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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 consists of a varied fleet of landing craft, 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

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Royal Marines Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk10.
Royal Marines Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) Mk5.
Royal Marines Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).

The principal landing craft of the Royal Marines are the Mk 10 LCUs and the Mk 5B LCVPs. Four LCUs and 4 LCVPs could be embarked on each of the Albion-class assault ships (which, in November 2024, were announced for retirement by March 2025),[2] while 1 LCU or 2 LCVPs could be carried on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Bay-class landing ships.[3][4][5][6]

As of 2023, there were 9 Mk 10 LCUs and 8 Mk 5B LCVPs reported to be in service with the Royal Marines. The LCUs had a displacement of 240 tonnes and were capable of carrying a main battle tank, four other vehicles or 120 troops. The LCVPs displaced 8.2 tonnes and could carry 6 tonnes of stores or 35 troops.[7]

As of 2019, four additional Griffon 2400 TD Landing Craft Air Cushion (Light) were in service with the Royal Marines.[8] These craft were capable of a 34-knot speed and could carry 16 troops or 2.4 tonnes of supplies.[9] However, they were reported laid up as of 2023.[10]

Commando Raiding Craft

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Main article: Offshore Raiding Craft

The Commando Raiding Craft (CRC) is a recent upgrade from the previous Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) operated by the Royal Marines. The CRC is primarily employed for 'Strategic Raiding' where speed and covertness is desired, however, the Commando Raiding Craft is equally as capable when conducting amphibious operations alongside the larger and more traditional LCACs, LCUs and LCVPs. The CRC is fitted with three general purpose machine guns or .50 heavy machine gun mounts as well as protection against enemy fire for the troops inside. The CRC has a speed of up to 40 knots, a range of 200 nautical miles and can be underslung from a helicopter or deployed from ships of various sizes. As of 2024, it is reportedly employed with 539 Raiding Squadron RM.[11][12]

35 ORC were originally reported to be in service with the Royal Marines. However, 23 of these were reportedly donated to Ukraine.[13] The CRC, which began entering service in 2023/24, incorporate both troop-carrying variants and fire-support variants, with the latter equipped with both machine gun mounts and 40mm grenade launchers.[14] [15]

Raiding Craft

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Main articles: Rigid Raider and Inflatable 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.[11][16]

Specialist Craft

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Main articles: SEAL Delivery Vehicle and CB90-class fast assault craft

The Royal Navy operate three MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) 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. They replace the previously used SDV Mk8 Mod 1, which was the same as used by the United States Navy SEALs.[5][17]

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.[6][18][19]

The Fast Interceptor 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.[6]

Patrol Boats

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Main article: Island-class patrol vessel (2013)

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.[20][21][22]

See also

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Lists of ships operated by or in support of His Majesty's Naval Service

References

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  1. ^ The Royal Navy Handbook, p. 106
  2. ^ Vock, Ido (20 November 2024). "UK to decommission ships, drones and helicopters to save £500m". BBC.
  3. ^ "The Military Balance 2012", International Institute for Strategic Studies, pp. 170-171
  4. ^ The Royal Navy Handbook (2003), Conway Maritime Press.
  5. ^ a b Jim Dorschner (27 May 2009). "Special Delivery". Jane's Defence Weekly. 46 (21): 28.
  6. ^ a b c Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 35–39. ISBN 978-1904459552.
  7. ^ "Royal Navy Fleet Poster p.21" (PDF). Navy News. February 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Griffon Hoverwork secure Ministry of Defence contract". Bland Group. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  9. ^ "LCAC Hovercraft - UKSF Gear". Elite UK Forces. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  10. ^ @NavyLookout (15 December 2023). "@NavyLookout Royal Marine Griffon 2400TD LCAC hovercraft laid up in the car park at @HMSsultan" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 December 2023 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ a b Royal Marines - Landing Craft, royalnavy.mod.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014
  12. ^ "UK Royal Navy revamp their amphibious raiding craft". Naval Technology. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  13. ^ "UK Royal Navy revamp their amphibious raiding craft". Naval Technology. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Royal Navy Fleet Poster p.21" (PDF). Navy News. February 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Portfolio". Amgram. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Royal Navy Fleet Poster p.21" (PDF). Navy News. February 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  17. ^ Allison, George (21 September 2018). "UK to purchase additional SEAL Delivery Vehicles for Astute submarines". Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  18. ^ Royal Marines host Swedish colleagues at new amphibious centre, royalnavy.mod.uk, 20/02/2013
  19. ^ Navy News: January 2012 - Feeling the Need For Speed, content.yudu.com, pp. 22-23
  20. ^ Royal Marines take delivery of new Island Class vessels, royalnavy.mod.uk, 07/03/2013
  21. ^ 15m Police Boat Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine, holyheadmarine.co.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014
  22. ^ "15m Patrol Boat – Eorsa". Retrieved 26 April 2019.
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