.5 tonnes (4.4 long tons; 5.0 short tons)
Manned submersible used primarily for covert or clandestine missions by the Special Boat Service (SBS).

The system fits inside the CHALFONT dry deck shelter on the Astute-class submarines.[37]

Landing Craft, Vehicle Personnel Mk 5b  United Kingdom Landing craft 8[32] 8.2 tonnes (8.1 long tons; 9.0 short tons)
The LCVP is carried by the Albion-class amphibious warfare ships. It will be replaced by the new Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) by 2027.[38]
Island-class patrol boat  United Kingdom Patrol boat 3[32] 20 tonnes (20 long tons; 22 short tons) Patrol boat Three Island-class patrol boats (Mull, Rona, Eorsa) are used for force protection duties by 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group at HM Naval Base Clyde.[39]
Inflatable Raiding Craft  United Kingdom Inflatable boat 1.25 tonnes (1.23 long tons; 1.38 short tons)
IRC
 Small raiding craft primarily used for over-the-horizon clandestine insertions of small teams of Royal Marines or SBS commandos.[33]
BAE Fast Interceptor Craft  United Kingdom Stealth boat At least 2[40] The Fast Interceptor Craft is a stealth boat used by the Special Boat Service, for the role of insertion and interception. It has a rumoured top speed of at least 60 knots and has a low radar and thermal signature.[41]

Vehicles

[edit]

The Royal Marines maintain no heavy armoured units, instead, they operate a fleet of lightly armoured and highly mobile vehicles intended for amphibious landings or rapid deployment. The primary armoured fighting vehicle operated by the RM Armoured Support Group (RMASG) is the BvS 10 Viking amphibious armoured all-terrain vehicle.[42] Other, lighter vehicles include the Land Rover Wolf, the Jackal 2(MWMIK), and the Polaris MRZR.[43]

Name Origin Type Image Details
Viking  Sweden Amphibious armoured fighting vehicle
The RM currently operates four variants of the vehicle: The Troop Carrying Variant (TCV) capable of carrying 2 crew plus 10 passengers; the Command Variant (CV), which carries 2 crew plus up to 8 passengers with the rear cab being designed as an enhanced digital communications platform, the Repair and Recovery Variant (RRV), carrying 4 specialist maintenance vehicle mechanic crewmen and the Ambulance Variant (AV). The rear cab of the RRV carries a HIAB crane, a fully mobile workshop, an air compressor and a 9 tonne capacity capstan winch, together with hydraulic anchors.[44]

All variants are fully air-portable under a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, and are also fully amphibious; being capable of swimming in varying sea-states with a full load of passengers and stores.[45]

Will be replaced by the Future All-Terrain Vehicles (FATV) as part of the Collaborative All-Vehicle (CATV) programme, starting from February 2025.[46]

Jackal 2 &
Coyote 		 United Kingdom Protected mobility vehicle
The primary roles of these vehicles in the Royal Marines are deep battlespace reconnaissance, rapid assault, patrol and fire support – roles where mobility, endurance and manoeuvrability are important.

The Coyote 6×6 Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) is a larger derivative of the Jackal, which acts in support of the Jackal 2 4×4 and allows transportation of supplies and equipment over similar terrain (up to 1.5t).[47]

Land Rover Wolf  United Kingdom Utility vehicle
The Land Rover Wolf is a militarised version of the Land Rover Defender. They can be found in service with British forces worldwide, and can be armed with one 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun and a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun. The Land Rover Wolf is designated as a Truck Utility Light (TUL – Defender 90) and Medium (TUM – Defender 110).
Polaris MRZR 4  United States Utility vehicle The Polaris MRZR-D4 is an ultralight 4x4 off-roader that can carry up to four marines and reach speeds of 60 mph for rapid movement across the battlefield. It is ideally equipped for the Future Commando Force programme.

