unit for offshore installations, including oil rigs and ships. The company initially numbered around 424 personnel. The Comacchio Company RM became Comacchio Group RM in November 1983. From 1987 onwards, Comacchio Group also ceased performing the maritime counter-terrorism role after a study transferred the task to the newly formed M-squadron of the Royal Marines Special Boat Service. Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines The Comacchio Group RM was renamed Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines in March 2001, and was restructured into its current organisation. The Group also moved from RM Condor in Arbroath Angus (where it was co-located with 45 Commando) to HM Naval Base Clyde, which is situated near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute (both in Scotland). In 2012, FPGRM formally adopted the name 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines. In 2016, it was announced that elements of the unit would be using the Colt Canada C8 carbine instead of the standard L85A2. Tasks and organisation The primary mission is to prevent unauthorised access to the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent through the provision of specialist military capability. Additionally, maritime boarding and sniper teams and the very high readiness Fleet Contingent Troop are deployed world-wide to conduct specialist maritime security tasks in support of the Royal Navy. 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a Royal Marine Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland and is part of 3 Commando Brigade, the UK's high readiness expeditionary amphibious force. As of 2016, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines has over 550 personnel and is organised into several sub-units: HQ headquarters squadron O Rifle Squadron P Rifle Squadron (reformed in 2018) R Rifle Squadron Royal Navy Reserve Augmentation Naval ratings of the Royal Naval Reserve have been attached to 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines to support the force protection tasks outside of the United Kingdom: this organisation was known as P Squadron but was disbanded with the force protection duties being transferred to the standing tasks commando unit, a duty which rotates annually between Commando units. See also Royal Navy British Armed Forces Nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom Marine Corps Security Force Regiment References External links Official Website 43 Royal Marine formations and units Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in World War II United Kingdom nuclear command and control Trident (UK nuclear programme) 1980 establishments in