List of active Royal Marines military watercraft
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List of active Royal Marines military watercraft is a list of landing craft and other watercraft in service with the Royal Marines. It consist of a varied fleet of transport vessels, patrol vessels and special forces watercraft (I.e mini submarines etc.) maintained by the Royal Navy and designed to transport the Royal Marines or special forces from ship to shore as well as conduct river or estuary patrols.[1]
Landing Craft[]
As of 2014, there are presently 33 Landing Craft in service with the Royal Marines; 10 LCUs, 19 LCVPs and 4 LCACs. Total displacement is approximately 3,000 tonnes.[2][3][4][5]
| Pennant No. | Designation | Type | Displacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1002 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1003 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1004 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1005 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1006 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1007 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1008 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1009 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 1010 | Landing Craft Utility | Mk10 | 240 tonnes |
| 9675 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9676 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9707 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9709 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9710 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9711 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9712 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9713 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9714 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9715 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9716 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9717 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9718 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9719 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9720 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9721 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9722 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9723 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| 9724 | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel | Mk5 | 24 tonnes |
| C21 | Landing Craft Air Cushion | 2000TDX | 6.8 tonnes |
| C22 | Landing Craft Air Cushion | 2000TDX | 6.8 tonnes |
| C23 | Landing Craft Air Cushion | 2000TDX | 6.8 tonnes |
| C24 | Landing Craft Air Cushion | 2000TDX | 6.8 tonnes |
Offshore Raiding Craft[]
The Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) is a recent addition to the Royal Marines inventory. The ORC is primarily employed for 'Strategic Raiding' where speed and covertness is desired, however, the Offshore Raiding Craft is equally as capable when conducting amphibious operations alongside the larger and more traditional LCACs, LCUs and LCVPs. The ORC is fitted with several general purpose machine guns as well as protection against enemy fire for the troops inside. The ORC can be underslung from a helicopter or deployed from ships of various sizes.[6] 39 ORC are currently in service with the Royal Marines [7]
Raiding Craft[]
The Raiding Craft (RC) are operated in large numbers by the Royal Marines and can be divided into two groups; The Rigid Raider (RRC), and the smaller Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC). Despite being the smallest of the amphibious craft, the Raiding Craft are the most widely used due to their mobility and versatility. As such, the RCs often find themselves deployed in amphibious and riverine operations around the globe, in environments ranging from the Arctic to the tropics. Examples of these craft are not only embarked on all amphibious warfare vessels, but are also carried aboard other Royal Navy ships for use on patrol duties, such as searching ships or anti-piracy.[6]
Specialist Craft[]
The Royal Navy operate three SDV Mk8 Mod 1 mini-submarines for use by the Special Boat Service. They are designed to deliver special forces personnel and their equipment for covert special operations missions on hostile shores. The British SDV Mk8 Mod 1 is the same as used by the United States Navy SEALs.[4] In 2018 it was announced that the UK would buy three MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS)[8] to replace the Mk8s.
From 2011 to 2013, the Royal Marines leased four CB90-class fast assault craft from the Swedish Armed Forces to gain operational insight into the design and capabilities of such a craft. The CB90 or a similar vessel may in future fulfil the Royal Marines concept of the 'Future Force Protection Craft'. It is intended that such a vessel would provide a Task Group in the littoral zones protection from hostile fast attack craft.[5][9][10]
The Fast Insertion Craft (FIC) is in use with the Special Boat Service. It has a reported maximum speed of up to 55 knots and its hull features a highly stealthy design and advanced 'wave piercing' qualities. It is similar to the American Mark V Special Operations Craft.[5]
Patrol Boats[]
The Royal Marines operate three dedicated patrol vessels of the Island-class based at HMNB Clyde. They are tasked with protecting high value Royal Navy ships such as the Vanguard-class submarines. The vessels -called Mull, Rona and Eorsa- are ex MoD Police boats. Mull and Rona were handed over to the Royal Marines during 2013, with Eorsa arriving at a later date.[11][12][13]
See also[]
- Lists of ships operated by or in support of Her Majesty's Naval Service
- List of active Royal Navy ships
- List of active Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships
- List of ships of Serco Marine Services
References[]
- ^ The Royal Navy Handbook, p. 106
- ^ "The Military Balance 2012", International Institute for Strategic Studies, pp. 170-171
- ^ The Royal Navy Handbook (2003), Conway Maritime Press.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Jim Dorschner (27 May 2009). "Special Delivery". Jane's Defence Weekly. 46 (21): 28.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 35–39. ISBN 1904459552.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Royal Marines - Landing Craft, royalnavy.mod.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014
- ^ Allison, George (21 September 2018). "UK to purchase additional SEAL Delivery Vehicles for Astute submarines". Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ Royal Marines host Swedish colleagues at new amphibious centre, royalnavy.mod.uk, 20/02/2013
- ^ Navy News: January 2012 - Feeling the Need For Speed, content.yudu.com, pp. 22-23
- ^ Royal Marines take delivery of new Island Class vessels, royalnavy.mod.uk, 07/03/2013
- ^ 15m Police Boat Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, holyheadmarine.co.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014
- ^ "15m Patrol Boat – Eorsa". Retrieved 26 April 2019.
External links[]
- Royal Marines - Landing Craft (royalnavy.mod.uk)
- Royal Marines
- Lists of currently active military vehicles