Location Madagascar, Africa Dieppe, France North Africa Bougie (BŽja•), Algeria Pantellaria, Italy Sicily, Italy Crossing from Messina to Italy Salerno 2nd Arakan Campagn, Burma Anzio Normandy Elba Southern France Walcheren Italy, Adriatic Rhine Crossing South East Asia Command Royal Naval Beach Commando Units & Operations 1942-45
Operation Ironclad Jubilee Torch Perpetual Screwdriver Husky Baytown Avalanche   Shingle Neptune/Overlord Brassard Dragoon Infatuate   Plunder   Compiled by Griffin Turton 09/08/2013
Date 05 May 1942 19 August 1942 08 November 1942 10 November 1942 11 June 1943 10 July 1943 03 September 1943 09 September 1943 January-June 1944 22 January 1944 06 June 1944 17 June 1944 15 August 1944 01 November 1944 1944-45 23 March 1945 1945 Return to Royal Naval Commandos 1942-45
RN Commando                                   Formed Disbanded
Able Landed at Ambararata Bay               Formed part of Force P in India in the Autumn of 1943 Participated in Anzio landing   A1 only, heavy casualties 2 officers and 18 men killed           It is believed that the five or six parties which proceeded to Madagascar were known as ÒKerenÓ party, ÒKarangaÓ party etc, depending on which troopship they were attached to, then subsequently they were named A and B by Combined Operations Headquarters (COHQ), though in actual fact there was by that time only sufficient personnel to complete one unit which was known as ÔAÕ. Royal Naval Beach Commando Baker never had any real existence in fact, though on paper it was counted as a formed unit for a long period. December 1944 at HMS Armadillo
Charlie   Lost a considerable number of officers and men, C2 having to be replaced in total. Central Task Force, Oran, Algeria     RN Commando C have not been placed on any specific beaches, however logically it is likely they controlled the How Sector beaches of the Acid Centre Assault Area, as they were attached to 'Force W' with E and F RN Beach Commandos. All three commandos sailed for Suez via the Cape in March 1943 before taking part in the Invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky' in July 1943.         Force 'L', Reserve unit not used           Proceeded to SEAC in two section the first leaving on the 21st of Feb 1945 and the second in April 1945 with Force 'W' taking part in operations in Malaya in Sept 1945 after the Japanese surrender  March-April 1942 Coulport House November 1945, SEAC
Dog   Heavy Casualties unit not reformed in the UK     Elements probably landed as No.5B Middle East Beach Party     Northern Attack Force, landed at Maiori designated Z sector and Vietri X sector   Several members  of Dog commando were transferred without notice to Nan Commando just prior to their departure from HMS Saunders for Anzio     Present afloat         April-May 1942 Coulport House or Inverary, not reformed after Dieppe in UK, name Dog allocated to unit formally known as No.5 Middle East or Saunders, Beach Party May 1945 at HMS Armadillo
Easy     Central Task Force, Oran, Algeria     Part of the original Force W, RN Beach Commando E is identified as landing on the George Sector beaches of the Acid Centre Assault Area, in Beachhead Assault by David Lee (p78).         Force 'L', Reserve unit not used           Sailed to SEAC in December 1944, taking part in operations in Malaya in Sept 1945 after the Japanese surrender May-June 1942 at Inverary and Coulport House,  November 1945, in SEAC
Fox     Eastern Task Force, Algiers     Part of the original Force W, RN Commando F is identified as landing on the ÔJigÕ Sector beaches, in Beachhead Assault by David Lee (p78).         Force 'S', landing on Sword Beach on D-Day with the British 3rd Division             June-July 1942 Coulport House and Inverkip Camp March 1945 at HMS Armadillo
George     RNBC George Eastern Task Force, Algiers, Apples Sector G2 and G3, their ship HMS Karanja having been sunk by enemy aircraft with their kit, on about the 18/11/1942 proceeded in LCA and LCM to Bone in three night passages via Djejelli and Phillipville.   Force 'V', Bark West, Sugar Beaches supporting the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. G1 landing with 231st Malta brigade at Vebo Valencia, G2 and G3 landing with Canadian 1st Div at Cape Spartivento on the south side of the toe of Italy, later elements landed at Termoli               Assisted in recovering prisoners in Adriatic     July-August 1942 Coulport House and Inverkip House November-December 1944 at HMS Armadillo
How     Original unit deployed to North Africa for Torch     After the units return from North Africa it went to Foliot III where all it's officers and the majority of it's POs and leading seaman were absorbed into the first units of Force W (C, E and F). The balance of the ratings were brought to HMS Armadillo in February 1943 and were absorbed into G or other new units.     Second RNBC How sailed out to SEAC at very short notice on 17th July 1943 and saw active service in Arakan in 1944           Elements present at the assault across Lake Commachio in April 1945 and Genoa     1st unit, August-September 1942 Coulport House but after the North African landings the unit was absorbed by other units for the Sicily landings, the balance of the ratings were brought back to HMS Armadillo where they were absorbed by George or new units. A 2nd completely new unit in formed in May 1943 and later went to Achnacarry in June 1943. November 1945 at Dundonald
