the structure of 42 Commando followed the Commando 21 model with four rifle companies: J (Juliet) company. K (Kilo) company. L (Lima) company. M (Mike) company. Following the commando's re-role in 2018 the companies specialised as follows: J company - board and search specialists (role transferred from 43 Commando under project Sykes). K company - Support, Augment, Liaise and Train (SALT) either other UK units, Allied forces, or front-line operations L company - Joint Personnel Recovery, rescuing aircrew or fellow marines/soldiers who are isolated, missing, detained or captured in an operational environment, in particular fliers aboard . M company - force protection teams to RN and RFA ships passing through high threat areas around the globe In 2021 the unit comprised 6 companies. Commanders Commanders have included: 1948–1950 Lt. Col. Ian Riches 1963–1965 Lt. Col. Ian Gourlay 1965–1966 Lt. Col. Peter Whiteley 1970–1972 Lt. Col. John Richards 1972–1973 Lt. Col. Jeremy Moore Oct 75 – Apr 78 Lt Col TJM Wilson RM Apr 78 – Jun 80 Lt Col Henry Beverley OBE RM Jun 80 – Dec 81 Lt Col CHC Howgill RM Dec 81 – May 83 Lt Col Nick Vaux DSO RM May 83 – Dec 84 Lt Col PT Stevenson MBE RM Dec 84 – Oct 86 Lt Col Van Der Horst RM Oct 86 – Jun 88 Lt Col RS Tailyour RM Jun 88 – Jul 90 Lt Col David Pennefather RM Jul 90 – Jul 92 Lt Col NM Robinson RM Jul 92 – May 94 Lt Col Robert Fulton RM May 94 – May 96 Lt Col AR Pillar RM May 96 – May 98 Lt Col RGT Lane RM May 98 – Dec 99 Lt Col RM Bowkett RM Dec 99 – Apr 01 Lt Col Andy Salmon RM Apr 01 – Nov 02 Lt Col DA Hook OBE RM Nov 02 – Jul 04 Lt Col Buster Howes OBE RM Jul 04 – Mar 06 Lt Col GM Salzano MBE RM Apr 06 – Jan 08 Lt Col MJ Holmes DSO RM Jan 08 – Oct 09 Lt Col CR Stickland OBE RM Oct 09 – Jan 12 Lt Col EA Murchison MBE RM Jan 12 - Jan 14 Lt Col N Sutherland MBE RM Jan 14 - Nov 15 Lt Col Richard Cantrill OBE MC RM Nov 15 - Dec 17 Lt Col Mark Totten MBE RM Dec 17 - Sept