Brigade Patrol Troop
Encyclopedia
The Brigade Patrol Troop is a troop of Royal Marines
, United Kingdom
, under command of the Support Squadron 3 Commando Brigade
. The Troop consists of six teams of four men each. They are employed in a reconnaissance role, ahead of the main force collecting information on the enemy and reporting directly back to the Brigade Headquarters. They are often deployed in advance of the brigade.
, and attached to HQ 3 Commando Brigade as a Brigade asset. Subsequently they have been employed on all Brigade deployments including Operation TELIC
, the British involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, and in Afghanistan
on Operation Jacana and Operation Herrick
.
-qualified, and continue their training to later qualify as Mountain Leaders. The Troop only accepts candidates from the Royal Marines.
Personnel are trained in first aid
to a high level of competence; cold weather warfare training; voice and data communications; and reconnaissance
patrolling and intelligence collection. Personnel qualify as "Sharpshooters" (sniper
s), using the L115A1 sniper rifle and carry out basic parachute training at RAF Brize Norton
.
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, under command of the Support Squadron 3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
. The Troop consists of six teams of four men each. They are employed in a reconnaissance role, ahead of the main force collecting information on the enemy and reporting directly back to the Brigade Headquarters. They are often deployed in advance of the brigade.
History
The Troop was formed in the early 1990s using personnel from the Mountain and Arctic Warfare CadreMountain Leader Training Cadre
The Mountain Leader Training Cadre is a training element of the British Royal Marines which provides instruction in Mountain Warfare, Arctic warfare, cold weather survival and operations, and cliff assault...
, and attached to HQ 3 Commando Brigade as a Brigade asset. Subsequently they have been employed on all Brigade deployments including Operation TELIC
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
, the British involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, and in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
on Operation Jacana and Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
.
Operations
| Operation | Country | Formation | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Desert Storm |  United Kingdom |
1991 | |
| Operation Safe Haven | United Kingdom |
1991 | |
| Operation Veritas Operation Veritas Operation Veritas was the codename used for British military operations against the Taliban government of Afghanistan in 2001. British forces played a supporting role to the American Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition, the British contribution was an important part of the overall forces deployed... |
 Afghanistan |
NATO | 2001–2002 |
| Operation Jacana Operation Jacana Operation Jacana is the codename for a series of operations carried out by coalition forces in Afghanistan. The operations were carried out most notably by 45 Commando Royal Marines. U.S. forces, Australian SAS and Norwegian FSK also participated. The operation was a followup operation of Operation... |
Afghanistan |
NATO | 2002 |
| Operation Telic Operation Telic Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011... |
 Iraq |
United Kingdom |
2002–2003 |
| Operation Herrick V Operation Herrick Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom... |
Afghanistan |
NATO | 2006 |
Selection and Training
Members of the troop are drawn from the Reconnaissance Operator trade of the Royal Marines, already CommandoCommando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
-qualified, and continue their training to later qualify as Mountain Leaders. The Troop only accepts candidates from the Royal Marines.
Personnel are trained in first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
to a high level of competence; cold weather warfare training; voice and data communications; and reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
patrolling and intelligence collection. Personnel qualify as "Sharpshooters" (sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s), using the L115A1 sniper rifle and carry out basic parachute training at RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....
.