48 Commando Support Group

48 Commando Support Group is a Royal Marines combat-service-support formation of the United Kingdom Commando Force. It was established in 1972 as the Commando Logistic Regiment, a name by which it has long been known, and is based at Royal Marines Chivenor in North Devon. Its function is not the manufacture or sale of commercial products, but the provision of the logistics, maintenance, medical, and specialist support required to keep commando forces operating in the field. The unit provides second-line combat service support to the United Kingdom Commando Force. In practical terms, this means sustaining deployed ground forces with essential combat supplies, including ammunition, water, fuel, and food, while also delivering specialist services that allow formations to remain mobile, supplied, maintained, and medically supported. Its work connects operational units with the wider military logistics system and helps convert strategic stock and transport capacity into usable support at brigade and deployed-force level. The regiment is organized into a headquarters and training squadron, a Commando Forces Support Squadron, Delta Squadron, Workshop Squadron, Victor Squadron, Medical Squadron, Viking Squadron, and 383 Commando Petroleum Troop. These elements collectively provide command and control, training, supply and distribution, equipment support, petroleum handling, and medical capabilities. The precise structure and responsibilities of individual subunits may change as the Royal Marines adapt to operational requirements, but the central mission remains the sustainment of commando operations in demanding and potentially austere environments. The formation is part of the Royal Marines and supports the broader United Kingdom Commando Force rather than operating as an independent commercial organization. Its activities are therefore centered on readiness, deployability, resilience, and the practical delivery of battlefield support. The unit is scheduled to be renamed 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines on 1 August 2026, reflecting its position within the modern commando-support structure while preserving its logistics and combat-service-support role.

The formation was created in 1972 under the name Commando Logistic Regiment. Its establishment reflected the need for a dedicated Royal Marines organization able to provide the sustainment functions required by commando forces beyond the immediate capabilities of front-line fighting units. From its creation, the regiment's purpose was to provide second-line combat service support: the intermediate level of logistics, maintenance, medical assistance, and specialist support needed to keep operational formations supplied and effective. Based at Royal Marines Chivenor in North Devon, the regiment developed as an enabling formation within the Royal Marines and the wider United Kingdom Commando Force. Its principal responsibilities include the movement and distribution of combat supplies such as ammunition, fuel, water, and food. It also supports the maintenance of equipment and vehicles, provides medical capability, and supplies specialist petroleum and other field-logistics services. These functions are particularly important for commando operations, which may take place in remote, austere, or rapidly changing environments where resupply and repair cannot be assumed to be straightforward. The regiment's structure includes headquarters and training functions, a Commando Forces Support Squadron, Delta Squadron, Workshop Squadron, Victor Squadron, Medical Squadron, Viking Squadron, and 383 Commando Petroleum Troop. The headquarters and training element provides command, control, and preparation. Support and logistics squadrons contribute to the delivery of supplies and services, while the workshop and medical elements address equipment availability and personnel welfare. The petroleum troop provides a focused capability for handling and distributing fuel. Together, these components allow the formation to support commando forces across the operational chain rather than performing only one type of logistics task. The unit's role has remained that of an operational enabler rather than a conventional combat formation or a commercial organization. Its effectiveness is measured by readiness, reliability, mobility, and the ability to sustain deployed forces. It forms part of the Royal Marines, which in turn contributes to the United Kingdom Commando Force and the Royal Navy's wider military structure. The formation is scheduled for a formal name change on 1 August 2026, when the Commando Logistic Regiment designation is due to be replaced by 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines. The planned change presents the unit as part of a broader commando-support architecture while retaining its established responsibility for logistics and combat service support. Until that change takes effect, Commando Logistic Regiment remains the established name used in the available reference material.

• 2026

  Planned transition to 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines

  [1]48 Commando Support Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The formation is scheduled to change its name to 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines on 1 August 2026.

• 1972

  Formation as the Commando Logistic Regiment

  [1]48 Commando Support Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was established as the Commando Logistic Regiment to provide second-line combat service support to United Kingdom commando forces.

A specialist Royal Marines sustainment formation positioned as the logistics backbone for United Kingdom Commando Force operations.

• Military logistics · 1972

  Combat-service-support operations

  The formation provides second-line combat service support to the United Kingdom Commando Force. This includes coordinating and delivering the supplies and specialist capabilities needed to sustain commando units during training, readiness activities, and deployed operations.

• Field logistics · 1972

  Combat supply resupply

  Its logistics mission covers the resupply of ammunition, water, fuel, and food to ground forces. These supplies are managed and distributed as part of the wider support chain so that deployed formations can continue operating away from fixed bases.

• Military maintenance · 1972

  Workshop and equipment support

  Workshop capabilities support the availability and serviceability of vehicles, equipment, and other operational assets. This function reduces the effect of mechanical failure and damage on the mobility and endurance of commando formations.

• Military medical services · 1972

  Medical support

  The medical squadron contributes specialist medical support within the formation's combat-service-support role. Its capability forms part of the wider system for sustaining personnel during field activity and operations.

• Fuel logistics · 1972

  Petroleum support

  383 Commando Petroleum Troop provides a dedicated petroleum-handling capability. Its role supports the receipt, management, and distribution of fuel needed by commando forces and their vehicles or equipment.

• 2026

  Adoption of the 48 Commando Support Group designationStrategy

  Background

  The existing Commando Logistic Regiment designation is being aligned with the organization and naming of the United Kingdom Commando Force.

  Action taken

  The formation is scheduled to be renamed 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines on 1 August 2026.

  Aftermath

  The planned change is expected to update the unit's formal identity while preserving its role in logistics and second-line combat service support.

  Source

• 2026

  Commando Logistic Regiment scheduled to become 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines[1]48 Commando Support Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The formation is scheduled to adopt the name 48 Commando Support Group Royal Marines on 1 August 2026 as part of the organization of the United Kingdom Commando Force.

1. 148 Commando Support Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Commando Logistic Regimentroyalnavy.mod.uk