The Royal Marines
The fighting force of the Royal Navy is manifest as 3 Commando brigade, which is comprised of three units: 40, 42, and 45 Commando.

The brigade is a 3,500-strong amphibious rapid reaction force highly trained for combat in cold, mountainous conditions. The marines are seen as an elite force who must undergo twice the training period of conventional infantry. There are 6,500 personnel in the Royal Marines.

The three lightly armoured commando units are each made up of around 650 troops: 40 Commando is located at Norton Manor near Taunton in Somerset, 42 Commando at Bickleigh, near Plymouth, Devon and 45 Commando at Arbroath on the east coast of Scotland.

45 Commando and 40 Commando are currently deployed in action in Afghanistan. The last major conflict they were involved in was the Falklands, where the brigade spearheaded the recapture of the island. In 2000, the marines were at the forefront of the British contribution to the operation in Sierra Leone during the civil war there.

Part of the Royal Navy includes the Special Boat Squad (SBS), the naval equivalent of the army's SAS (Special Air Service). The SBS specialises in mounting clandestine operations against targets at sea, in rivers or harbours and against occupied coastlines.
3 Commando brigade