Royal Caledonian Marines

The Royal Caledonian Marines, like most other Marine formations, are the ship-board and rapid-intervention troops, as well as force-protection force, of the Royal Caledonian Navy.

Organization

A Marine detachment assigned to any vessel, regardless of its size - from a section aboard a sloop to two squadrons on a Battleship - is called a "Ship's Company".

All Marine "Companies" are composed of uniform smaller units, though, as follows:

• Section - 7 Marines, led by a Corporal.
• Platoon - 30 Marines in 3 "Rifle" and one "Fire Support" Sections, led by a Sergeant.
• Squadron - 110 Marines in 3 Platoons, led by a "Lieutenant of Marines" (equivalent to an Army Captain - see below).
• Commando - 500 Marines in four Squadrons, led by a "Commander of Marines" (equivalent to an Army Lieutentant Colonel. While the lower-level units are very sparse in terms of supporting troops, the Commando adds some logistic and support troops, although the unit is still very lean.
• Marine Brigade - Four Commandos, led by a "Commodore of Marines".
• Marine Task Force- Two more more Marine Brigades, led by a "Rear General of Marines".

Ship's Companies

The Marine detachment assigned to any vessel or shore installation as ship's troops, regardless of the ship's size, is called a "Ship's Company" (while a Marine unit of 3-5 platoons, called a "company" in most armed forces, is referred to as a "Squadron").

• A Marine "Ship's Company" organization is more fluid than, say, the Imperial Marines, with units essentially serving as "task forces" for the job at hand, whether the "job" is cleaning out a pirate lair or serving as the Marine Company on a warship.

• A Captain of Marines - By tradition, a "Ship's Company" is commanded by a vessel's "Captain of Marines". The term "Captain of Marines" refers to the senior Marine in a Ship's Company - whether it's a "Commander" with a squadron aboard a Battleship, or a sergeant leading a section of seven Marines aboard a Sloop or Destroyer. The rank of "Captain of Marines" is always referred to in full, and never shortened to "Captain" - that honor belongs to the ship's Captain. The rank "Captain" doesn't otherwise exist in the Caledonian Marines rank structure.

As a general rule, Ships Marine companies for various classes include:

• Sloops and Destroyers - 1 section, led by a sergeant (in addition to the Section corporal)
• Frigate, Heavy - 1 Platoon, led by a "Lieutenant of Marines (in addition to the Sergeant)
• Frigate, Light - 1 Platoon (if in Principality territory); frequently if on detached patrol an second platoon will be attached. Led by a "Lieutenant of Marines (in addition to the Sergeant/s)
• Battleship - 1 Reinforced Platoon (can be augmented with a full squadron). The company is commanded by a "Commander"
• Carriers - 1 Platoon, led by a "Lieutenant of Marines (in addition to the Sergeant)

Base and Expeditionary Forces

Generally, a major Naval Base will include a Marine Garrison Force. Garrison Force brigades are employed as follows:

• One brigade is usually allocated as Ship's Troops for the base's Task Force.
• One brigade generally serves as base security
• One brigade is generally on alert to serve with the Intervention Force

The brigades of a Garrison Force will rotate between assignments periodically.

• Base Forces - When a Marine Commando, Brigade or Task Force is assigned as a Base Security and Defense force, it is referred to as a "Base Force".
• Expeditionary Forces - When a Marine Commando, Brigade or Task Force embarks to carry out a mission other than defending a base or providing Ship's Companies - e.g. serving as a landing force in the Intervention Force - it's called an "Expeditionary Force".
• The Commander of any Marine Base Force or Expeditionary Force, whether a Marine Commando, Brigade or Task Force" is called a "Colonel of Marines", regardless of actual rank and size of unit commanded. The rank "Colonel" doesn't otherwise exist in the Marines' rank structure.

Rank System

Royal Caledonian Marine Ranks
Officers
O9 » General of Marines
O8 » Vice General of Marines
O7 » Rear General of Marines
O6 » Commodore of Marines
O5 » Commander Of Marines
O4 » Lieutenant Commander of Marines
O3 » Lieutenant
O2 » Sub-Lieutenant
O1 » Ensigh
Enlisted
E9 » Senior Command Sergeant Major
E8 » Command Sergeant Major
E7 » Sergeant Major (or Staff-, Gunnery- or Color-Sergeant Major)
E6 » Sergeant (or Staff-, Gunnery- or Color-Sergeant)
E5 » Corporal
E4 » Lance Corporal
E3 » Marine (First Class)
E2 » Marine
E1 » Recruit

Caledonian Marines also differ from both Imperial Marines and the Caledonian Army in using a version of the Naval, rather than Army, rank system.

Enlisted Ranks

Caledon's Marine corps has the following enlisted ranks:

• Marine - Equivalent to "Private".
• Lance Corporal Assists a Corporal in leading a Section.
• Corporal - Leads a section.
• Sergeant - "Sergeant" is modified by the Sergeant's task. A "Sergeant" leads a platoon. A "Gunnery Sergeant" leads a gun crew. A "Staff Sergeant" leads a staff section. A "Color Sergeant" leads a Commando's scout/sniper team.
• Sergeant Major - A Sergeant Major serves as the senior NCO in a Squadron. "Staff Sergeant Major" and "Gunnery Sergeant Major" have the same meanings as at the sergeant level.
• Command Sergeant Major - the senior NCO in a Commando or larger force.

Officer Ranks

The RCM's rank structure resembles the Navy rather than units with ground-based traditions.

• Ensign - Usually assists with staff work at the Squadron and Commando level. Primarily a training job for very junior officers.
• Sub-Lieutenant - Usually assists Lieutenants in leading Squadrons. Entitled to enter the "Gun Room", the Warrant Officers space in Royal Caledonian Navy warships.
• Lieutenant - Commands squadrons and/or works on staff jobs for the Commando and higher echelons. Equivalent to an Army Captain. Entitled to the Wardroom on Naval warships, along with other commissioned officers.
• Commander of Marines - Commands a Commando.
• Lieutenant Commander of Marines - generally serves on senior staff of a Commando, as well as higher echelons. Has access to the Wardroom on Naval warships, along with other commissioned officers.
• Commander of Marines - Commands a "Commando". Has access to the Wardroom on Naval warships, along with other commissioned officers.
• Commodore of Marines - Commands a Task Force.

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• User:Mitchberg