Unidentified Naval Unit?

[sailorbear]

Hi all , anyone able to identified which unit this group of WW2 Royal Naval officers belong to? Picture from a post on another forum.

Regards

Tony

[leigh kitchen]

Beyond that they're Royal Naval Police, from the vehicle markings, I can't help. I would imagine that you've already spotted the "RNP" and anchor markings.

[Hawthorn]

Could the 'RNP' stencilled on the jeep refer to a Royal Navy Police Unit, if such a thing existed in World War Two?

Simon.

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Beyond that they're Royal Naval Police, from the vehicle markings, I can't help. I would imagine that you've already spotted the "RNP" and anchor markings.

I don't think the Royal Naval Police existed in WW2! Royal Naval Regulating branch yes, though I can see no reason for them to operate away from a ship or shore establishment, suspect the RNP marking has a different meaning but what I do not know, pretty sure they're not 30 AU, RN beach Commandos or Combined ops bombardment unit, so who they are is a mystery?

[Hawthorn]

Another possibility could be 30 Assault Unit, there is a depiction of an Officer from that Unit on the IWM site (Catalogue number Art.IWM ART 17108 2) but it states that it is a licensable image and so was unsure whether to post a link.

See you've just said you don't think its 30 Assault Unit so disregard.

Simon.

[mike_vee]

Found an article about The Royal Naval Rhine Squadron

Royal Naval Police

British Naval Base in Germany. 25 March 1945, Reichswald, Germany. A Royal Navy MOLCAB - Mobile Landing Craft Advanced Base - is playing an important part in the Army's crossing of the Rhine. Craft are patrolling and bridge building along the Rhine and have brought prisoners across to the western bank. The force is under the command of Captain P.G.H. James, RN, and all personnel live under canvas in a forest. The base is administered and run by the Royal Marines. Note the Jeep which says RNP (Royal Naval Police) and shows an anchor.

https://www.commsmuseum.co.uk/dykes/.../rhinesqdn.htm

Scroll down and then click on appropriate photo and it shows the above text.

.

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by Hawthorn

Another possibility could be 30 Assault Unit, there is a depiction of an Officer from that Unit on the IWM site (Catalogue number Art.IWM ART 17108 2) but it states that it is a licensable image and so was unsure whether to post a link.

See you've just said you don't think its 30 Assault Unit so disregard.

Simon.

Well "I don't think so" but I could well be wrong? I cant see any evidence of the 30 arm badge, but that may not have always been worn! Uniform regs and insignia, were ignored quite a lot in the latter part of WW2, especially by specialist units, many of which were only ever "Semi" official themselves and due to the proliferation of small units under the umbrella of Combined Operations, there were a fair number of sailors wearing army battledress, beach parties/groups, diving and EOD units, port parties, pilotage and recce parties,to name a few, but what the designation RNP stands for I have no idea, except I'm certain not police, provost or regulating.

Tony

[leigh kitchen]

There was a Royal Naval Police (Singapore) 1937-42, 1945-57, but the photo doesn't look very Singapore. I'm tossing in another red herring I suppose.

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Found an article about The Royal Naval Rhine Squadron



https://www.commsmuseum.co.uk/dykes/.../rhinesqdn.htm

Scroll down and then click on appropriate photo and it shows the above text.

.

Well that's pretty conclusive! And interesting as I have never known there to be a Royal Naval Police, until training went tri service and the regulating branch was re designated Royal Naval Police in 2007 which was brought about by the Armed Forces Act 2006. Every day is a school day!

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

There was a Royal Naval Police (Singapore) 1937-42, 1945-57, but the photo doesn't look very Singapore. I'm tossing in another red herring I suppose.

Red herring maybe, but still very interesting and a bit more knowledge to absorb!

Tony

[mike_vee]

A Royal Navy MOLCAB - Mobile Landing Craft Advanced Base - is playing an important part in the Army's crossing of the Rhine. Craft are patrolling and bridge building along the Rhine and have brought prisoners across to the western bank. The force is under the command of Captain P.G.H. James, RN, and all personnel live under canvas in a forest. The base is administered and run by the Royal Marines. Note the Jeep which says RNP (Royal Naval Police) and shows an anchor.

I think RNP may actually refer to Royal Naval Party ;

The number on the jeep appears to be 2402 which is the reference number for MOBILE LANDING CRAFT ADVANCED BASE Number 3 .

(*formed DRAGONFLY/to Antwerp 02.45/Op with Force U/Bornhem 04.45/Nijmegen/ to DRAGONFLY 06.06.45 - PAID OFF 08.45*) Bornhem, near Antwerp 25.02 -03.45/Nijimegen 04-05.45/DRAGONFLY 06-07.45/disbanded 08.45
{LANDSEER Commissioned 25.02.45 - PAID OFF 25.07.45}

NAVAL PARTIES of the ROYAL NAVY, 1942-1991


.

[sailorbear]

Wow, thanks for that! I agree, I think RNP is more likely to be Royal Naval Party given the circumstances and role of the unit in the picture. Interesting an a bit more for me to get my teeth into and research.

Regards

Tony

[mike_vee]

Also found this thread :

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/inde...topic=256816.0

.

[sailorbear]

Cheers Mike, Great stuff!

Tony