42 Commando

42 Commando is an active unit of the United Kingdom's Royal Marines and forms part of the UK Commando Force. It is a military formation rather than a commercial brand, although its name functions as an institutional identity associated with Royal Marines specialist capability. The unit is based at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, with associated Royal Marines facilities including Norton Manor. Its personnel deploy outside the United Kingdom for operations, exercises, training missions and support to allied or partnered forces. The unit was raised in August 1943 as No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando during the expansion of British commando forces in the Second World War. Initially commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Carteret de Mussenden Leathes, it formed part of the 3rd Special Service Brigade. It served in India and Burma between 1943 and 1945, participating in the third Arakan campaign and amphibious operations along the Burmese coast, including the landings at Myebon and the fighting around Hill 170. It later prepared for Operation Zipper, the planned invasion of British Malaya, but the end of the war changed the unit's immediate task and it was instead diverted to the reoccupation of Hong Kong. After the war, the commando remained within the surviving 3rd Commando Brigade alongside 40 and 45 Commando. Its post-war activity included service during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in Borneo, including the well-known Limbang raid conducted by Lima Company. The unit subsequently spent much of the 1960s based in Singapore at HMS Simbang, while also undertaking overseas exercises and other deployments. Following its return to the United Kingdom, it served in Northern Ireland, the New Hebrides and other operational or training environments. 42 Commando's most prominent twentieth-century operation was its participation in the 1982 Falklands conflict. During Operation Corporate, the unit initially served as brigade reserve at San Carlos before moving by helicopter toward Mount Kent. It later conducted a difficult night approach toward Mount Harriet. On the night of 11–12 June, companies advanced over approximately nine kilometres through mined ground and attacked Argentine positions from the rear. The operation secured Mount Harriet after severe fighting and resulted in the capture of more than 300 Argentine personnel. Two members of 42 Commando were killed. The unit's conduct was recognised with a Distinguished Service Order, a Military Cross, four Military Medals and several mentions in dispatches. In the twenty-first century, 42 Commando deployed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, conducting a helicopter assault on the Al-Faw Peninsula in support of 40 Commando. It later served in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick, returning in April 2009 after operating as the Regional Battle Group (South). In 2013 it became the lead Commando task group for the COUGAR 13 Response Force Task Group, which exercised in Albania and the Middle East. A major organisational change in 2018 refocused the unit around maritime and high-readiness roles. Its functions include maritime interdiction and boarding, ship force protection, high-threat capacity-building, training and liaison with overseas partners, joint personnel recovery, support to carrier operations and assistance with United Kingdom resilience tasks. Its companies have differentiated specialisms: J Company focuses on boarding and search, K Company on support, augmentation, liaison and training, L Company on joint personnel recovery, M Company on ship force protection, and Support Company on enabling functions. The unit therefore combines expeditionary combat capability with maritime security and force-protection responsibilities. Recent publicly reported activity includes the deployment of personnel to Gibraltar in July 2019 in support of the detention of the Panama-flagged tanker Grace 1, which was suspected of transporting oil to Syria in breach of European Union sanctions. In March 2020, members took part in Exercise Winter Partisan with the Peacekeeping Company of Belarus's 103rd Guards Airborne Brigade at the Losvido training area. 42 Commando continues to operate as a very-high-readiness element within the Royal Marines, with a particular relationship to the Royal Navy's global maritime posture and the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier force.

42 Commando originated during the Second World War expansion of Royal Marines commando units. In 1942, the Royal Marines were invited to create their own commando formations, attracting thousands of volunteers. No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando was formed in August 1943 under Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Carteret de Mussenden Leathes and assigned to the 3rd Special Service Brigade. The wartime unit served in India and Burma from 1943 to 1945. Its operations included participation in the third Arakan campaign and amphibious landings along the Burmese coastline, notably at Myebon and during the Battle of Hill 170. The commando later prepared for Operation Zipper, the proposed Allied invasion of Malaya. Because the war ended before that operation began, the unit was redirected to Hong Kong for reoccupation duties. Post-war reductions left the 3rd Commando Brigade as the principal surviving commando brigade, with 40, 42 and 45 Commando. During the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, 42 Commando served in Borneo and Lima Company carried out the Limbang raid. The unit spent much of the following decade in Singapore at HMS Simbang before returning to the United Kingdom. Its later Cold War and post-Cold War commitments included Northern Ireland, the New Hebrides, South Georgia and the 1995 intervention in Montserrat. The 1982 Falklands conflict became one of the unit's defining operations. During Operation Corporate, 42 Commando initially acted as brigade reserve at San Carlos and then moved by helicopter to Mount Kent. In the approach to the final Argentine positions near Port Stanley, the unit carried out a long night movement toward Mount Harriet. On 11–12 June, its companies crossed mined ground and attacked Argentine positions from an unexpected direction. The operation secured the mountain, produced more than 300 prisoners and resulted in two deaths among the commando's personnel. Decorations awarded for the action included a Distinguished Service Order, a Military Cross, four Military Medals and mentions in dispatches. In 2003, the unit participated in Operation Telic 1 during the invasion of Iraq, using helicopters to assault the Al-Faw Peninsula in support of 40 Commando. It subsequently served in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick, returning on 16 April 2009 after operating as the Regional Battle Group (South). In May 2013, it assumed the lead Commando task-group role for the COUGAR 13 Response Force Task Group, conducting exercises in Albania and the Middle East. The unit was re-roled in 2018 to emphasise maritime specialist functions. J Company became associated with boarding and search missions, K Company with support, augmentation, liaison and training, L Company with joint personnel recovery, and M Company with ship force protection teams. These functions support counter-piracy and counter-narcotics work, the protection of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, training of partner forces, and the operational requirements of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. The unit's more recent activity has included a 2019 deployment to Gibraltar in connection with the detention of Grace 1, a Panama-flagged crude-oil tanker suspected of carrying oil to Syria in breach of European Union sanctions. In March 2020, personnel participated in Exercise Winter Partisan with Belarusian airborne troops. Today, 42 Commando remains an active very-high-readiness component of the UK Commando Force, combining amphibious and maritime expertise with expeditionary security, force protection and partner-support responsibilities.