The turbocharged diesel vehicle can be used to carry supplies and equipment – like ammunition, water and fuel – for commando missions, but can also be fitted with machine guns and grenade launchers for added firepower. It can be used for quick attacks and withdrawals, but also for logistical resupply and casualty evacuation. The MRZR can be stored in the interior of Chinook helicopters, meaning that marines riding the vehicle can be quickly deployed to the mission area.[48][49]

Hippo BRV  United Kingdom/
 Germany 		Armoured recovery vehicle BARV The Hippo is a conversion by Alvis Moelv, now BAE Systems, of a Leopard 1A5 tank. The turret has been replaced with a raised superstructure which resembles the bridge of a small ship. The original 830-horsepower (620 kW) diesel engine has been retained but the gearing of the transmission lowered; reducing the vehicle's road speed from 65 to 20 kilometres per hour (40 to 12 mph), but increasing its tractive force to 250 kilonewtons (56,000 lbf). Other modifications include the addition of working platforms, a nosing block, raised air intakes and an auxiliary power unit. The Hippo has a fording depth of 2.95 metres (9 ft 8 in) and can pull vehicles up to 50 tonnes weight or push a 240 tonne displacement landing craft off the beach.

Four vehicles are in service, primarily based on the HMS Albion and Bulwark Landing Platform Dock ships.[50]

Lynx GLX 5900 Snowmobile  Finland Oversnow Reconnaissance Vehicle
Royal Marines with 3 Commando Brigade's Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) drive snowmobiles (ski-doos)[51]

The squadron comprises highly-trained Mountain Leaders – experts in reconnaissance, mountain and arctic warfare. They are trained to use these snowmobiles to gather valuable information on the terrain, the enemy and suitable beach landing places for larger amphibious forces to come ashore.[52]

