45 Commando

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45 Commando, Royal Marines

Cap Badge of the Royal Marines
Active 1941-
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Type Commando
Role Commando Infantry
Size One battalion
Part of Naval Service
Garrison/HQ Arbroath
Motto Per Mare Per Terram (By Sea By Land) (Latin)
March Quick - A Life on the Ocean Wave
Slow - Preobrajensky
Commanders
Captain-General HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (Captain-General, Royal Marines)
Insignia
Commando Flash

45 (RM) Commando is a battalion sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation and under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet.

Roled as a Commando light infantry formation, 45 Cdo is capable of a wide range of operational tasks. Based in Condor Barracks, Arbroath, personnel regularly deploy outside the United Kingdom on operations or training. Whilst 3 Commando Brigade are the principal cold weather warfare formation, personnel are capable of operating in a variety of theatres including tropical jungle, desert or mountainous terrain. The Commando is a regular participant in the annual Brigade cold weather warfare exercise in Norway having been the first UK formation to specialise in the mountain and arctic warfare role during the early 1970s and deployed to Norway on NATO’s northern flank most years until the end of the Cold War.

All personnel will have completed the Commando course at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone in Devon, entitling them to wear the green beret, with attached personnel having completed the All Arms Commando Course.

The title is pronounced as Four Five Commando

[edit] History

On 1 August 1943 5 Royal Marines Battalion was reformed and titled No.45 (RM) Commando, transitioning to the Commando role as a formed unit and by-passing the individual volunteer and selection process undertaken by Army Commando candidates. Personnel undertook, and completed, the Commando Basic Training Course at Achnacarry, Scotland.

As part of 1 Special Service Brigade the Commando participated in Operation Overlord, the D-Day Normandy landings, going on to move through Europe into Germany.

On 25 October 1945 the majority of Commando formations were disbanded, Army Commandos disbanded and the RM Commandos reduced to three. Four Five left the UK for Hong Kong 31st January 1946 to join 42 and 44 RM Commandos in 3 Commando Brigade. The Commando relieved the amalgamated Nos.1 and 5 Army Commandos which then disbanded, leaving the Royal Marines as the UK Commando Force.

Following the second world war 2 Commando Brigade (Nos.2, 9, 40(RM) and 43(RM)) disbanded leaving 3 Commando Brigade (42(RM), 44(RM) and 45(RM)). To symbolically recognise 2 Cdo one of the Commandos was renamed, No44(RM) becoming No40(RM).

[edit] Active service

List of 45 Commando's active service (incomplete)

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