Army commandoes

[Scout]

When and why did the British Army do away with their Commando units? I know in WWII, there were Army and RM Commandoes, but today there's only the RM unit. Can anyone tell me what happened?

Scout

[Private_Piles]

Don't know why they were disbanded but there are still commando units in the army that support the marines, such as 29 commando regiment.

Got this from their website

'Regimental History

The first Army Commandos were raised by a Gunner, Lt Col Dudley Clarke RA, in June 1940, following the defeat ending at Dunkirk. The Commandos struck at the German forces at a time when Britain was otherwise powerless. Raids were made on the coasts of Norway, France and the Mediterranean. By the time of the Normandy landings in 1944 the Commando forces were of a considerable size and had played a vital part in operations in all theatres of war

After the Second World War the commando role passed entirely to the Royal Marines, the Navy's amphibious infantry. Army Commando units ceased to exist. In the late 1950's Britain's defence policy began to stress the importance of a worldwide maritime strategy. The Navy commissioned Commando Carriers such as HMS BULWARK and HMS ALBION. The Royal Marines, who no longer had their own artillery, decided that they required support from an Army artillery regiment.

In 1962 29 Field Regiment RA were deployed with 25 Pounder guns in Aden and Kuwait, deterring Iraq from invading the oil fields, when the were chosen to re-role as Commando Artillery. The men of the newly formed 29 Commando Regiment RA trained for and passed the Commando course at the Royal Marines training centre Lympstone. It was an historic and proud moment when the first Army Commandos since the end of the War received their Green Berets on 15 May 1962. The 25 Pounders were replaced by the 105mm Pack Howitzer.

The composition of 29 Commando Regiment RA has constantly changed since its formation in 1962, but, within an artillery regiment the most important element is the individual Battery. Each of the Batteries have at various times interchanged as part of 29 or 95 Commando Regiment RA The Regiment now comprises of 7(Sphinx) Battery RA, 79(Kirkee) Battery RA, 8(Alma) Battery RA, 23(Gibraltar 1779-1783) Battery RA, 148(Meiktila) Battery RA and 289 Battery RA(V)'

Web site :http://www.army.mod.uk/royalartillery/regts/29cdoregtra/main2.htm

[Enfield]

From what I read in "The Commandos" by John Parker..
The original Commandos were Army, and it wasn't until much later that the RM was allowed the share the role.
When the war was over there was, of course, a huge downsizing in the Brit military. It was decided to consolidate the Commando role in the Marines because of their history at sea, an idea which Mounbatten (the Commando Commander) supported. The idea was based in a 1924 report that had proposed that the RM be used to form units of raiders. The RM's were already sea-based, so amphibious landings were a natural continuation of this.
As well as the Army Commandos, dozens of "private armies", from special forces units to sabotage units, were disbanded or amalgamanted - including the SAS.

[Scout]

Thanks for the responses gents.

Scout