1AGRM

1 Assault Group Royal Marines (1AGRM) provides the Royal Marines expertise in small boat operations in support of littoral operations, both amphibious and riverine activities. It is based at Royal Marines Poole in Poole, Dorset.

Squadrons

1 Assault Group Royal Marines comprises a number of individual squadrons:

• 4 Assault Squadron RM providing landing craft support to HMS Bulwark. This unit is commanded by Lt-Col Nick Bentham-Green as of 2008.
• 6 Assault Squadron RM providing landing craft support to HMS Albion
• 9 Assault Squadron RM providing landing craft support to HMS Ocean
• 10 Landing Craft Training Squadron
• 11 Amphibious Test and Trials Squadron RM based at Royal Marines Instow, Devon

1 AGRM has its Headquarters in Devonport Naval Base Plymouth. The training and expertise for 539 Assault Squadron RM, is based in Turnchapel in Plymouth, which provides landing craft amphibious and riverine capability to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. 539 Assault Squadron is named after the famous 539 Assault Flotilla which landed on Gold Beach during the Invasion of Normandy.

Individual squadrons are commanded by a Major and are variously equipped with vessels including hovercraft (LCAC), Rigid Raider motor boats, inflatable raiding craft and landing craft.

Training

10 Landing Craft Training Squadron provide training accredited by the Royal Yachting Association for candidates to the landing craft specialisation. This training is delivered at various stages in the individual's career:

• LC3 at entry to the specialisation as a Marine
• LC2 at promotion to Corporal
• LC1 at promotion to Sergeant

Landing Craft Officer Qualifying course (LCOQ) is delivered to subalterns who opt to join the landing craft specialisation and prepares them for command of troops within the various squadrons or positions on the staff of Commander-in-Chief Fleet or 3 Commando Brigade.

Additional Training Courses

10 LC Training Squadron also conduct other training tasks.

• Amphibious training for Royal Marines recruits, young officers and the All Arms Commando Course.

• Small boat training for the Royal Navy, Army, Police and Customs.

• Engineering and navigation training for the Assault Squadrons

• Specially-tailored LC Specialist training for 2 Raiding Troop from the Royal Marines Reserve.

• Surface Manoeuvre expertise to the wider amphibious community.