First in Last Out : The Post-War Organisation, Employment and Training of Royal Marines Commandos.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Winter, Paul.

Contributor:

Thompson, Julian, 1934-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain. Royal Marines.

Commando troops.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (187 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

First In Last Out

Place of Publication:

Havertown : Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC, 2021.

Summary:

"...the level or research, the quality of graphics, and the readability are exceptional. [...] It is a subject area not covered often and it is a worthy addition to the bookshelves of readers with an interest in early Southwest Pacific air campaigns of World War Two." -- Sir Henry Beverley Lieutenant General RMThe official document Amphibious Warfare Handbook No. 10a: The Organisation, Employment and Training of Commandos is a unique piece of postwar Royal Marines Commando doctrine, never before published, or quoted at length. Prepared in 1951 at the height of the Korean War by the Chief of Amphibious Warfare and the Commandant General Royal Marines, this seventy-page aide memoir is, in essence, the distillation of major lessons learned by the British wartime Combined Operations Headquarters regarding amphibious warfare, raiding, cliff assaults, sabotage, intelligence-gathering, specialized infantry work, guerrilla warfare and Commando tactics. In addition, it offers its readership a delineation of the characteristics, skills and qualities required of a Royal Marines Commando. Published to mark the seventieth anniversary of its official issue, this rare example of bespoke Commando doctrine is a timely and highly relevant addition to a growing body of work on The Corps of Royal Marines. Currently undergoing significant institutional changes by means of the Future Commando Force (FCF) program, the Royal Marines are having to challenge their existing operating concept, force structures, doctrine, and organizational design to meet the emerging defense challenges of the 21st century. It serves to remind those currently evolving the FCF concept of General Sir John Hackett's advice, namely, "To see where we are going, we must know where we are, and to know where we are, we need to discover how we got here."

Contents:

Intro

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Notes

Amphibious Warfare Handbook No. 10a: The Organisation, Employment and Training of Commandos, 1951

PART I-OPERATIONS

Chapter 1-Introduction

Outline Organisation

Chapter 2-Commando Amphibious Operations

General

Naval and Air Situation

Choice between Seaborne and Airborne Attack

Surprise and Security

Intelligence

Navigation

Radar

Mines

Difficult Coasts-Rocks, Cliffs and Heavy Seas

Landing Ships and Assault Craft

Strength of Landing Forces

Vehicles

Load on the Man

Planning

Chapter 3-Amphibious Raids

General Considerations

Methods

Multiple Raids

Co-ordination with other activities

Control

Chapter 4-Tasks Requiring Special Skill as a Part of Larger Operations

Capture of Coast Defence Batteries and Radar Stations

Tasks on Difficult Parts of the Coast-line

Tasks on Low Transport Scales

Chapter 5-Seizure of Ports and other Strategic or Tactical Areas

Chapter 6-Land Operations

Employment in Place of Infantry

Internal Security Duties in Peace

PART II-TRAINING AND SELECTION

Chapter 7-General

Morale and Commando Spirit

Skill

Specialists

Selection

Volunteering

Preliminary Training

Commando Training

National Service Men

Chapter 8-Stage 1 Commando Training

Risk

Commando Spirit and Skills

Infantry Tactics

Night Training

Amphibious Training

Parades, Inspections and Marches

Singing

Chapter 9-Stage 2 Commando Training

Heavy Weapons

Assault Engineers

Parachutists

Cliff Loaders

Snipers

Landing Craft Helmsmen

Night and Guerilla Specialists

Swimmer Canoeists.

Special Courses for Backward Men

Chapter 10-Training of Signallers, Clerks, Cooks and Tradesmen

Signallers

Clerks

Cooks

Drivers

Chapter 11-Advanced Training

Sub-Unit, Unit and Formation Training

Specialist Training

Advanced Individual Training

Advanced and Competitive Battle Skills

Sport

Mountaineering and Expeditions Generally

Boating and Seamanship

Attachments to Other Arms and Services

Initiative Tests

Chapter 12-Reserve Training

PART III-THE TECHNIQUE OF DIFFICULT ASSAULT LANDINGS

Chapter 13-General

Chapter 14-Rock Landings

Craft

Crews

Coxswain and/or Helmsman

Kedgeman or Kedgemen

Bowman or Bowmen

Assaulting Troops

Re-embarkation

Choice of Landing Place

The Beach-master-Beach Markings

Limit Conditions

Special Precautions

Training

Chapter 15-Cliff Assault

Scramble Assaults

Scaling Assaults

Climbing Leaders

Projection

Scaling Ladders

Parachutists or Agents

Tactical Organisation of a Cliff Assault

Withdrawal

Selection of Routes of Ascent

Chapter 16-Miscellaneous Difficulties

Beach Landings in Rough Weather and Surf

Mud

Long Voyages in Minor Landing Craft

Improvised Landing Craft

Landings alongside Moles or Quays

Chapter 17-Follow-up and Administration

Landing Place Organisation and Control

Methods of Landing Stores

Casualty Evacuation

Administration in General

APPENDICES

A - Outline of Shipping Suitable for Raiding Operations

B - Outline of Landing Craft Suitable for Raiding Operations

C - Notes on Man Loads

D - Notes on Hardening

Living Out

and Living in the Field

E - Standardised Cliff Assault Procedure for Training.

F - Special Equipment for Commando Amphibious Assaults

G - Notes on Boots and Other Footwear for Climbing and Difficult Landings

H - Notes on the Assessment of Cliffs for Assault Purposes

I - Cliff Haulage Methods

Appendix: Definition of a Royal Marines Commando.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781612009636

1612009638

OCLC:

1340453187