Future equipment

[edit]
  • The Royal Navy plans to retire the LCVP Mk5 in 2027 and replace it with the new Commando Insertion Craft (CIC). A competition for CIC design, manufacture and support is expected to commence at the end of 2024. The Commando Force programme director, said that top-level requirements called for a vessel “that can carry a strike team and a small vehicle in from 150 miles, at 25 knots plus and with a low (thermal, radar, visual, acoustic) signature".[53][54]
  • Under the international Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme, the UK Commando Force will receive 60 Future All-Terrain Vehicles (FATV) starting from February 2025.The FATVs will be in-service until 2058, replacing the BV206 tracked and older BvS 10 ‘Viking’ models. Their articulated mobility systems provide optimal manoeuvrability across varying terrains so they can traverse snow, ice, rock, sand, mud or swamps, as well as steep mountain environments. The vehicles’ amphibious feature also allows them to swim in flooded areas or coastal waters, and a logistics variant can carry 6 tonnes of equipment.[55]
  • 22 Malloy Aeronautics T150 heavy lift quadcopter drones were ordered in February 2024.[56]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Defence Factsheet: Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR)". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b c LPhot Bill Spurr (7 June 2023). "4 ASRM Personnel from HMS Albion Train Embarked Personnel from 45 CDO and the USMC". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. ^ Cpl Tim Hammond (13 July 2023). "Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCP23)". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  4. ^ "309,228! Final respirator is handed over in £52 million contract" (PDF). DESider. No. 80. Ministry of Defence. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Royal Marines Commandos Get Brand New Uniform". Forces Network. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. ^ "UK Royal Marine unit ditches the SA80 for Colt C8". Pakistan Defence. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b Lye, Harry (2019-11-07). "Royal Navy limits commitment to Littoral Strike Ship development". Naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  8. ^ "L119A2 – Colt Canada C8 Upgrade". Think Defence. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Britain's Commandos to get new assault rifles". Royal Navy. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Knight's Stoner 1: British troops getting new assault rifle". Forces Network. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  11. ^ "SA80 individual weapon". Army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-12-10. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  12. ^ Perreira, Julian (2023-02-28). "GPMG: The world's deadliest machine gun". Forces Network. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  13. ^ Cpl Barry Lloyd RLC (6 June 2010). "40 Cdo Royal Marines in Sangin". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  14. ^ "L129A1 sharpshooter rifle". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  15. ^ "L129A1 (SSW) Rifle". RAF. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  16. ^ "L115A3 Long range 'sniper' rifle". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  17. ^ Linnett, Andrew (9 January 2013). "Royal Marine with Glock 17 Sidearm". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Service Inquiry – Death of a Soldier from a Gunshot Wound at Camp Taji, Iraq 2 January 2017" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. 2019-06-19. p. 58.
  19. ^ "Glock 17". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  20. ^ Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) (2014). Army Code No. 71996, DCC Training Volume II, Skill at Arms (Personal Weapons), General Service Pistol L131A1.
  21. ^ "Service Inquiry Death of a Soldier from a Gunshot Wound at Camp Taji, Iraq 2 January 2017" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. 2019-06-19. p. 25.
  22. ^ "New pistols for UK Armed Forces". Government of the United Kingdom and the Ministry of Defence. 11 January 2013.
  23. ^ admin. "Are We Forever Stuck with the Bayonet?". Small Arms Defense Journal. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  24. ^ ISTEC Services. "Bayonet Adaptor". Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  25. ^ "NLAW". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  26. ^ "Javelin Medium Range Anti-tank Guided Weapon". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  27. ^ "Accuracy International AX50". ilinkJapan. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  28. ^ "This Royal Marines sniper of 42 Commando takes aim with an AX50 from a Wildcat from 815 Naval Air Squadron on opération in the Caribbean. Royal Marines snipers are trained to shoot the engine blocks of fast moving boats to aid the @royalnavy in the prevention of drug smuggling. 🇬🇧". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  29. ^ "Heavy machine gun". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  30. ^ "L16 81mm Mortar".
  31. ^ "Viking Mortar Section of Armoured Support Group firing 81mm mortars from the articulated trailer of their BvS10 Vikings. This was part of a test to compare the performance against dismounted mortars carried by Can-Am 6x6 Outlander ATV's". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  32. ^ a b c d e "Navy News February 2023 Issue 823.pdf Page 21" (PDF).
  33. ^ a b "Landing Craft | Royal Navy".
  34. ^ "Rigid Raiding Craft | BAE Systems". www.baesystems.com. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  35. ^ "9m ORC – ACV | Holyhead Marine". Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  36. ^ "United Kingdom – SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  37. ^ Allison, George (2018-09-21). "UK to purchase additional SEAL Delivery Vehicles for Astute submarines". Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  38. ^ Scott, Richard (2023-05-30). "UK plans new Commando Insertion Craft (CIC)". Naval News. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  39. ^ "Fire and fury on the Welsh ranges from Royal Marines Nuclear guardians". 20 October 2017.
  40. ^ Navy Lookout. "SBS Fast Interceptor Craft seen in the solent (Photos: Andy Amor)". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  41. ^ "Fast Interceptor Craft".
  42. ^ IISS 2010, p. 168.
  43. ^ Joint Committees On Transportation Holds Public Hearing Re: Trans 123 Archived 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  44. ^ "BvS 10 Viking Armored All-Terrain Tracked Carrier | MilitaryToday.com". www.militarytoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  45. ^ "Viking (BvS10) Amphibious Armoured All-Terrain Vehicle". Army Technology. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  46. ^ "British military to receive 60 All-Terrain Vehicles under international agreement". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  47. ^ "Coyote / Jackal 2 Tactical Support Vehicles". Army Technology. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  48. ^ "New lightweight vehicles tested by Royal Marines".
  49. ^ "New Royal Marines Polaris MRZR D4". 18 December 2021. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  50. ^ "Hippo Beach Recovery Vehicle | MilitaryToday.com". www.militarytoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  51. ^ "Royal Marines at the very tip of the commando spear have been unleashed in the wild Arctic to hone cold weather combat skills".
  52. ^ Drăgan, Otilia (2022-02-13). "UK's Royal Marines Unleash Their Snowmobiles in the Arctic During Live-Fire Exercise". autoevolution. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  53. ^ "Collaboration Event: Novel Amphibious Craft". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  54. ^ Scott, Richard (2023-05-30). "UK plans new Commando Insertion Craft (CIC)". Naval News. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  55. ^ "British military to receive 60 All-Terrain Vehicles under international agreement". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 26 August 2023. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
  56. ^ "Royal Marines, Japan acquires T-150 UAVs from Malloy Aeronautics". Janes Information Services. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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