539 Assault Squadron RM

539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines

Cap Badge of the Royal Marines
Active 1984-Present
Country  United Kingdom
Branch Naval Service
Type Marines
Commando
Light Infantry
Role Amphibious support
Size ~ 100 Men
Part of 1 Assault Group Royal Marines
Garrison/HQ RM Tamar, Plymouth
Nickname(s) The Royals
HM Jollies
Bootnecks
The Royal Machines
Motto(s) 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
Commandant-General Major General Martin Smith

539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines (RM) is 3 Commando Brigade's integral amphibious movement capability, delivering them on to land from water and patrolling waterways. It also contains the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group operating the Viking BvS10 All Terrain Amphibious Armoured Vehicle. They are based in the new Royal Marines Tamar complex at the northern end of HMNB Devonport.[1]

History

539 ASRM was formed on 2 April 1984 and commissioned operational on 24 July 1984. This was in direct response to lessons learned during the Falklands Conflict in 1982.[2] More recent operations include Operation Telic. 539 ASRM supported 3 Cdo Bde as they took the Al-Faw Peninsula, carrying out numerous operations such as several landings and the clearing of various waterways. 539 ASRM continued to operate in Iraq, performing security patrols of Iraq's southern ports and water networks until the end of Operation Telic.[3] In July 2011 a landing craft from RFA Cardigan Bay landed two Vikings and Royal Marines of 539 Assault Squadron in Somaliland. They penetrated several miles of "bandit country" to meet up with an important clan chief and take him back to Cardigan Bay for a meeting with MI6 and Foreign Office officials. This was part of Exercise Somaliland Cougar, an operation to train Somali coastguards in anti-piracy techniques and to establish relationships with tribal leaders.[4]

Today the Squadron consists of over 100 personnel and is equipped with a variety of Landing Craft including Hovercraft (LCAC(L)), Rigid Raiders and Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel. 539 Assault Squadron is named after the famous 539 Assault Flotilla which landed on Gold Beach during the Invasion of Normandy.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Royal Marines raiders swarm up the Tamar to new £30m home". Navy News. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "539 Assault Squadron RM". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "539 Assault Squadron". Elite UK Forces. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  4. ↑ Williams, David; Drury, Ian (29 October 2011). "Elite commandos storm lawless Somali war zone to snatch tribal leader". Daily Mail. London.
  5. ↑ "Marines on anniversary parade". BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
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