231:
218:
Support specialisation was established in 2005 in recognition of the fact that the then relatively new BvS10 Viking armoured vehicle demanded a high degree of professional and specialist crew training and a professional career progression for Royal
Marines within the Armoured Support 'branch'. A proposal to form a new specialisation and indeed to call it the 'Armoured Support' specialisation (in recognition of the Royal Marines' armoured units of WWII) was put forward and argued by then OC Viking Training Sqn - Major Jez Hermer MBE RM, the officer who had taken BvS10 on operations for the first time in
298:) weapon systems, in a supporting role to VIKING, to replace the existing BV206". The new system would be known as the All Terrain Vehicle Support (ATV(S)) and be capable of high mobility operation in a variety of terrains and threat environments as well as being amphibious. A need for between 47 and 212 ATV(S) was foreseen at an estimated cost of between £100 million to £250 million. However, just over a month later, on 17 July 2008, the contract notice setting out the requirement for ATV(S) was cancelled. The Ministry of Defence gave the following reason:
26:
239:
302:
The requirement for an All
Terrain Military Vehicle (ATV (S)) under LASS1A/0340 has been delayed due to internal reviews. It is anticipated that a revised announcement will be advertised in the UK MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin in mid 2009 and the revised announcement will also be sent to the EDA for
314:
vehicles would be purchased as an Urgent
Operational Requirement to replace the Viking vehicles in use in Afghanistan. The new vehicle would be known in British service as the Warthog and enter service in 2009. The press release further stated that "When the Vikings are brought back from Afghanistan
217:
The modern Royal
Marines Armoured Support Group was formed from the Royal Marines Armoured Support Company (Afghanistan) and the Royal Marines Viking Training Squadron, a subunit of the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines based at the Armour Centre in Bovington, Dorset. The Royal Marines Armoured
200:
The wartime RMASG was disbanded two weeks after D-Day (D+14). Part of the
Armoured Support Group, which had been reformed as the 29th Infantry Battalion, Royal Marines, was moved to Aldershot to become the 34th Amphibian Support Regiment, Royal Marines. The Regiment moved to India in 1945, collected
281:
that the incoming forces on Op
Herrick 6 requested that the Vikings stay on creating a problem as the Army has no Viking trained drivers. The solution was the RMASG, an expanded unit that could continue to operate the Viking for future roulements, this led to the drivers of the RMASG having one of
135:
318:
Nevertheless, Viking appears to be the core armoured vehicle for the Royal
Marines in the future. 99 Vikings are being upgraded with new mine blast protection bodywork and brought back to their original amphibious standard, having been adapted for the rigours of land operations.
559:
166:, which were used as artillery observation posts or command vehicles. The Group consisted of two Armoured Support Regiments, each of two Armoured Support Batteries, plus an independent Armoured Support Battery.
169:
Each
Battery consisted of four troops, with each troop equipped with four Centaur and one Sherman tank, giving a total of 80 Centaur and 20 Sherman tanks in the group, which fought on the British and Canadian
966:
526:
567:
334:, "For a small unit or group of men or women from any service who have together performed a single act of true grit - through courage, determination or self-sacrifice – be it on or off duty".
209:- the (A)-4 variant with a 75 mm howitzer -, one rocket battery of three troops of four LVT (R) and one flank battery of two troops of five LVT (F). This regiment was disbanded in 1948.
800:
639:
976:
971:
294:
publicly issued a notice stating that "There is a requirement under consideration for an All
Terrain Military vehicle that is armoured, amphibious and fitted with (or
258:
All
Terrain Vehicle, is a protected tracked vehicle, which can be configured for troop transport, command and control and other tasks. Viking is equipped with the
322:
In April 2016, a Jane's report stated that the Royal Marines are looking for a replacement for the older Bv 206D vehicles, which will be out of service by 2021.
