Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Southern Flank

Guarding NATO in the South

NATO established the Southern Flank to defend against perceived Communist threat towards the Western Allies.

Strategists predicted that an attack from Communist Russia could also be directed down towards the oil-rich Arab countries. An additional fear was that the USSR would supply Arab countries, or rebel factions, with arms and aid.

It was another role that the Corps would be particularly suited to. Defence of the Southern Flank would require a force able to deploy quickly and deal with conflict arising from insurgency and revolt as well as conventional warfare in harsh conditions.

The Royal Marines were accomplished jungle fighters. Their experience with the many uprisings and revolts in the Far East at the end of World War Two also endowed them with skills for fighting even the most unpredictable of enemies in the harshest of terrains.

3 Commando Brigade moved to Malta in May 1952 after their withdrawal from Malaya. Malta had strategic importance due to its military facilities and relative proximity to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf.

During this time the Brigade continued to train on the island and also in Tripoli, Libya, Cyprus and Egypt for their Southern Flank role.

Presentation of Colours, Floriana Parade Ground, Valetta, Malta 1952. (RMM)

Article highlights

• Guarding NATO in the South

• In the Middle East

• Also whilst guarding the Southern Flank

   

Follow the links to find out more about -

• Commando carriers and assault ships - Fearless and Intrepid

• The Korean War

• Northern Flank

• Southern Flank

• Flying Marines - the Suez Canal Raid