Kieranlocke

Landing craft of the royal Marines

The royal navy Maintains a varied fleet of transport craft designed to transport the royal marines from ship to shore as well as conduct river of estuary patrols. These different craft generally have different classifications depending on there role. These classifications are LCU which stands for Landing Craft Utility, LCVP Which Means Landing Craft Vehicles & Personnel. The smaller Craft are designated either RRC meaning Rigid raiding Craft or IRC Meaning Inflatable Raiding Craft.

LCUs Used by the Royal Marines

LCU MK9s

The Majority of this class as been Superseded by the Mk10s and Left service with the vessels they operated from, namely HMS fearless and intrepid. . Three mk9s are in service as 2008 and are fitted with Schottel Propulsors. Pennant numbers are 701,705709

LCU MK10s

These new Landing craft operates from HMS Albion and Bulwark and the new bay class ships. Deliveries of the class started from 1998 and consists of a fleet of ten vessels. This craft are novel as they unlike the class the have virtually replaced have both stern a bow ramps, which mean they can be loaded from both ends allowing rapid embarkation of vehicles and troops. . Pennant numbers are 1001 - 1010

LCVPs used by the royal marines

Griffon 2000 TDX(M)

These hover craft are aluminum hulled and four were ordered in 1993. They have a range of 300 miles at 25 knots . . They are carried on the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean and can cross a beach and travel inland to discharge men and equipment . Pennant numbers are c21-24.

LCVP Mk4

These landing craft came into service in 1986. Most are operated by the royal marines but some are operated by the British army and service in the Falkland islands as well as the UK. They are mostly used in independent royal marine formations .

LCVP Mk5

These modern fast landing craft operate from HMS ocean and HMS albion and bulwark. twenty one were ordered in 2001 and are far more capable than the preseding MK4s. between them four can carry a full royal Marine company.

RRC and IRC operated by the Royal Marines

The royal marine Commandos Operate large numbers of these two types of craft for use in amphibious operations and riverine operations of all types from the arctic to the tropics. These craft are embarked on all the amphibious warfare vessels They can be easily embarked on other royal navy vessels for use in constabulary duties such as merchant ship inspections etc.

References

1. The Royal navy handbook Published 2003 by ConwayMarinetime Press.

2. www.mod.uk (Ministry of defence website)

3. www.royalmarines,mod.uk(Official Royal Marines website)

4. www.army.mod.uk (officail army website)