259:
534:
117:
in Dorset. The original RMASG was formed in the Second World War to give British and Commonwealth forces heavy fire support in the opening attacks of the
363:
827:
879:
614:
981:
909:
474:
889:
416:
945:
820:
90:
291:
848:
769:
273:
Viking has been deployed operationally with British Forces in southern Afghanistan, supporting both 3 Cdo Bde and other
311:
251:
455:
205:
in September. The unit was organized into a headquarters, two support batteries each of three troops armed with four
230:
813:
308:
914:
391:
718:
940:
254:
and is the armoured element of 3 Commando Brigade, equipped with the Viking armoured vehicle. The Viking
884:
159:
222:
in September 2006, prior to the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group being formed in December 2007.
744:
330:
The Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was awarded the 'True Grit: Group' award during the 2008
919:
894:
295:
206:
154:, where it provided fire support for Royal Marine units landing. It was primarily equipped with
589:
924:
189:
comprising the 3rd Battery (J, K, L and M Troops) and the 4th Battery (N, O, P and Q Troops).
182:
comprising the 1st Battery (A, B, C and D Troops) and the 2nd Battery (E, F, G and H Troops).
904:
774:
277:. The need for the RMASG came about because the Viking was so successful with 3 Cdo Bde on
151:
8:
424:
343:
331:
86:
66:
155:
451:
278:
139:
118:
147:
693:
506:
675:
657:
202:
46:
960:
482:
243:
106:
56:
163:
805:
874:
869:
864:
263:
219:
193:
246:
during a demonstration at the Portsmouth International Festival in 2005.
201:
equipment and trained for operations that were planned to take place in
146:
The original Royal Marines Armoured Support Group was formed during the
186:
179:
274:
114:
76:
238:
25:
967:
Military units and formations of the British Army in World War II
307:
On 19 December 2008, the Ministry of Defence announced that 100
134:
315:
they will be used by the Royal Marines on training exercises".
303:
inclusion in the Electronic Bulletin Board (EBB) at that time.
110:
255:
171:
267:
192:
5th Royal Marine Independent Armoured Support Battery at
479:
Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion
524:
481:. Ministry of Defence. 22 June 2004. Archived from
977:Military units and formations established in 2007
972:Military units and formations established in 1944
958:
880:43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines
527:"Vikings Prove Their Worth In Volatile Helmand"
450:. Elite No. 57. Osprey Publishing. p. 15.
282:the highest operational tempos in the forces.
185:2nd Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiment at
178:1st Royal Marine Armoured Support Regiment at
821:
554:
552:
445:
835:
910:30 Commando Information Exploitation Group
828:
814:
770:"Armed forces awards show to air on Sky 1"
719:"Green light for £37m Viking regeneration"
890:47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines
549:
525:Ministry of Defence (12 September 2007).
237:
229:
133:
469:
467:
959:
560:"Viking Operators Return from Helmand"
417:"World War Two: Royal Marines on land"
285:
250:RMASG is under the overall control of
162:; there were also a smaller number of
809:
743:Foss, Christopher F. (6 April 2016).
225:
946:29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
941:24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers
900:Royal Marines Armoured Support Group
742:
658:"Electronic Bulletin Board EDA-1783"
464:
386:
384:
262:and some crewmen are armed with the
113:All Terrain Vehicle. It is based at
103:Royal Marines Armoured Support Group
19:Royal Marines Armoured Support Group
234:RMASG Viking Mortar Section in 2020
129:
13:
312:Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier
260:7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun
252:539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines
14:
993:
982:Royal Marine formations and units
794:
381:
196:comprising R, S, T and V Troops.
24:
762:
736:
711:
686:
668:
650:
640:"ATV(S)Procurement and Support"
632:
607:
533:(Press release). Archived from
309:Singapore Technologies Kinetics
242:Viking Armoured Vehicle of the
915:Mountain Leader Training Cadre
745:"UK seeks Bv 206D replacement"
582:
566:. 15 June 2009. Archived from
518:
497:
493:– via National Archives.
