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Marines of the Fleet

In this period the size and general duties of Royal Marine ships’ detachments did not differ greatly from that of the post war period after 1978.

During the 1980s a Royal Marine detachment aboard ship consisted of around 10 men deployed on various frigates at different times.

Detachments of Royal Marines also served aboard the Assault Ships HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. Ice patrol ship HMS Endurance also maintained a Royal Marine presence aboard.

The Detachment of HMS Endurance would regularly exercise with and reinforce Naval Party 8901, based in the Falkland Islands.

In 1984 the Royal Navy withdrew all 10-man frigate detachments.

Royal Marines did serve on frigates on the Armilla Patrol escorting British ships in the Persian Gulf from 1986 until the beginning of the Gulf War.

When the Gulf War broke out those ships formed part of the Task Force during the conflict.

Guarding against an attack on Allied shipping. A Royal Marine manning the flight deck's General Purpose Machine Gun on board HMS Brave, Gulf War February 1991. (RMM)

Article highlights

• Marines of the fleet

• The Gulf War

Follow the links to find out more about

• Sea service

• The Falklands War

• Bosnia Rapid Reaction Force

• Flying Marines