Editing Royal Marines (section)

==Current status and deployment==

===Personnel===
[[File:Royal Marines in Sangin MOD 45151554.jpg|thumb|Royal Marines in Sangin, [[Afghanistan]], 2010]]

The Royal Marines are part of [[His Majesty's Naval Service]], alongside the [[Royal Navy]] and the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]], and they are under the full command of the [[Fleet Commander]]. Despite that, the rank structure of the Royal Marines is the same as that of the [[British Army]]. Uniquely, in the Royal Marines, officers and all other ranks undergo initial, commando and specialist training together at the Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines (CTCRM).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exeterflotilla.org/history_misc/east_devon_rm/part3.html|title=RMITC / CTCRM – Lympstone|publisher=Exeter Flotilla|access-date=20 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514082256/http://www.exeterflotilla.org/history_misc/east_devon_rm/part3.html|archive-date=14 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On average, 26,000 men apply to join the Royal Marines Commandos every year, but only 400 make it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001776z|title=BBC Two – Commando: Britain's Ocean Warriors|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

[[File:Number of Royal Marines personnel, 2000-2022.svg|thumb|Number of Royal Marines personnel, 2000–2022 inclusive.]]

At its height in 1944 during the Second World War, more than 70,000 men served in the Royal Marines. Following the Allied victory the Royal Marines were quickly reduced to a post-war strength of 13,000. When [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|National Service]] was ended in 1960, the Marines were again reduced, but this time to an all [[British Commandos|Commando-trained]] force of 9,000 personnel.<ref>Nicholas van der Bijl and Nick Bijl, ''The Royal Marines 1939–93'', Osprey Publishing, 1995</ref> As of 1 January 2021, the Royal Marines had a strength of 5,968 Regulars, and a combined strength of 6,500 when including reserves.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/integrated-review-of-security-defence-development-and-foreign-policy-future-of-the-royal-marines/|title=Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy: Future of the Royal Marines|publisher=lordslibrary.parliament.uk|date=6 September 2021|access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> The Royal Marines are also the only British naval unit capable of conducting amphibious operations at [[brigade]] level.<ref name="sdsr">{{cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf|title=Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review|date=19 October 2010|publisher=HM Government|access-date=19 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222022127/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191634.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2010}}</ref>

===Equipment===
{{Main|List of equipment of the Royal Marines}}

====Light weapons====
The basic personal weapon of the Royal Marines Commandos is the 5.56mm [[C8 carbine]] rifle, sometimes fitted with the [[Heckler & Koch AG-C/GLM#Users|L123A3]] underslung grenade launcher.<ref name="rafpdf2">{{cite web|title=Royal Air Force Aircraft and Weapons page 45| date=2013| publisher=Royal Air Force|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=45 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710150246/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=45 | archive-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref> Support fire is provided by the [[L7 (machine gun)|L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun]] (GPMG)<ref name="rafpdf3">{{cite web |title=Royal Air Force Aircraft and Weapons page 46|year=2013|publisher=Royal Air Force |url = http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=46|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710150246/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=46 |archive-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref> and the [[M2 Browning|L111A1]] heavy machine gun<ref name="rafpdf4">{{cite web |title=Royal Air Force Aircraft and Weapons page 48 |year=2013 |publisher=Royal Air Force |url = http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=48 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170710150246/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=48 |archive-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref> (which is often mounted on an armoured vehicle); indirect fire is by the [[L16 81mm Mortar|L16A2 81mm mortar]].<ref name="rafpdf4" /> Sniper rifles used include the [[L115A3]],<ref name="rafpdf3" /> produced by [[Accuracy International]]. More recently the [[Lewis Machine and Tool Company#Products|L129A1]] has come into service as the [[designated marksman rifle]].<ref name="rafpdf2" /> Other weapons include the [[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin anti tank guided missile]],<ref name="rafpdf5">{{cite web |title=Royal Air Force Aircraft and Weapons page 49 |year = 2013 |publisher=Royal Air Force |url = http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=49 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170710150246/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=49 |archive-date=10 July 2017 }}</ref> the [[NLAW]] disposable anti tank missile, [[MATADOR]] anti-structure recoilless rifle, the [[Glock 17#Users|L131A1 pistol]]<ref name="rafpdf1">{{cite web |year=2013 |title=Royal Air Force Aircraft and Weapons page 44 |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=44 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710150246/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/E28BE76F_5056_A318_A833EB4C9A735AD8.pdf#page=44 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |publisher=Royal Air Force}}</ref> and the [[Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife]].<ref>{{cite book |first= W.E. |last = Fairbairn |author-link= William E. Fairbairn |title= Get Tough |orig-year= 1942 |edition= new |publisher= [[Paladin Press]] |location= Boulder, Colo. |date=December 1996 |isbn = 978-0-87364-002-2 }}</ref> The Royal Marines are in the process of replacing all of their L85 rifles with the [[Colt Canada C7 and C8#United Kingdom|L119]] and the [[KS-1 rifle|KS-1 (L403)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/90-million-contract-equips-armed-forces-with-advanced-new-rifle|title=£90 million contract equips Armed Forces with advanced new rifle|date=7 September 2023|publisher=Gov.UK|access-date=10 October 2023}}</ref>