439:
409:
356:
1:
349:
290:On 12 June 2008, the British
105:(RMASG) is an element of the
644:MOD Defence Contracts Online
504:"End of a Unique Regiment".
138:Centaur Mk IV of RMASG near
7:
694:"The Warthog is on its way"
446:van der Bijl, Nick (1995).
337:
10:
998:
885:Commando Logistic Regiment
615:"POL - Drayson JPEG Image"
124:
933:
875:45 Commando Royal Marines
870:42 Commando Royal Marines
865:40 Commando Royal Marines
857:
841:
448:The Royal Marines 1939–93
325:
212:
109:that operates the Viking
82:
72:
62:
52:
42:
32:
23:
18:
920:Littoral Response Groups
514:(11): 66. February 1949.
364:"Armoured Support Group"
895:539 Raiding Squadron RM
836:British Commando Forces
680:European Defence Agency
662:European Defence Agency
296:fitted for but not with
266:version of the British
207:Landing Vehicle Tracked
475:"Sword Beach on D-Day"
305:
247:
235:
143:
925:Future Commando Force
564:The National Archives
531:defense-aerospace.com
300:
241:
233:
150:and took part in the
137:
905:Brigade Patrol Troop
676:"Contract note 1783"
570:on 10 September 2010
158:tanks fitted with a
152:Invasion of Normandy
723:Ministry of Defence
332:Sun Military Awards
292:Ministry of Defence
286:Future requirements
849:3 Commando Brigade
778:. 12 November 2008
485:on 30 January 2006
427:on 9 February 2012
248:
236:
226:Role and equipment
144:
91:War in Afghanistan
87:Battle of Normandy
67:3 Commando Brigade
954:
953:
619:2.bp.blogspot.com
140:Tilly-sur-Seulles
119:Normandy landings
96:
95:
989:
830:
823:
816:
807:
806:
788:
787:
785:
783:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
740:
734:
733:
731:
729:
715:
709:
708:
706:
704:
690:
684:
683:
672:
666:
665:
654:
648:
647:
636:
630:
629:
627:
625:
611:
605:
604:
602:
600:
586:
580:
579:
577:
575:
556:
547:
546:
544:
542:
522:
516:
515:
501:
495:
494:
492:
490:
471:
462:
461:
443:
437:
436:
434:
432:
423:. Archived from
421:Sea Your History
413:
407:
406:
404:
402:
388:
379:
378:
376:
374:
360:
344:Hobart's Funnies
148:Second World War
130:Second World War
28:
16:
15:
997:
996:
992:
991:
990:
988:
987:
986:
957:
956:
955:
950:
929:
853:
837:
834:
797:
792:
791:
781:
779:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
741:
737:
727:
725:
717:
716:
712:
702:
700:
692:
691:
687:
674:
673:
669:
656:
655:
651:
638:
637:
633:
623:
621:
613:
612:
608:
598:
596:
588:
587:
583:
573:
571:
558:
557:
550:
540:
538:
523:
519:
507:Military Review
503:
502:
498:
488:
486:
473:
472:
465:
458:
444:
440:
430:
428:
415:
414:
410:
400:
398:
392:"Royal Marines"
390:
389:
382:
372:
370:
362:
361:
357:
352:
340:
328:
288:
228:
215:
132:
127:
99:
89:
38:2007 to present
37:
12:
11:
5:
995:
985:
984:
979:
974:
969:
952:
951:
949:
948:
943:
937:
935:
931:
930:
928:
927:
922:
917:
912:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
882:
877:
872:
867:
861:
859:
855:
854:
852:
851:
845:
843:
839:
838:
833:
832:
825:
818:
810:
804:
803:
801:Unit's Webpage
796:
795:External links
793:
790:
789:
761:
749:IHS Jane's 360
735:
710:
685:
667:
649:
631:
606:
581:
548:
517:
496:
463:
456:
438:
408:
380:
354:
353:
351:
