Littoral Response Group(South)
The following article is taken from the latest issue of the Globe & Laurel magazine.
Click the button below to discover more.
The Corps will be capable of striking deeper and faster thanks to a revamped raiding craft for discrete Commando operations. Being rolled out for use on front-line operations around the world, the Commando Raiding Craft (CRC) is a redesigned version of the tried-and-tested Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC).
After two decades’ service with the Corps around the globe, it’s been given an overhaul to meet the demands of Commandos in the mid-21st century as we return to our WW2 raiding roots: coastal landings behind enemy lines with small teams wreaking havoc on enemy infrastructure and systems.
Repainted in grey to help concealment, the CRC also has new engines providing increased range – more than 200 nautical miles – and speeds up to 40 knots – and a new configuration with driving position moved to the front for better manoeuvrability. It also has new cooling systems, mast, trim for better protection from sea conditions and a sophisticated electronic suite for communications and navigation.
The CRC has three crew who rotate on long journeys and has space to launch drones, carry payloads and to store a smaller Inshore Raiding Craft to deploy on some landings if required. Crucially, this is a life extension and upgrade to the ORC and, although it is more than just a stopgap, in the long run Commando Forces are developing a boat that will replace the ORC, CRC and larger Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel.
‘The current fleet of craft were ageing and had limited range and capacity,’ explains Maj Joe Brown RM, from the Commando Force Acquisition Team. ‘An opportunity was taken to revamp this fleet to deliver a considerable upgrade to the current craft through the development of in-service hulls. It is an example of developing for the future through maximising the potential within existing capabilities.’
The Unit’s CO, Col Will Norcott, said: ‘The CRC is multi-purpose and more supportive of the Commando Force model, working in small, disaggregated teams that…..
To find out more about Commando Force and RM activities across the globe, catch up regularly with all the news in the Globe & Laurel Magazine, the Journal of the Royal Marines.
Read more from the Journal of the Royal Marines
For more information, and to read similar stories, visit:
Globe & Laurel – RMA – The Royal Marines Charity (rma-trmc.org)