====Armour====
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 [[Viking Squadron]] is the [[BvS 10|BvS 10 Viking]] All Terrain Armoured Vehicle.<ref>[[#IISS2010|IISS 2010]], p.&nbsp;168.</ref> Other, lighter vehicles include the [[Land Rover Wolf]], and the [[Jackal (vehicle)|Jackal 2 (MWMIK)]] protected patrol vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|title=British Troops in Afghanistan To Get New Armored Vehicles|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4682401&c=EUR&s=LAN|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731184102/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4682401&c=EUR&s=LAN|url-status=dead|publisher=Defence News|archive-date=31 July 2012}}</ref>

====Artillery====
Field artillery support is provided by [[29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery]] of the British Army using the [[L118 Light Gun]], a 105&nbsp;mm towed [[howitzer]]. The regiment is [[British Commandos|Commando-trained]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-artillery/29th-regiment-ra.html |title = 29th Regiment RA |publisher = British Army units 1945 on |access-date = 10 May 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140421232710/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-artillery/29th-regiment-ra.html |archive-date = 21 April 2014 |url-status = live }}</ref>

====Aviation====
The [[Commando Helicopter Force]] of the [[Fleet Air Arm]] provides transport helicopters in support of the Royal Marines. It currently uses both [[AgustaWestland AW101|Merlin HC4/4A]] medium-lift transport and [[AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat|Wildcat AH1]] light transport/reconnaissance [[helicopter]]s to provide direct aviation support for the Corps. In addition, the [[Royal Air Force]] provides [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Chinook]] heavy-lift and [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma|Puma HC2]] medium-lift transport helicopters, and the [[British Army]] provides [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|Apache AH-64E]] attack helicopter gunship support.<ref name=chf>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/fleet-air-arm/support-and-training/commando-helicopter-force-headquarters |title=Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) {{!}} Royal Navy |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |access-date=2017-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831121620/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/fleet-air-arm/support-and-training/commando-helicopter-force-headquarters |archive-date=31 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Vessels====
The Royal Marines operate a varied fleet of [[List of active Royal Marines military watercraft|military watercraft]] designed to transport troops and [[materiel]] from ship to shore or conduct river or estuary patrols. These include the [[Landing Craft Utility|Mk10 Landing Craft Utility]] and the [[LCVP (United Kingdom)#LCVP Mk5|Mk5b Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel]], and the [[BAE Fast Interceptor Craft]] and [[Shallow Water Combat Submersible|MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersible]] used by the [[Special Boat Service]]. Other smaller amphibious craft such as the [[Offshore Raiding Craft]], [[Rigid Raider]] and [[Inflatable Raiding Craft]] are in service in much greater numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/commando/landing-craft|title=Royal Marines – Landing Craft|publisher=Royal Navy|access-date=15 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623093914/http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/commando/landing-craft|archive-date=23 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" widths="210px" heights="140px">
File:Royal Marines During Winter Training in Norway MOD 45152252.jpg|Royal Marines equipped for Arctic warfare during an exercise in Norway
File:Viking Training MOD 45151364.jpg|[[BvS 10|BvS 10 Vikings]] of the Viking Squadron on exercise
File:Royal Marine Landing Craft MOD 45158374.jpg|Royal Marines Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk10
File:A Royal Marine LCVP Landing Craft MOD 45150169.jpg|A Royal Marines [[LCVP (United Kingdom)#LCVP Mk5|Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP)]] Mk5
File:Royal Marine LCAC(LR) Hovercraft MOD 45154442.jpg|Royal Marines Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)
</gallery>