• 2018

  Maritime specialist re-role

  [1]42 Commandoen.wikipedia.org

  The unit reorganised its companies around boarding, partner-force support, personnel recovery and ship force protection.

• 2009

  Return from Operation Herrick

  [1]42 Commandoen.wikipedia.org

  42 Commando returned from Afghanistan after its Regional Battle Group (South) deployment.

• 2003

  Operation Telic 1

  [1]42 Commandoen.wikipedia.org

  The unit conducted a helicopter assault on the Al-Faw Peninsula during the Iraq invasion.

• 1982

  Capture of Mount Harriet

  [1]42 Commandoen.wikipedia.org

  During the Falklands conflict, 42 Commando attacked and secured Mount Harriet in the final advance toward Port Stanley.

• 1943

  Formation of No. 42 (Royal Marine) Commando

  [1]42 Commandoen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was raised in August 1943 as part of the wartime expansion of Royal Marines commando forces.

• 1943

  Deployment to India and Burma

  [1]42 Commandoen.wikipedia.org

  The commando served in the Burma theatre and participated in amphibious operations during the Arakan campaigns.

A specialist, very-high-readiness Royal Marines formation positioned at the intersection of maritime security, expeditionary commando operations, ship protection and international military partnership.

• Military capability

  Maritime interdiction and boarding

  A specialist capability for boarding and searching vessels in maritime security missions, including counter-piracy and counter-narcotics operations. This function is associated primarily with J Company and supports the United Kingdom's wider maritime-interdiction posture.

• Military capability

  Ships Force Protection Teams

  M Company provides personnel trained to protect Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships operating in high-threat environments. The capability is designed for deployment around the world and supports maritime force protection during operations and transits.

• Military capability

  Joint Personnel Recovery

  L Company specialises in recovering aircrew, service personnel and other eligible individuals who are isolated, missing, detained or captured in an operational environment. The capability has particular relevance to aviation and carrier operations.

• Military capability

  Support, Augment, Liaise and Train

  K Company supports other British units, allied forces and overseas partners through augmentation, liaison, training and operational deployment. The role reflects the commando's wider contribution to international capacity-building and partnered-force activity.

• 2007Operation Herrick

  Afghanistan

  42 Commando deployed as the Regional Battle Group (South) during Britain's Afghanistan campaign.

  Outcome. The unit returned to the United Kingdom in April 2009.

  Source
• 2003Operation Telic 1

  Iraq

  The unit used a helicopter assault to support the seizure of the Al-Faw Peninsula.

  Outcome. The operation supported the wider coalition invasion of Iraq.

  Source
• 1982Operation Corporate

  Falkland Islands

  42 Commando served in the Falklands campaign, moving from brigade reserve duties to the assault on Mount Harriet.

  Outcome. Mount Harriet was captured, more than 300 Argentine personnel were taken prisoner and the unit received several gallantry awards.

  Source
• 1943Arakan and Burma operations

  India · Burma

  The wartime commando participated in the third Arakan campaign and amphibious landings along the Burmese coast, including operations at Myebon and Hill 170.

  Outcome. The unit completed its Burma service and later prepared for the planned invasion of Malaya before being redirected to Hong Kong.

  Source

• 2018

  Reorganisation around maritime specialist rolesStrategy

  Background

  The UK Commando Force adapted 42 Commando for high-readiness maritime security, force protection, personnel recovery and international training tasks.

  Action taken

  The unit assigned differentiated roles to J, K, L and M Companies, covering boarding and search, support and training, personnel recovery, and ship force protection.

  Aftermath

  The re-role strengthened the commando's relationship with Royal Navy ships, Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels and the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier force.

  Source

1. 142 Commandoen.wikipedia.org
2. 242 Commando - Royal Navyroyalnavy.mod.uk