The Royal Marines 1956–84

Book excerpt: As a "Special Forces" organization the Royal Marines and their supporting Commando-trained arms are unique. While other special forces trace their origins to World War I, the Royal Marines date back to 1664. Since then, they have seen action across the world, from their memorable role in the capture of Gibraltar in 1704 to their crucial involvement in World Wars I and II. This book examines the Royal Marines' service and training from the Suez Crisis of 1956, through to their involvement in Northern Ireland and the Falklands in the 1980s. Numerous illustrations, including photographs and color plates, detail the uniforms and equipment of the Marines.