Jig     A party known as J1 was hastily embodied to meet a last minute comittment in Operation Torch, from which they returned to Foliot where they became part of the pool. Les Seldon of RNBSS B5 recalls they landed with J Party taking part in the capture of Aeronautic Arzeu, the French Fleet Air Arm base.               Force G, Gold Beach with the British 50th Division in the vicinity of the Mulberry     For Infatuate I the attack on Flushing, L1 and elements of J supported No.4 Commando and the 52nd Lowland Division       A party known as J1 was created hastily for Torch, this became part of the pool on it's return to the UK. Meanwhile J2 and J3 were formed in January 1943, and a completely new J1 joined them in May 1943. Jig was not disbanded immediately after the war but continued and was designated a Naval Beach Control Party in 1948
King           RN Beach Commando K are identified as landing off Cape Passero and having trained prior to the operation at Aqaba, Jordan, in The Beachhead Commandos by A Cecil Hampshire (p93), so would have come from the Middle East as had the 231st Malta Brigade which indicates they would have probably landed in Nan Sector of the Bark East Assault Area.   Northern Attack Force, sector TBC   Active Jan-May 1944         Unit remained in Italy carrying out port duties at San Stefano, Civitta, Vecchio, Leghorn etc     October 1942 at Inverary 13th of July 1945 to provide pool on station SEAC
Love                     Proceeded to Normandy with Force ÔJÕ, one half working till sometime about the beginning of August, the remainder working till the 7th of September.     For Infatuate II the attack on Westkapelle, L2 and L3 supported the remaining 3 RM Commandos 41, 47 and 48 of 4 Cdo Bde       November 1942 at Inverary, went to Achnacarry 30/6/43 – 7/7/43 Jan 1945 at HMS Armadillo
Mike Page Two         RN Beach Commando M is identified as landing at Cape Passero on the Green and Amber ÔQueenÕ beaches, in Beachhead Assault by David Lee (p80). As the 51st Highland division was landing on a single brigade front, the landing would of required only one RNBC.   Northern Attack Force, sector TBC, in late Sept moved to Castellammare, Oct 2nd M3 moved to Torre Annunciatta as Port Party, Oct 5th M1 move to Volturno to assist crossing     Force 'L', Reserve unit not used         Jan-May 1945 carried out small raids on islands in Scheldt estuary with LCA Flotillas, 550, 508, 518, 516 and 4 Commando Brigade, April 23rd went Arnhem for crossing under Force T, May 1945 M2 and M3 occupy Schouwen and Overflakke   First unit to be formed at Armadillo, November 1942 July 1945 half of ratings transferred to K Commando, November 1945 M Commando disbanded at Dundonald
Nan           Part of Force 'V', landing on the Bark West, Roger Beaches supporting the 1st Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. Crossing from Milli Marina and landing near Gallico Marina just north of Reggio di Calabria with the British 5th Div,on the north side of the toe of Italy, then later N1 made a further landing at Sapri     Active Jan-May 1944 incurring several casualties, also carried out duties in Corsica and Naples before moving to the Adriatic side at the end of May 1944         Saw extensive service in the forward port areas with the 8th Army and elements present at the assault across Lake Commachio in April 1945     Formed at Armadillo February 1943 under Lt Cdr MV Redshaw RNVR whence on completion of training it went to H.M.S. Foliot 111 at Bickley in Devon and from there to Achnacarry 31/3/43 – 9/4/43 Dundonald December 1945
Oboe                 Sailed to India at very short notice with 'H' in July 1943, until it accompanied Force P back to the Med in January 1944 Reserve at Anzio, used afloat to unload craft   Unit suffered many casualties, O3 was practically wiped out in attack on A lighter and subsequent explosion of demolition charges on quay with 18 killed           Formed at Armadillo February 1943 and went Achnacarry 24/5/43 – 3/6/43 On return to UK in September 1944
Peter                     Joined Force ÔJÕ in September 1943, with which it trained until Operation Neptune, in which it landed with the assault troops of the 3rd Canadian Division             At Armadillo April 1943 October 1944 at Armadillo
Queen                     Force G, Gold Beach, landing on D-Day with the British 50th Division             At Armadillo May 1943 1st of March 1945 at Armadillo to provide personnel for LST P/B units
Roger                     Force 'S', landing on Sword Beach with the British 3rd Division             May-June 1943 at Armadillo, with no Lts and 3 Sub Lts senior to 7 Midshipman by virtue of age only. However due to the keeness of the officers, the loyal and hardworking cooperation of the Petty Officers and Leading Seaman and above all to the absence of disturbing older hands from barracks this unit set about its work with great zest. On completion of training R1 involved in NBC film at Gailes Camp. November 1945 at Myloden
Sugar                     Formed in July/August 1943, after which they proceeded to Gailles Camp where they worked with the 7th and 8th Beach Groups before moving with the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division via HMS Armadillo to HMS Turtle where they came under the orders of Force ÔJÕ (J.2). The parties S.1 and S.3 landed with the assault troops on D-Day.             July-August 1943 at Armadillo after first two sub units had been absorbed into H O P and Q who were being prepared for a foreign draft. They carried out various exercises until July 1943 when the unit together with Queen was prepared for some task which did not materialize.
