539 Assault Squadron

539 Assault Squadron

539 Asslt Sqn RM was formed on 2 April 1984 and commissioned operational on 24 July 1984, giving 3 Commando Brigade an integral amphibious movement capability. This was in direct response to lessons learned during the Falklands Conflict in 1982.

Today the Sqn consists of over 100 personnel and is equipped with a variety of Landing Craft including Hovercraft (LCAC), Rigid Raiding craft (RRC), Inflatable raiding craft (IRC) and Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel. The Sqn is based in Turnchapel on the outskirts of Plymouth, Devon.

539 Asslt Sqn is named after 539 Assault Flotilla which landed on D-Day as part of assault group two onto Gold beach. During the landing Cpl George Tandy (aged 19) was the coxswain of LCA 786 which had lost its steering wheel, so he stood on the rudder with water up to his waist and guided his craft into the beach, under fire for seven miles to land his troops. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM).

During the Falklands campaign the Sqn was formed for the duration of the operation, carrying out operations to support advance forces, the main formation landings and numerous covert landings of SBS and SAS troops. Most notably the Sqn was pivotal for the amphibious part of the push forward to Bluff Cove.

The Sqn continues to flourish today. It has undertaken no less than 8 operations since in recent years ranging from flood relief in Bangladesh through to evacuation of expatriates from Kinshasa in former Zaire. This is in addition to the supporting the very high tempo of exercises and deployments within 3 Cdo Bde RM with a variety of boat groups and coxswains.