Army Commando?

[ravrick]

Hi, can anybody explain the difference between the following modern military formations and their tasks?

I have seen subdued black on green shoulder titles for:

"Royal marines Commando" - with standard "dettol" style dagger badge

"Royal navy Commando" - dagger badge not seen

"Army Commando" - Dagger in green square

This is the first time that I am aware the services have an "Army Commando"

Any info would be appreicated,
Cheers, Rick

[Mike Jackson]

There is no Army Commando unit per se, in the sense of a RM Commando ie a specialised light infantry battalion.
There are however large numbers of Army personnel serving in, for example, 3 Cdo Bde. The majority of these are Gunners - in 29 Cdo Regt RA for example - and Sappers, but other arms are also represented.
I suppose that individually these soldiers could style themselves "Army Commando" - hence the existence of the title.
It's all a bit ironic since the Royal Marines were, relatively speaking, latecomers to the Second World War Commando fraternity! The Army developed the concept.

[2747andy]

Rick,
I'm a badge collector not a Commando Buff, but I believe Army Commandos were around before the Royal Marines took up the role?

http://www.jamesgdorrian.com/Army%20Commandos.html

In answer to your badge question, if a Salior or Soldier (Army) passes the All Arms Commando Course, they become Commando qualified, but not Marines and wear the badges in question! I'm sure someone else will elaborate!

Andy

[engr9266]

Originally Posted by ravrick

Hi, can anybody explain the difference between the following modern military formations and their tasks?

I have seen subdued black on green shoulder titles for:

"Royal marines Commando" - with standard "dettol" style dagger badge

"Royal navy Commando" - dagger badge not seen

"Army Commando" - Dagger in green square

This is the first time that I am aware the services have an "Army Commando"

Any info would be appreicated,
Cheers, Rick

59 COMMANDO SQN RE & 131 COMMANDO SQN RE (V) FORM THE FOLLOWING

24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers (24 CDO REGT RE)
Formed in 2008, the British Army's 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers form a key part of 3 Commando Brigade. Their main role is to provide combat engineering support to the brigade. This includes the construction or destruction of fortifications, bridges and roads, the laying and clearing of mines and neutralizing IEDs. The Sappers of 24 CDO REGT RE go through full commando training, including the All Arms Commando Course, and can be drawn on to perform the traditional infantry role.

Also there is
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
The batteries of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, provide artillery support to 3 Commando Brigade in the form of 105mm howitzers, mortars and Naval gunfire. All members of 29 Commando are volunteers from other Royal Artillery regiments and are Commando trained.

Both support 3 CDO BDE and are ARMY COMMANDO'S.
Army commando were formed before the Royal Marines took over the role.

[Sunray9]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

There is no Army Commando unit per se, in the sense of a RM Commando ie a specialised light infantry battalion.
There are however large numbers of Army personnel serving in, for example, 3 Cdo Bde. The majority of these are Gunners - in 29 Cdo Regt RA for example - and Sappers, but other arms are also represented.
I suppose that individually these soldiers could style themselves "Army Commando" - hence the existence of the title.
It's all a bit ironic since the Royal Marines were, relatively speaking, latecomers to the Second World War Commando fraternity! The Army developed the concept.

This is an intresting aside - Army Bureau of Current Affairs pamphlet No 46 12th June 1943 'Had sufficent Marines been available when Commandos were first organised, it is possible that all of them would have been based on Royal Marines personnel'.

[Staffsyeoman]

One of the photos of S/Sgt Olaf Schmid GC - which I've tried to attach, but with little success - clearly shows him wearing a UBACS desert variant ARMY COMMANDO shoulder title. It is the one used in all the newspapers (sitting down, no headdress) after his loss and should be readily found via Google.

I stayed clear of these badges until I saw them in wear, in theatre.

And the 'Dagger in a Square' is not an 'Army Commando'; it was the first pattern TRF of 3 Commando Brigade worn by whatever cap badge. I was given one worn by an RAF officer attached to Bde HQ.

[54Bty]

3 Commando Brigade Formation Badges

1. A black commando dagger with light green detail embroidered onto a green twill square background with a green merrowed edge. Subdued, circa April 1996 to March 1997, worn by some of the Brigade on the left sleeve of the Combat Smock, while on exercise 'Purple Star 96' (April-May). Size: 69 x 69 mm.


2. A badge similar to the Army Commando qualification badge. A red Fighting Knife with black detail embroidered onto a black round topped triangle of twill cloth with a merrowed edge. Colour, circa 1st of April 1997, to be worn by all members of 3 Commando Brigade on the left sleeve of the Combat Smock. Those not qualified are to remove the badge on leaving the Brigade. NATO Stock Number CB 8455-99-869-5496, pattern number 28747. Size: 47 x 77 mm.
(The Army Commando qualification badge is similar but has a dark blue background and is normally felt.)