     In September Peter Commando joined Force ÔJÕ with whom it commenced training.		 November 1944 at Armadillo as much below strength
Tare                     Force G, Gold Beach, landing on D-Day with the British 50th Division, despite some of its officers and men having to land before H-hour on AVRE tanks to help establish a signals link no casualties were sustained             August-September 1943 November 1945 at Myloden
Uncle                                 Returned to HMS Armadillo on the 2nd of January 1945 prior to embarkation for SEAC, South East Asia Command on the 5th, 7th of January. Arriving in Bombay on the 2nd of June 1945. They were in Cocanada (Kakinada today) in July 1945, returning to Bombay on the 10th of August 1945. The Naval History records show they arrived in Madras on the 8th of September 1945 however RN Beach Commando records indicate they took part in the Malaya Landings in September 1945. The Japanese in Malaya signed their surrender document on the 2nd of September 1945. The British landed in Malaya on the 9th of September in Operation Zipper in the Port Swettenham area. Able Seaman Alf Humberstone of U RN Beach Commando recollects the landing in the book Beachhead Assault by David Lee, so at least part of the Commando was there as part of the 46th Indian Beach Group. In October 1945 they were in Singapore but returned to Bombay in November 1945 where they were disbanded on the 15th of December 1945. Formed in September 1943 at HMS Armadillo. It was reported they did not show up too well in initial training and subsequent and subsequent exercise because of the bad influence of a number of General Service ratings. Remained in HMS Armadillo, Gailes Camp (HMS Dundonald I) at Inverary or HMS Brontosaurus at Castle Toward until July 1944 when they were moved to Foliot in Devon. There they were designated Naval Party 1516 in October 1944 and later moved to HMS MYLODON Lowestoft November 1944 a base used for Landing Craft Training for RM Commandos and Combined Operations. Designated Naval Party 4009 in December 1944 whilst still at HMS MYLODEN. TNA record indicates disbanded in SEAC September 1945
Victor                                 Proceeded overseas to SEAC on the 16th of September 1944, possibly in Operation Matador an amphibious assault on Ramree Island, south of Akyab carried out by the Indian 26th Infantry Division on 21st Jan 1945, later as part of Operation Dracula landed at Rangoon with the same division on the 1st of May 1945 later taking part in operations in Malaya in Sept 1945 after the Japanese surrender  September 1943 at Armadillo with Lt FM Hutton RNVR Beach Master of V1 as Senior Officer, under training the ratings of this unit proved exceptionally smart and keen as there were no General Service Able Seaman or malcontents from big ships November 1945 in SEAC
William                     The unit remained at Armadillo until 17th of February 1944 when they proceeded to' Vectis' to come under the orders of 'Force J', however owing to the fact the 3 NBC's already attached to "Force J' had been training with them for six months already it was not practicable for' William' to land with the assault troops of the 3rd Canadian Division as had been hope. The unit proceeded to Normandy in July 1944 where it worked beaches in the Juno area until the 20th of August 1944.             This Canadian unit was formed November 1943, during the entirety of their existance they remained on the books of the Canadian shore establishment HMCS Niobe On it's return to the UK from Normandy in August / September 1944 it was disbanded the majority of personnel returning immediately to Canada
RNBSS B5   Many initial members involved prior to formation. Les Seldon of RNBSS B5 recalls they landed with J Party taking part in the capture of Aeronautic Arzeu, the French Fleet Air Arm base.     Landed with George Group, near Cassabile. Therefore they would of landed in George Sector of the Acid Centre Assault Area with RNBC E. With RNBC N     With RNBC N until relieved after 6 weeks. Tasked to man 'Gooseberry' block ships at Courseulles.