348:
347:
346:
339:
336:
327:
324:
287:
284:
227:
224:
214:
211:
198:
197:
190:
183:
160:95 mm howitzer
142:, 13 June 1944
131:
128:
126:
123:
97:
94:
93:
84:
80:
79:
74:
70:
69:
64:
60:
59:
54:
50:
49:
47:United Kingdom
44:
40:
39:
34:
30:
29:
21:
20:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
994:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
968:
965:
964:
962:
947:
944:
942:
939:
938:
936:
932:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
913:
911:
908:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
862:
860:
858:Royal Marines
856:
850:
847:
846:
844:
840:
831:
826:
824:
819:
817:
812:
811:
808:
802:
799:
798:
777:
776:
771:
765:
750:
746:
739:
724:
720:
714:
699:
695:
689:
681:
677:
671:
663:
659:
653:
645:
641:
635:
620:
616:
610:
595:
591:
585:
569:
565:
561:
555:
553:
537:on 2018-07-23
536:
532:
528:
521:
513:
509:
508:
500:
484:
480:
476:
470:
468:
459:
457:9781855323889
453:
449:
442:
426:
422:
418:
412:
397:
393:
387:
385:
369:
365:
359:
355:
345:
342:
341:
335:
333:
323:
320:
316:
313:
310:
304:
299:
297:
293:
283:
280:
276:
271:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
245:
244:Royal Marines
240:
232:
223:
221:
210:
208:
204:
195:
191:
188:
184:
181:
177:
176:
175:
173:
167:
165:
164:Sherman tanks
161:
157:
153:
149:
141:
136:
122:
120:
116:
112:
108:
107:Royal Marines
104:
98:Military unit
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
75:
71:
68:
65:
61:
58:
57:Royal Marines
55:
51:
48:
45:
41:
35:
31:
27:
22:
17:
934:British Army
899:
780:. Retrieved
773:
764:
752:. Retrieved
748:
738:
726:. Retrieved
722:
713:
701:. Retrieved
698:Army-uk.info
697:
688:
679:
670:
661:
652:
643:
634:
622:. Retrieved
618:
609:
597:. Retrieved
593:
584:
572:. Retrieved
568:the original
563:
539:. Retrieved
535:the original
530:
520:
511:
505:
499:
487:. Retrieved
483:the original
478:
447:
441:
429:. Retrieved
425:the original
420:
411:
399:. Retrieved
395:
371:. Retrieved
367:
358:
329:
321:
317:
306:
301:
289:
279:Op Herrick 5
272:
249:
216:
199:
168:
145:
102:
101:The current
100:
63:Part of
782:12 December
264:L22 carbine
220:Afghanistan
194:Sword Beach
83:Engagements
73:Garrison/HQ
961:Categories
594:Royal Navy
590:"Vehicles"
396:Royal Navy
368:Royal Navy
350:References
275:roulements
187:Juno Beach
180:Gold Beach
156:Centaur IV
775:Broadcast
174:beaches.
115:Bovington
77:Bovington
338:See also
270:family.
842:Brigade
754:13 July
728:13 July
703:13 July
624:13 July
599:13 July
574:13 July
541:23 July
489:23 July
431:13 July
401:13 July
373:13 July
125:History
43:Country
512:XXVIII
454:
326:Awards
213:Modern
203:Malaya
111:BvS 10
53:Branch
33:Active
256:BvS10
172:D-Day
784:2013
756:2016
730:2016
705:2016
626:2016
601:2016
576:2016
543:2018
491:2018
452:ISBN
433:2016
403:2016
375:2016
268:SA80
36:1944
963::
772:.
747:.
721:.
696:.
678:.
660:.
642:.
617:.
592:.
562:.
551:^
529:.
510:.
477:.
466:^
419:.
394:.
383:^
366:.
121:.
829:e
822:t
815:v
786:.
758:.
732:.
707:.
682:.
664:.
646:.
628:.
603:.
578:.
545:.
460:.
435:.
405:.
377:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.