3. In April 2002 a new badge was introduced. Not exactly new as it is similar to that worn from April 1996 to March 1997, except there is no green detail on the Fighting Knife (Commando Dagger). NATO Stock Number CB 8455-99-498-8640, pattern number 29365. Subdued, worn on the right sleeve of the Combat Soldier 95 Jacket and Field Jacket. Size: 62 x 66 mm.

4. A bronze commando dagger embroidered onto a sand coloured twill background with a merrowed edge. Subdued, circa March 2008, worn on the right sleeve of the Combat Smock. NATO Stock Number CB 8455-99-225-951, pattern number D00969. Size: 69 x 69 mm.

There are numerous unoffical versions of this badge including Desert DPM and Crye MultiCam®, which is not British MTP.

Marc

[Colin S]

I agree with 54 Bty's comments with one small proviso.

The use of the black triangle with red dagger as a formation sign for 3 Cdo Bde was confined to the Royal Marines. In the Army it is a qualification badge for those who pass the All Arms Commando Course and it was and is not worn by non qualified Army members of 3 Cdo Bde. It was this confusion of symbology between being a formation sign for the Marines and being a qualification badge for the Army which led to the adoption of the black dagger on an olive green square worn on the right arm as a TRF for all members of 3 Cdo Bde, regardless of qualification. Qualified Army commandos continue to wear the triangle on their left shoulder, together with 'Army Commando' cloth shoulder titles on both sleeves. Neither the Navy or Marines wear the triangular dagger badge any more.

Hope that clarifies the rather confused evolution of the 3 Cdo Bde TRF.

[grey_green_acorn]

Here are some more Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knives badges in an album:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=878

[tedwardland]

I've attached a few more pictures, some Printed which are late WW2 and also the modern Army Commando. The Army Commando all on one line was introduced during Op Herrick in 2007 and i dont think it was officially recognized. i was told 29 Cdo RA thought of the idea and 59 Independent Commando Squadron RE joined the party. This version was worn until the version below was introduced.

on leaving the Squadron (now Regiment) you can only wear the Dagger arm badge. The boys have great pleasure in trying to wear them as long as possible before they are forced to remove them.

the mention of 1996 and the dagger been worn during Purple star is correct and very much Brigade Commander led. I know that nobody who served with 59 would of been allowed or would of thought of wearing the dagger as a Brigade flash / ID, couldn't comment on 29.

[iain]

I was wondering if the 1st Rifles would be wearing the Army Commando title as they are with 3 Commando but it appears not looking at the attached picture,so who is eligible to wear this badge.Also i heard that a small metal commando knife may be worn on the arm in No 1 and 2 dress i take it only by those who have qualified to wear it,does anyone have a picture of this badge please.

[tynesideirish]

The badge on the sleeve. Bullion?

[Tommo]

Originally Posted by iain

I was wondering if the 1st Rifles would be wearing the Army Commando title as they are with 3 Commando but it appears not looking at the attached picture,so who is eligible to wear this badge.Also i heard that a small metal commando knife may be worn on the arm in No 1 and 2 dress i take it only by those who have qualified to wear it,does anyone have a picture of this badge please.

The Dagger on the green square is the Formation Badge, and is eligible to wear by anyone who is serving 3 Cdo Bde, the Dagger is not worn by the Marines but only Army personnel who have passed the AAC. The Army Commando title will soon replace the dagger so I've been told, much like the RMC title replaced the dagger for the Royal Marines.

Hope this clears this up, if I'm wrong please correct me lol

[Mike_2817]

The subordinate units of 3 Commando Brigade are:
30 Commando Information Exploitation Group
40 Commando Royal Marines, based at Norton Manor Camp in Taunton, Somerset.
42 Commando Royal Marines, based at Bickleigh Barracks, Plymouth
43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, HM Naval Base Clyde
45 Commando Royal Marines, based at RM Condor, Arbroath
539 Assault Squadron, Royal Marines Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset

Army Units:
24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Royal Citadel, Plymouth
Commando Logistic Regiment, based at RM Chivenor, Devon [Joint RM, RAMC, RLC & REME]
1st Battalion The Rifles

Commando Helicopter Force (CHF),of the Fleet Air Arm, based at RNAS Yeovilton provide Helicopter support.

The Special Forces (SF) element is usually provided by units of the Special Boat Service (SBS). SF support will be allocated from the Director Special Forces, as required for tasking.

# The attached army units consist of commando-trained units from the British Army.

[Mike_2817]

Originally Posted by Rordog95

The Army Commando title will soon replace the dagger so I've been told, much like the RMC title replaced the dagger for the Royal Marines.

On the Combat Uniform yes within the Brigade, but I believe will continue on Combats & No2 Dress for AAC Qualified Soldiers who can wear it in perpetuity once back with the Army.