Falklands War - 3 COMMANDO BRIGADE ROYAL MARINES

3 Commando Brigade's job was to establish a bridgehead before the Army's 5th Infantry Brigade (5th Inf Bde) arrived to help complete the recapture of the Falklands. Its teeth were three Royal Marine Commandos each with three rifle companies of 120 men each, one HQ and one support company, all backed up by a number of other Marine and commando-trained Army units. The Army also provided strong reinforcements including the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regt, and later the 2nd Battalion, both from 5th Inf Bde. Main infantry weapons were the 7.62mm SLR rifle and 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, 66mm light (LAW) and 84mm Carl Gustav medium (MAW) anti-armour weapons and in support companies, 81mm mortars and Milan anti-tank wire guided missiles.

Marines of K Coy, 42 Cdo RM move off Mount Kent towards Mount Harriet, captured on 11th/12th June 1982)

3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines

Infantry - 

40, 42 and 45 Cdo RM (M Coy 42 Cdo to South Georgia, replaced later by newly-formed J Coy 42 Cdo)

Artillery - 

29 Cdo Regt RA with Nos 7, 8 and 79 Bty's each of 6x105mm artillery and 148 Cdo Forward Observation Bty RA for naval gunfire observation

Combat Engineers - 

59 Independent Cdo Sqdn RE

Logistics - 

Commando Logistics Regt RM

Helicopters - 

3 Cdo Bde Air Squadron RM with nine Gazelle AH.1's and six Scout AH.1's (two RM Gazelles and one Scout were lost)

HQ & Communications - 

Brigade HQ and Signal Sqdn including 1st Raiding Sqdn equipped with rigid raiders and Gemini assault craft and an Air Defence Troop with 12xBlowpipe SAM's

In medium range reconnaissance role - 

Mountain and Arctic Warfare (Training) Cadre

Raiding and reconnaissance - 

 3 Sections, Special Boat Squadron (No.2 Section to South Georgia),

Other units - included:

Tactical Air Control Parties RM for directing air strikes

Y Signals Troop RM

Commando Forces Band RM for medical duties

Two Royal Navy Surgical Support Teams

Army Reinforcements - including:

Infantry - 

2nd and 3rd Battalions The Parachute Regiment each with one HQ, three rifle, one patrol and one support company

Light Armour - 

B Sqdn, The Blues and Royals with four Scorpion and four Scimitar light tanks and one Samson recovery vehicle

Air defence - 

T Bty, 12 Air Defence Regt with 12xRapier SAM's

Helicopters - 

656 AAC Sqdn with a flight of three Scout AH.1's

Raiding and reconnaissance -  

D and G Sqdns, 22nd SAS Regt (D Sqdn initially to South Georgia)

Attached to 2 Para -

29 Bty, 4 Field Regt RA with 6x105mm guns

Troop each from:

43 Air Defence Bty
32 Guided Weapons Regt RA with Blowpipe

9 Para Sqdn RE
16 Field Ambulance RAMC

Explosive ordnance disposal - 

from 49 EOD Sqdn RE (and EOD Team RAF)

Other units - included:

Forward Observation Officer parties from 4 Field Regt RA
Tactical Air Control parties

Units from:

 Postal and Courier Regt RE
Rear Link Detachments Royal Signals
81 Ordnance Coy RAO
Mexeflote detachment 17 Port Regt RCT