47 Commando (Raiding Group)
47 Commando (Raiding Group) is a Royal Marines commando unit specializing in amphibious raiding, landing-craft operations, coastal warfare, and related maritime training.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines is a unit of the United Kingdom Commando Force within the Royal Marines. It was established in October 2001 as 1 Assault Group Royal Marines, with responsibility for landing-craft training and associated amphibious capabilities. The unit later moved from Royal Marines Poole to RM Tamar at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth in August 2013. On 5 November 2019, it adopted the designation 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, reviving the number associated with the historic No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando that served from 1943 to 1946. The unit’s role extends beyond conventional boat-handling instruction. Its personnel and sub-units support amphibious assault, coastal and riverine operations, small-boat warfare, naval boarding, special reconnaissance, forward air control, irregular warfare, long-range penetration, and operations in varied terrain. It is particularly associated with the maritime and raiding capabilities required by the United Kingdom Commando Force, including the movement of personnel and equipment from sea to shore and the conduct of commando-style raids. 47 Commando also trains personnel for the Assault Squadrons of the Royal Marines and their landing-craft detachments. Training is delivered principally through 10 Squadron at RM Tamar and 11 Squadron at RM Instow in North Devon. 10 Squadron provides vocational landing-craft and amphibious-assault training, including courses connected with the Royal Yachting Association-accredited landing-craft specialization. 11 Squadron provides amphibious-assault support training for Commando Brigade units, including waterproofing instruction. Operational support is provided by the Logistics Squadron, while 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines functions as the United Kingdom Commando Force’s integrated landing-craft unit. The group’s equipment portfolio includes Landing Craft Utility vessels, Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel vessels, Offshore Raiding Craft, Commando Raiding Craft, light Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicles, and inflatable raiding craft. These assets support the unit’s emphasis on maritime mobility, littoral access, and small-team raiding. The organization is a military formation rather than a commercial consumer brand. Its identity is expressed through its Royal Marines designation, commando heritage, operational specialization, and role within the United Kingdom’s amphibious and littoral-warfare structure. The supplied reference material describes the unit as active and headquartered at RM Tamar. It also reports a planned or reported 2026 acquisition of approximately 20 K-3 Scout unmanned surface vessels for the Royal Navy’s Surface Flotilla, principally for the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando; the timing and implementation of that equipment development should be checked against current official records.
History
47 Commando (Raiding Group) traces its modern institutional history to the formation of 1 Assault Group Royal Marines in October 2001. The group was created at RM Poole to consolidate responsibility for landing-craft training and the development of the maritime skills required by Royal Marines conducting amphibious operations. Its remit placed it at the intersection of training, force generation, and operational support for the wider Commando force. In August 2013, the unit moved to RM Tamar at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth. The relocation placed it within a major Royal Navy and Royal Marines base and became the unit’s continuing headquarters. Its training footprint also includes RM Instow in North Devon, allowing the organization to deliver distinct elements of amphibious and landing-craft instruction across more than one site. The unit was redesignated on 5 November 2019 as 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines. The change linked the modern formation with the heritage of No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando, a wartime unit that existed between 1943 and 1946. Although the modern organization is not simply a continuation of that wartime formation, the revived designation emphasizes a historical connection with Royal Marines commando raiding and maritime operations. In its current structure, 10 Squadron at RM Tamar delivers vocational landing-craft and amphibious-assault training, including commando-style raid preparation. Its training pathway includes stages associated with the landing-craft specialization at Marine, Corporal, and Sergeant levels. The training is described as accredited by the Royal Yachting Association for relevant candidates. 11 Squadron at RM Instow delivers amphibious-assault support training to Commando Brigade units, including waterproofing courses. A Logistics Squadron enables the group’s activities, and 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines provides an integrated landing-craft capability for the United Kingdom Commando Force. The unit’s operational and training responsibilities encompass landing-craft employment, small-boat operations, coastal and riverine warfare, naval boarding, special reconnaissance, forward air control, irregular warfare, long-range penetration, and amphibious assault. Its equipment includes several types of landing craft and raiding boats, ranging from Landing Craft Utility and Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel vessels to Offshore Raiding Craft, Commando Raiding Craft, light Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicles, and inflatable raiding craft. Reference material also identifies an equipment development involving K-3 Scout unmanned surface vessels and gives 2026 as the relevant year. Because that date is future-facing or dependent on the status of the cited report, the acquisition should be verified against official Royal Navy or Ministry of Defence announcements before being treated as a settled historical milestone.
- 2026
Reported integration of K-3 Scout unmanned surface vessels
[1]Reference material reports the acquisition of approximately 20 K-3 Scout unmanned surface vessels for Royal Navy Surface Flotilla use, principally involving the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando.
- 2019
Redesignation as 47 Commando (Raiding Group)
[1]On 5 November 2019, the unit adopted the 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines title.
- 2013
Relocation to RM Tamar
[1]The group moved from RM Poole to RM Tamar at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.
- 2001
Formation as 1 Assault Group Royal Marines
[1]The unit was formed at RM Poole in October 2001 to assume responsibility for landing-craft training.
Products and positioning
A specialist Royal Marines formation focused on maritime access, amphibious assault, raiding, landing-craft operations, and the training and support of United Kingdom Commando Force personnel.
Military training · 2001
Landing-craft training
The unit’s core training role covers the operation of landing craft and the maritime skills needed for amphibious assault. 10 Squadron delivers vocational training for the Royal Marines landing-craft specialization through career stages associated with Marine, Corporal, and Sergeant ranks. The training supports the wider Assault Squadrons and their landing-craft detachments.
Military training and operational support
Amphibious assault support
11 Squadron provides amphibious-assault support training for Commando Brigade units from RM Instow. Its activities include waterproofing instruction and other preparation needed to move personnel and equipment through maritime and littoral environments.
Military capability
Maritime raiding and small-boat operations
The formation supports coastal and riverine warfare, commando-style raids, naval boarding, special reconnaissance, forward air control, irregular warfare, and long-range penetration. Its maritime capabilities are enabled by a fleet of landing craft, raiding craft, and other small boats.
Brand decisions
2019
Revival of the 47 Commando designationStrategyBackground
The Royal Marines sought to align the modern unit’s identity with the heritage of the wartime No. 47 Royal Marine Commando.
Action taken
The unit was renamed 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines on 5 November 2019.
Aftermath
The new title emphasizes the formation’s commando and maritime-raiding role while retaining its modern training and operational responsibilities.
2001
Creation of a dedicated landing-craft training groupStrategyBackground
The Royal Marines required a formation focused on landing-craft training and related amphibious skills.
Action taken
1 Assault Group Royal Marines was formed at RM Poole in October 2001.
Aftermath
The group became the principal organizational home for the described landing-craft training responsibility and later evolved into 47 Commando.
Recent events
- 2026
Reported acquisition of K-3 Scout unmanned surface vessels[1]
Product generation · Other
Reference material reports that the Royal Navy acquired approximately 20 K-3 Scout unmanned surface vessels for the Surface Flotilla, principally for the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando.
- 2019
1 Assault Group renamed 47 Commando (Raiding Group)[1]
Leadership change
The unit was redesignated 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, restoring the numerical title of the wartime No. 47 Royal Marine Commando.
- 2013
Unit moves to RM Tamar[1]
Other
1 Assault Group Royal Marines relocated from RM Poole to RM Tamar at HMNB Devonport in Plymouth.
- 2001
1 Assault Group Royal Marines established[1]
Other
The Royal Marines formed 1 Assault Group Royal Marines at RM Poole to take responsibility for landing-craft training.
Sources2 sources
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